Four steps to kick start your dream business

You have a dream. It came to you unexpectedly-washing the dog, feeding the kids, or while cooking a fabulous meal. Inspiration propels you as if you were on a roller coaster. You know you must turn the dream into a business!

But reality pokes a finger at your chest and says, “OK, now what?” Begin with a business plan? Everyone tells you it is the only way to succeed. How do you create your balance sheets, financing options, and inventory control systems?

Fear, uncertainty, or procrastination takes over. To many, a business plan is a hurdle that they just can’t attempt. Your true challenge is not coming up with ideas. Your challenge is having the courage and resources to move forward.

Throw out the business plan. Have no fear. There is another way to start. The distance between dreaming and doing is quite short if you throw out the business plan and get educated in the real world.

Do not prematurely sabotage an otherwise brilliant idea. Anyone reviewing a business plan is taught to look for holes and failure points, not to support our ongoing passion. Hey, if they could predict the future, they would already be happily retired. To grow, we must discover our own ways to succeed.

Learn from real-life experience and stop being paralyzed in analysis. Imagine the first immigrants arriving in this country and saying, “Why, Mary, I can’t open a shop because I first need to create my marketing matrices.” They set their hearts to it and achieved. Do the same.

To kick-start your dream business, take action to quickly and inexpensively discover what works and what doesn’t. Shout out loud, “My business has launched!” Commit yourself to making your business a reality. If you’re spending time thinking about it, you have already started. It began when you first imagined your dream in your heart. Be proud. Your conviction will energize others to support your success.

Write down your passion. We’ve all known people who believe so much in an idea that the method of getting there matters less. Don’t worry about ‘filling out forms’. Focus first on your intent, and what starting your business will accomplish for your life. This is the foundation to build on and to always come back to. Share your words with people in your life. Once they understand why this is so important to you, they will become your support team.

Conduct real-life research by taking field trips. Start fine-tuning your idea by letting the market tell you what it needs. Your ‘research lab’ is all around you. Save time, money and frustration by discovering what works now. Visit local stores, entrepreneurs and people in businesses similar to your idea and ask them questions. “What are the biggest signs of success in this field? What is your product’s most important feature? What are the characteristics of your best customers?” From the trenches, you will solidify your idea by learning the truth.

Stay mentally strong and positive. Let your positive energy guide you. Stop worrying about what you should do - take action. Focus on simple activities that help you gain the knowledge you need. Make every little bit of progress a mini-reward. Thank yourself for accomplishing it and take your next step. Intention, passion and action get the job done.

Throw out the business plan and start now. Step out of your home and venture into the world to discover how others can help you achieve success. Dream businesses always improve according to the information you gather. Open yourself to exploration, excitement and the ultimate reward - your own business.