It usually starts like this: A simple idea pops into your head while you’re making lunch or folding laundry or trying to fall asleep. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t beg. It just quietly returns, again and again. “What if I tried this?”
That’s how it’s always been for me.
Over the years, I’ve launched multiple businesses, products, services, each born from nothing more than a passing idea and a willingness to try before everything was perfectly figured out.
Some flopped. Some flourished. One quick launch I nearly dismissed as “too simple” ended up bringing in over $684,000 in revenue. (Yep, really.)
The common thread? I didn’t wait until everything was polished. I started before it felt “ready.”
But here’s the thing: when we hear people say “start before you’re ready,” it sounds inspiring—but also kind of vague. What does that actually look like? For me, it looked like publishing a sales page I wasn’t 100% sure about. It looked like launching without all the bells and whistles. It looked like trusting my gut more than my inner critic. The common thread? I didn’t wait until everything was polished. I started before it felt “ready.”
Do You Have an Idea That Won’t Leave You Alone?
Maybe it’s a digital product you know your audience needs. Maybe it’s a shift in your services that would bring your work closer to what lights you up. Or maybe it’s something completely new.
But then the voice creeps in: You don’t have it all figured out yet.
If you’ve been stuck in idea limbo, wondering when you’ll finally feel ready—this post is for you. I want to share what I’ve learned from taking messy action, launching without guarantees, and letting real-world feedback shape my path.
Because the truth is, starting your business before you’re ready might just be the smartest thing you ever do.
The Story: When I Almost Didn’t Launch
A few years back, I had an idea for a super simple digital product. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t complex. Honestly, I didn’t think it was anything groundbreaking. I was simply trying to solve a problem I myself kept having as a business owner. I figured, worst case, I’d end up with the problem solved. Best case, there might be other business owners struggling with the exact same thing—and I could help them too.
But something told me to try it.
So I put it out into the world.
No fancy funnel. No massive social media following. Just a good offer that solved a real problem, paired with a Pinterest ad and an email to my small-but-loyal list.
That product went on to generate $684,000 in revenue.
And what still amazes me is that I almost didn’t launch it at all.
When I first launched the idea, it was built in the scrappiest way possible. I didn’t want to waste time, so I used a simple course platform to host the content, dropped in the materials, and opened it up as a membership. That was it. There wasn’t a fancy dashboard or custom design. I was just curious to answer one question: Were people actually interested? I figured I could polish and expand the idea later.
It wasn’t until we hit $11,000 in sales that I started building the full site and dashboard for it. I had put so little effort into the launch intentionally—I just needed proof of concept. And that clarity made all the difference.
The Shift: Action Creates Clarity
That experience (and many others like it) taught me something huge:
You can’t learn what your business needs until it exists.
The market will tell you what’s working. Your audience will tell you what they love. And your gut? It will sharpen with every step you take.
But none of that happens if the idea stays in your notebook.
When you start before you feel ready, you give your idea a chance to breathe. And when it breathes? It grows. Maybe not exactly the way you imagined—but often in ways far better than you planned.
And while I’ve definitely had launches that fell flat or ideas that never quite landed, the ones that did? They changed my life. Not because they were perfect—but because they were real.
What Helped Me Start Before I Felt Ready
Here are a few mindset shifts and strategies that helped me (and might help you too):
1. Treat It Like a Test
Instead of thinking about it as “launching a new (business, service, product” think of it as running an experiment. Experiments can change. They can grow. They don’t need to be perfect. They’re simply a starting point.
2. Use What You Already Know
You don’t need to start from scratch. What have you learned from your past work, your audience, or your own experience? Build on that. Leverage it. Pull from the wins and the failures. They’re both valuable.
3. Create the Simplest Version First
What’s the bare minimum version of this idea? Create that. Get it out. Then improve it later based on real feedback. Perfection is a moving target—start with good enough.
4. Focus on the Person You Want to Help
When fear creeps in, shift your focus to the person who needs what you’re creating. Let them be your why. If your offer helps just one person, it was worth it.
5. Expect Imperfection
Your first version won’t be your final version. And that’s a good thing. Give yourself the gift of iteration. Make it better as you go. Just get started.
6. Set a Small, Doable Deadline
Give yourself a realistic deadline to launch. Not one year from now—think one month. Keep it light. Keep it doable. But commit.
7. Celebrate the Start
Even if no one else sees the effort it took, you know. Celebrate the courage it takes to start. That step is often the hardest—and the most powerful.
What Could That Look Like for You?
If you’ve been sitting on an idea, unsure whether it’s time to act—this is your sign. That idea came to you for a reason. Don’t let overthinking bury it.
Start before you’re ready. Trust the messy middle. Know that the best clarity often comes after the action.
The only way to know if it works? Is to finally just go for it.
