Baby Steps

Have you seen the movie “What about Bob?“?  In that movie, Bob is afraid of going out of his house and the doctor tells Bob to use baby steps to get places.  So, Bob is repeating that throughout the movie “Baby Steps to the car… Baby steps to the car”.  Anyway, this is really a lesson that I have been learning recently.  Not about a phobia of being outside of my house but about making moves to building my business.

The Situation

As I have discussed in previous articles, it is extremely important that you come up with the vision of your business.  Then you have to create a plan that outlines what you business is and where it is going.   Once you have come up with a general idea, there you sit… in your living room with an idea.  Now what?

The Direction

This is the lesson that I have been learning recently.  It is time to start taking baby steps.  What does that mean?  Well, so many times we look at our vision and it is huge.  The path from the cubicle, classroom, manufacturing floor, or fry vat to our dreams seems like trying to jump across the Grand Canyon.  So instead of leaping (and probably not making it), you take a baby step to get to the other side.  Obvious steps: incorporate, get a logo, get a website, start blogging, etc.  Okay, so you’re already doing that, now what?  Take another baby step: join a local networking group, find a biz partner, take a network contact out for coffee.

There is really no secret to this, it is all about persistence.  In order to make your business grow you have to be persistent and keep the vision in mind.  If the steps you are taking are taking you toward that vision… you’re building a business!  I am believer that most business people don’t fail… they quit.  The only time that you can fail is when you quit, otherwise mistakes are simply learning opportunities.  So you have to take persistent baby steps in the direction.  I think that the cliche “It’s the journey not the destination” rings true with business as well.

The Journey

This concept is really describing the recent parts of my journey.  I am working on building a software business.  My medium to long term goal is to be focused on a couple of software product ideas that I have.  That said, I am bootstrapping the company at the current moment so I need to do consulting.  So, the first baby step I took was to pick up a couple of side clients.  Next, took an onsite contract with a company writing software.  Most recent step, direct contract through my company that will allow me to work remotely.  These steps are definitely not jumping over the canyon but I am definitely closer to the other side than I was a year ago.

So what is your next step?  Do you have the vision?  The Plan?  What’s next?

Be daring…be creative!

Jeremy

Jeremy Lattimore is a creative problem solving guru in the business technology field.  He has been involved in startups and has his MBA.  Currently, he’s obsessed with business automation/efficiency and social networks.  His current start up venture is Borea Systems and he’s diligently building his Refocusing Technology blog.