The Simplest First Step To Start Building a Lifestyle Business

What’s the difference between an expert who just has an idea and one who does start building a lifestyle business?

I have coached dozens of highly skilled individuals –doctors, lawyers, coaches, designers. And every single one of them has had at least one idea for an online course, an ebook, a podcast, or a membership site. By the time we talk, they have read blogs, watched YouTube videos, and even bought courses teaching them how to do it.

Unfortunately, 9 times out of 10, they don’t make it past the starting line.

Learning without action = overwhelm

When you spend too much time learning and not doing, you begin justifying your inaction with phrases like:

• I’m checking out different platforms.
• I’ll sign up for the trial and see which platform is best.
• I need to talk to my accountant before charging anyone.
• Maybe I should open a separate bank account.

In theory, these all seem like smart things to do. But it’s easy to stay in analysis mode and never start. And to make matters worse, the more you analyze, the more uncertain you become!

Here is how you break the cycle:

Start taking action

Let me go ahead and say this: you already have all you need to start working towards your lifestyle business.

No, you don’t need any additional certificates to start. You don’t need to have an LLC to start. You don’t need to have all your SOPs and a detailed business plan to start.

You’ll get there eventually if you just start.

“Yeah but what if I start in the wrong direction?”

In the words of the OG business development guru Jim Rohn, “you’ll find out sooner if you just start”.

Now… if you’re anything like me, the mere thought of starting something –anything– without having all your ducks in a row is giving you anxiety. I know.

The reason I know is because that’s exactly what kept me stuck for years without actually moving towards my lifestyle business dream. And when I look back at all the time I spent unhappy because I was too afraid to make a mistake, I wish someone –or something– had pushed me into action. So if that’s you, I want to encourage you to start taking action today.

So how can you start taking action when you’re scared of making a mistake?

This is how you start building a lifestyle business: take small steps and don’t commit – yet.

Let’s talk first about not committing.

What I mean by this is you should understand whatever you choose to do, or whichever direction you start going in, does not mean you’re stuck with it. If you start going down one path and you realize it’s not what you need or like, you can stop and change direction. It’s what Jeff Bezos refers to as a two-way door.

Think of it as going out on a coffee date. Low-risk, low commitment. If it works, great! You go on more dates.

But if it doesn’t, you each go your separate ways and that’s the end of it.

The best way to start small is by building an email list

Why an email list and not a social media profile?

With an email list you’re able to engage directly with those who sign up and you’re not at the mercy of an algorithm. Also, with an email list you can pivot and keep your subscribers more easily than if you try changing the focus of a social media profile. And lastly, with an email list, you are able to have real conversations with your subscribers and start monetizing it even when it’s super small.

Here are the steps I recommend to start one:

1. Sign up for Convertkit (it’s free for up to 1,000 subscribers). An alternative is Mailerlite (also has a free plan), but Convertkit has more growth and monetization tools.
2. Go through this FREE training by James Wedmore and get step by step directions to your first 100 leads
3. Send me a message on X or on LinkedIn with your signup link and I’ll be your first subscriber if you’re signed up to my newsletter. Seriously.

That’s it!

As always, thanks for reading.

Reach out and let me know what you found most helpful this week—I’d love to hear from you!

See you next Saturday,