If you’re starting out or you’ve been stuck on the same business idea for a while, there’s one mistake I see more than any other. It keeps good people stuck for months, sometimes even years.
The mistake is trying to build the perfect business all at once. You can’t create everything you need in a single day. Real businesses take time, and they grow in stages.
Most beginners believe progress looks like having a perfect website, the right tools, the right logo, the right system, and the right plan. So they research, compare, tweak, and wait. On the surface, it feels productive. In reality, it doesn’t move the business forward at all.
What you really need is one thing working, then you build from there. If you’re already making sales, keep making sales. If you’re already networking, keep networking. Momentum comes from continuing what’s already moving, not stopping to rebuild everything.
Small wins matter. Achieving quick, simple successes keeps you motivated and gives you proof that what you’re doing works.
I see this pattern all the time. People spend weeks choosing software without knowing which features they actually need. They build expensive websites with no traffic and no customers. Those tools and websites become costs you don’t need yet. What you need first is interest, conversations, and sales.
I know it feels like you’re being productive. But often, it’s just a delay. Subconsciously, you’re saying, “I’m not ready yet.” That’s comfort disguised as productivity.
The shift that changes everything is simple. Instead of asking, “What do I need to build?” ask yourself, “What is the next action that puts me in front of a real potential customer?”
That action will look different depending on what you’re doing:
If you offer a service, talk to one potential client
If you sell a product, list one item
If you’re unsure, write down the problem you solve in one clear sentence
No branding. No perfect system. No big website builds. Just one step that creates real, honest feedback and forward motion.
This works because progress comes from doing small things in the real world, getting feedback early, and adjusting as you go. Every successful business you admire started messy. They were unorganized and unstructured until they found their footing. That’s normal. Those are growing pains. They didn’t wait to be ready; they moved first and fixed things later.
Here’s your simple action for today, nothing more. Write down the one action you’ve been avoiding because you think you’re “not ready.” Then do the smallest version of it. Not the perfect version. Not the final version. The version that moves you forward.
When I first started in business,I felt a website was the most important thing. I built it, launched it… and nothing happened. No visitors. No calls. No sales. No one even knew my service existed. I had already put myself behind by trying to pay off a website before the business had traction.
What I learned was simple: keep it simple. Do the one thing that brings in cash flow. Make a sale. Start a conversation. Network.
You’ve got this.
— Jamie
Square Toolbox
Simple tools. Simple systems. Smarter steps.