Stuck in Planning Mode? Here’s How to Take Action and Build a Business That Feels Like You
Intro: The Dreamer’s Trap
I think the most powerful gift we have as humans is our ability to dream and create a vision of what we want. Our lives are like a GPS, we make decisions and take action based on where we desire to be and who we desire to become.
BUT, sometimes it’s hard to move past “Dream Mode” and into full on action mode.
Here is what I know about you….
- You’ve been dreaming about your business for a while now.
- You’ve got the ideas, the passion, the desire to help people.
- You’ve probably saved hundreds of Instagram posts, listened to all the right podcasts, taken a few courses, and maybe even mapped out the perfect business plan.
But here’s the thing…
You’re still not showing up consistently. You’re not sharing your gifts, talents, and how you can help people. You’re not fully “in it” yet.
I haven’t met an aspiring entrepreneur yet that hasn’t struggled with stepping beyond planning mode.
And that’s not because you’re lazy or unmotivated. It’s because you’ve unintentionally trapped yourself in planning mode—and now it feels like you can’t move forward.
Sound familiar?
In this article, we are going to shift this for you today.
Building a business isn’t about having everything figured out.
It’s about starting with what you do know and taking one step at a time.
The Real Reason You’re Stuck
Here’s the good news: This isn’t a discipline problem. It’s a mindset pattern.
You have the WHY, you have the drive, you are more than capable. You know enough, have enough experience, and are ready.
You’re likely stuck because of one (or more) of these:
- You think you need to be MORE ready—like you need a bigger following, clearer niche, a prettier website. You need to know exactly what to say, what to write, what to sell so that you can be 100% sure it will all work out perfectly.
- You’re afraid of being seen “too soon”—before everything is perfect. You’ve probably followed and watch so many other entrepreneurs doing exactly what you want to be doing and see that they “have it all figured out and put together.” They may appear perfect, but they are either still figuring it out themselves or have been where you are and took the leap to start and figure it out along the way.
- You’ve consumed so much content, you’re overwhelmed and unsure which direction is right. Consuming can be ok, but when you consume too much, you have to ask yourself why you feel like you need to see or learn more. The only way to figure out what will work for YOU is to stop consuming and learning and start taking action. Choose one path, one offer, one way of sharing your knowledge and then tweak as you go.
- You’ve forgotten how valuable your voice and lived experience are. When we stay in planning mode and continue to consume content, we stop focusing on OUR voices, our knowledge, our experiences. Your business can ONLY be based on what YOU know, not what others know, not more knowledge. It starts with where you are right now. It’s time to stop being in someone else’s business journey and start being more present in your own.
The truth?
No amount of planning will replace the growth that happens when you start.
Clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Let’s redefine business. Because this is where everything changes.
Business isn’t about being an expert, having a 6-figure launch, or a perfect Instagram grid.
Business is about helping someone solve a problem. That’s it.
And guess what? A successful business is about helping more and more people solve a problem.
Simple, right?!
You have something that someone needs right now.
Not someday. Not once your offer is polished. Not after you’ve taken 3 more certifications.
Right now.
They don’t care if your marketing looks coiffed, if you have an intricate website, or if you have blueberries stuck in your teeth in your latest video.
They don’t care if you HAVE a formal website, sales page, or marketing system.
They just want your knowledge!
You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough to help someone take their next step.
Your unique perspective, life experience, and energy are what make your offer different.
And when you start seeing your business through that lens—it becomes so much simpler and way less intimidating.
If there is anything you take away from this article today – I want THIS point to be the one you work on embodying. This is the game changer in a very noise entrepreneur world where everyone wants to tell you what you need and what your business needs to look like. THIS is the only thing you need to succeed.
My dad was an entreprenuer for over 40 years. He never had a website, an email address, social media, or even yellow page ads. Our home landline was his office phone and me and my sister and mom took his messages. His office was his truck. His marketing was all word of mouth. He started with ONE focus – doing siding on houses. It took years before he branched out to anything else. He just networked and relied on word of mouth. And it worked. He was very successful. Remember K.I.S.S – Keep it Simple, Sweetie!
Knowledge is Great—But Action Builds the Foundation
Let’s get something straight: Content, courses, and inspiration? Those are tools. They belong in your toolbox. And we all should have a toolbox as a business owner, ideas, strategies, approaches that we can come back to when we need them or when we want to try and tweak what we are doing.
But they are NOT the foundation of your business.
You build your foundation by:
- Sharing your message out loud
- Making your first (imperfect) offer
- Coaching or serving clients even when you’re still figuring things out
- Letting your experience in the work shape your next steps
It’s not about being totally original either—it’s about showing up with your voice and your way of helping.
You don’t need to “know more.” You need to start trusting what you already know.
People aren’t just going to work with you because of what you know and how you can help them. They are going to work/buy from you because of who you are, your perspective, your approach, your relatability, your experience, your story, your energy, their trust in YOU.
You can’t borrow or learn that from someone else. That is all unique to you. People are waiting for you to show up and share so they can find THAT person (YOU) that they relate to, that gets them, that they feel comfortable with. The longer you sit on the side-lines watching everyone else, the longer someone is waiting for a solution.
5 Ways to Break the Cycle and Start Today
Ok, since this article is all about getting out of planning and consuming mode and into empowered action mode, let’s get moving!
Ready to turn planning mode into momentum? Here’s where to begin:
1. Decide what you help people with—today.
What problem do you solve or what shift do you help someone make? Keep it simple.
Does this mean you have to help people with this problem forever? Nope! But it gets you started. It gets you learning about sharing your knowledge and skills, about selling and making offers, and about confidently owning your skills, talents, gifts, and knowledge.
2. Create one simple offer.
This could be a coaching call, a service, a workshop, a product, or a mini package. Build it based on your lived experience and what people ask you about.
I can’t emphasize this enough – start with ONE! You are going to be getting outside of your comfort zone, embodying new habits, learning and growing. It’s going to take time, energy, and effort. You will learn so much more and be less overwhelmed if you just start with ONE offer.
3. Share it with actual people.
Start with conversations. Invite people in. You don’t need a sales page to make an offer that helps someone.
No, you are not going to be a sleazy car salesman. You are just sharing your story, and your offer and how it will help others. This is just about human connection and letting people know how you can help them.
The more people you meet and share your offer and knowledge with, the greater the probability of finding the people that need what you offer.
4. Trust your voice.
Your take on a topic is enough. Your way of delivering results is valid. Stop waiting to be like someone else and start being the guide you would’ve needed.
Remember what I said earlier: Your unique way is what others will connect with. People will hire you because of who you are and relating to your story and your knowledge, your talents, your perspective. That can’t be mimicked.
5. Use content wisely—not constantly.
Set limits. Use it as support or inspiration, not a reason to doubt yourself. One aligned action > ten hours of scrolling.
One of the best things you can do is put blinders on. If you find yourself watching someone online and questioning how they are doing things, then it’s time to unfollow. Unfollow all of the people that give you comparisonitis, whose content you consume for long periods of time, that keep you questioning what you should do next. You want to spend more time in YOUR business and way less time in anyone else’s.
Journal Prompts for Your Inner CEO
Grab your pen and journal and let’s re-connect to your business dreams. Let’s refocus on getting things started right now. Even if you already started your business, these journal prompts will help you get back to the foundations of your business.
Let these prompts reconnect you to your POWER and PURPOSE:
- What do I already know that could help someone today?
- What’s one offer I’d love to share—even if it’s imperfect?
- What would I do if I fully trusted that my knowledge was enough right now?
- What’s one bold, small action I can take this week?
Conclusion: Start Before You’re Ready—You’re Ready Enough
The business you’re dreaming about doesn’t start with a plan.
It starts with a decision: to believe you have something worth sharing—and to offer it to the world, right now.
So here’s your invitation:
Choose one thing from this post and act on it today. One small, aligned, courageous step.
You don’t need more prep.
You need more belief in what you already hold.
Next Steps
Want help getting out of your head and into action? Let’s jump on a free 30 minute Momentum Call and get clear on what is holding you back and come up with a few simple strategies to start with today!
