Tips for Getting Started

Today, in 3 minutes or less, you'll learn:   

1. My eight top tips for making a start on your business  
2. Your mindset is so essential for overcoming obstacles  
3. Making a start is possible for you, too  

In this newsletter, I want to share my top tips for starting your business, regardless of any obstacles you face. The tips I share are tried and tested by me, and to be honest, I am still working on them as I juggle busy mama life with my business dreams.   

I often listen to stories from mamas who have a great business idea but are yet to do anything about it. There can be so many reasons for this. The timing isn't right. They are too busy. They can't work on a side hustle. Their children are small and need a lot of them. They are too scared to put themselves out there. They are worried about failing. They are paralysed by social media and all it entails. They need help figuring out where to start. Unfortunately, they stay stuck and get frustrated that they are not making more happen for themself.   

If this resonates with you and you are sitting on the fence, I want to share some tips that may help you take the next step towards your dreams. Imagine taking the leap and starting something for yourself. So many benefits of having a successful business could flow for you – more flexibility, time, financial success, creativity, being your own boss, solving problems, sharing your story, or supporting a team.   

I can help! Here's how step by step:  

#1 Keep it simple

I am notorious for not doing this, and I am constantly working on it. When you overcomplicate things and try to do 'everything' you see everyone else doing, you get paralysed and do nothing. Start with one simple step forward. Set up a Facebook business page and start posting. Set up an Instagram account with a Linktree as your bio link and make offers. Start a Facebook group and start connecting with people. Start running a class. Set up Stripe and an email account and work with a client one-on-one. Just do something. Start small and see what happens.   

#2 Get some help

You can't expect to know everything about starting a business. There are so many great resources out there to assist you with making a start, including:  

• Accountants can assist with all your financial questions, including accounting, budgeting, hiring and paying staff and all other money and financial needs.  
• Lawyers can assist with trademarks, contracts, licenses, patents, terms and conditions, employing staff and all other legal needs.  
• Insurance brokers can assist with all your insurance needs. 
• Business coaches can give you lots of support with strategy and taking action and help you work on any barriers standing in your way, especially mindset.  
• Government websites can answer a lot of your questions related to starting.  

Get help in other areas of your life, too. Speak to your partner about what you need to be able to create some time for yourself. If you can afford it, outsource some household tasks, including cleaning, meal preparation and gardening. Investigate some childcare options, including childcare, occasional care, nannies, or family members helping you, so you can have more time to work on your projects.  

#3 Be kind to yourself and be patient

I was so excited to get into some of my business projects this past week now that the January school holidays were over, and it all went out the window when my son was at home sick for four days with a nasty virus. I focused on how fortunate I am to be at home and care for him when he is sick (without the pressure of juggling outside work commitments and taking carer's leave). My projects can wait. I must be patient and build what I can now at this stage of our family life. I am doing my best and will build a successful business over time.  

#4 Write an extensive task list, and then keep taking the next step  

Write a list of all the steps you need to take and start working through them. Just keep taking the next step, the next step and the next step. I encourage you to focus where you can on the most essential tasks to help you move the needle forward on your business. Be careful to avoid getting lost in 'busy work'. But the key is to keep moving forward.  

#5 It doesn't have to be perfect

Don't let getting everything perfect paralyse you. Don't worry about spelling mistakes, background noise on videos, and formatting that is not on brand. Getting your work and ideas out to your community is what is important. Don't wait for the perfect time to get started, either. It could be so long coming. There will always be so much in the way of timing being 'perfect'. Just get going. Your best effort, whatever that amounts to, is what is needed.  

#6 Show up when you say you are going to 

Honour the commitments you make to yourself to work on your business. If you block out time to work on it, try to honour yourself and your dreams. We often are so good at meeting our other scheduled commitments to family and friends but rubbish at doing this for ourselves. You've got this: Netflix, scrolling, and chilling will always beckon. If you said it was important to you, then make it happen!  

#7 Start helping, make offers and get some momentum

If you are still stuck about what to do, think about how you can help others. Just start connecting, listening and supporting. Start talking to people and tune into their problems and pain points. Work out what skills you have and put them to use. Start small. Don't put it off. People out there need you and what you have to offer.  

#8 Follow your intuition

Be careful not to let lots of outside voices drown out what you want for yourself. These voices can include well-meaning family and friends but can also build when you focus so much on what other people do in their businesses and on social media. Mute out anything unhelpful and tune into your voice, what you want to say and how you can help.