Have you ever come up with an amazing idea, but then had absolutely no clue how to get started and actually make it happen? Join the club! I think most (if not all) entrepreneurs feel like this regularly. I know I do! I’m always coming up with new ideas and I almost always have no idea how I’m going to make them happen. The danger with this is that when you don’t know what to do, you can often end up procrastinating. It’s easy to get so focused on the problem of ‘not knowing’ that you forget about what you can do.
Most of us feel like we should have all the answers and when we don’t we can end up feeling like we’re not good enough. So many people beat themselves up when they don’t know how to do something and the thing is – the more they beat themselves up, the faster they lose self-belief and the more self-belief they lose the less they start to believe that they can actually turn their idea into a reality. I used to do this all the time and it’s such a frustrating place to be. I remember feeling like tearing my hair out at times, I was that frustrated and I wanted to achieve my goals so badly.
However, the problem wasn’t that I didn’t know what to do – this is normal. The REAL problem was that I was using all my focus and energy on thinking that the problem was that I didn’t know what to do. I was so consumed by the ‘not knowing’ that I totally forgot to think about what I could do.
When I changed my attitude and programmed my mind for success, I stopped doing this (watch the video I made about programming your mind for success here).
But there are 5 steps I take every time I face the challenge of not having a clue what to do – they help me to overcome the challenge and start making progress.
Step One: Accept that it’s ok not to have a clue
This is an important first step, because the more you feel that not having a clue is a problem, the more it becomes a problem and the more lost and confused and hesitant you become. The truth is, most people don’t have a clue!! I bet if you went a read up about the most successful entrepreneurs in the world they would tell you that they didn’t really have a clue when they began. You have to accept that it’s ok not to have all the answers and once you have, you release it and it’s not so much of a problem anymore. Once you’ve done this you can move your focus onto what you can actually do. Instead of seeing not having a clue has a problem, see it as an adventure, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Step Two: Ask questions
Even if you don’t know the answers, lots of other people do. So make a list of all the questions you need answering, of all the things you need to figure out and then find people who can help you. Start by asking your friends and family or go to networking events and ask questions. Go on LinkedIn and search for people who can help you. If you’re looking to start an online business go and find some other people who have set up and online business and ask if you could meet them for a coffee and get their advice – people LOVE being asked for advice.
Step Three: Learn as much as possible
If you want to achieve amazing things and build successful businesses then you need to be constantly learning and investing time in your personal development. I think we often forget to do this. You could set aside time in the morning or at night to read a book, listen to an audio programme, go on a seminar. Make a list of the things you could learn that would help you to reach your goal and go and learn. Learning doesn’t need to be expensive either – there is so much amazing, free content available on Google and YouTube, just make the time to find it.
Step Four: Make a list of all the things you can do today
There are things you can start doing today that will help you to get closer to achieving your goals – write them down and get clear on what they are. Sometimes when you’re caught up in the confusion of trying to make progress when you feel like you haven’t got a clue, it’s easy to forget about what you can actually do. So ask yourself, “what possible things could I get started on today that will help me to get closer to my goal?” – even if it’s making a list of books you want to read or courses you want to go on, or what research you need to do. Maybe you could call someone today and ask for their advice? Write it all down.
Step Five: Break it down and make a plan
Now you know the things you can start doing, make a plan so you know when you’re going to do them. Fit them into your daily to-do list and plan on actually taking action. They might seem like small steps, but that’s how progress is made – slowly, but surely.
If you follow these steps you will make progress.
And if you’re thinking right now, “yeah, but I still don’t have a clue!” – STOP IT. Stop focusing on that and start focusing on what you can do.
So, all you have to do now is get on and make it happen!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. I’ll be back next week with another video for you.
Carrie x
