How to Choose the Right Business to Start FOR YOU
February 24, 2020
Learn how to choose the right business model for your goals, market, and strengths to build a successful and sustainable business.
Starting your journey as an entrepreneur almost never goes in a straight line. You might try one thing and it doesn’t work. Then you try something else, and that doesn’t feel quite right either. It’s common to feel like you’re going in circles, making mistakes, or doing things that seem unrelated to your big goal. And that can be frustrating.
But here’s the truth: that messy, unclear phase is normal. In fact, it’s necessary.
Think of it like building a house. Before the walls go up and you can decorate the rooms, you need to dig the foundation. It’s dirty, slow, and you can’t really see the full picture yet—but it’s the most important part. That’s exactly what you’re doing in the early stage of entrepreneurship: laying your foundation.
Harvard professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter said it best: “The middle of anything looks like failure.” What she means is that when you’re in the middle of figuring things out, it can feel like nothing is working. But if you keep going, those rough, uncertain steps turn into progress. Every mistake teaches you something. Every side job, project, or idea—even if it fails—brings you closer to the right path.
So if your journey feels messy right now, don’t stress. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just getting started the way most successful entrepreneurs do.
You might feel like your current or past jobs have nothing to do with the business you want to start. Maybe you’ve worked in a factory, done sales, tried a side hustle, or explored different industries that don’t seem connected. That’s okay—in fact, it’s more normal than you think.
Before taking your entrepreneurial leap, you might find yourself jumping from one job to another, trying new things, and learning as you go. And while none of those jobs may seem to point directly to your future business, each one is giving you something valuable.
You’re learning how to work hard, how to deal with people, how to manage money, take risks, and solve problems. Every job, project, or experience is building your skills and confidence—even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.
When the time comes to start your own business, you’ll be surprised at how useful those past experiences are. You’ll pull lessons from each one to help you build something meaningful. So don’t worry if your path looks random or messy. You’re gathering tools you’ll need as an entrepreneur.
Your journey is unfolding exactly as it should. Keep moving forward.
Read related article: The 8 MUST-DOS to Increase Your Odds of Entrepreneurial Success
When you’re in the early stages of becoming an entrepreneur, it’s easy to feel stuck. You might think you need the perfect business idea or a detailed plan before you can start. But the truth is, action is way more important than perfection.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to get moving.
Start where you are. Get a job, take on a freelance gig, or launch a small side project. Don’t worry if it’s not your “dream business” yet. Every step you take helps you learn something new. Maybe you’ll find out what you enjoy—or what you definitely don’t.
Reading and planning are great, but experience is the best teacher. When you take action, you’ll make mistakes, face challenges, and figure things out in real time. That’s how you grow. Each move helps you gain confidence and get clearer on what path is right for you.
Waiting until everything is “just right” can hold you back. Perfection isn’t real—and chasing it usually leads to frustration. Instead, aim for small wins. Take the next step, even if it’s messy. Keep going, and you’ll build momentum.
Tips to Get Started:
Remember, no one becomes a successful entrepreneur by just thinking about it. They get there by doing. So take a step today. You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to begin.
Right now, you’re in the “try it and see” phase of your entrepreneurial journey. Think of it like a playground or a lab where you get to test different ideas, jobs, projects, or industries to figure out what feels right to you.
This phase isn’t just about chasing what excites you—it’s also about learning what doesn’t. And that’s just as important. Discovering what drains your energy or doesn’t match your values helps you narrow your focus. It’s like trying on different outfits to find the one that really fits.
As you explore, keep your eyes open. Pay attention to problems people often talk about or challenges you notice in everyday life. Maybe it’s something that annoys you or a gap you keep seeing. That could be the spark for your business idea.
Think about it this way: behind almost every successful company is a simple idea that solved a real problem.
In Entrepreneurial Leap, Chapter 13 shares real-life stories of successful entrepreneurs and how they found their “aha!” moments. Reading those examples can help you recognize your own.
You don’t have to come up with every idea on your own. Some of the best inspiration comes from reading, learning, and talking to others. Books, podcasts, and conversations can help you think in new ways.
Sometimes a single quote or comment from a friend can help connect the dots in your mind. Here are a few quotes that sparked ideas for me and might do the same for you:
Think about what frustrates people. What makes them feel stuck or stressed? That’s where opportunity often hides.
You don’t have to figure it all out today. But every step you take in this experimental phase is helping you get closer to your business idea—and your future success.
You don’t have to build your dream business overnight—but you do need to start. So ask yourself: What’s one simple thing you can do today to move forward?
Maybe you:
These small steps may not seem like much, but they build momentum. And momentum builds clarity. That clarity is what will guide you to the business you were meant to start.
If you want support, tools, and a step-by-step path to help you gain even more clarity and confidence, visit e-leap.com.
There, you’ll find free tools like the Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Assessment, worksheets to help you discover your ideal business, and stories from entrepreneurs just like you.
Your leap starts with one step. Take it today.
Learn how to choose the right business model for your goals, market, and strengths to build a successful and sustainable business.
