Image via agroffman on Flickr
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The funny thing about the entrepreneur type is that we always have crazy ideas running through our heads. We go from wanting to make some extra cash as a freelance writer to wanting to run webinars, launch ebooks, start consulting and basically run an online empire in one fell swoop.
While it’s great to have so many ideas and ambitions, the hardest part always seems to be getting them started. We get into our own heads thinking we can’t accomplish something because of money, a job that’s holding us back or because we think life just doesn’t work that way. We come up with a million reasons why we SHOULDN’T do something instead of just getting off our asses and doing it.
I’m no stranger to this myself. When I first started freelance writing and blogging I was constantly doubting myself. I kept thinking “I’ll never be able to turn this into a full blown living”, “I’m not made for being my own boss”, “THIS IS WAY HARDER THAN I THOUGHT!”, “Have a completely lost my mind? Why can’t I just be complacent with a nine to five?”, “I’m never going to have a weekend again!”, “I’ll never be able to accomplish everything I want to do!” and on and on and on.
Obviously with time I’ve been able to get a handle on my emotions as I learn what works for me as a creative business person. Sometimes an idea works out and sometimes it doesn’t, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on our dreams of entrepreneurship. I’ve certainly learned some lessons along the way, and below you’ll find some ways that I have been able to put some of my seemingly crazy ideas into action.
1. Write your ideas down as soon as they come to you.
I’m one of those people that if I see it in front of me then it must be true. In other words, unless I see my idea written down on paper it’ll get lost in my head somewhere.
As soon as you have any idea write it down so you don’t forget it! I walk around with a little moleskin notebook and check back at the end of each day. Which brings me to my next point…
2. Write down an action plan.
When you’re checking back on your ideas make sure to write out at least 3 action steps you need to take in order to get started. This helps you to better visualize and plan your next steps. So for instance, let’s say you had an idea to launch an ebook about a topic you are passionate about. Your action steps may read as follows:
a. Write one page a day.
b. Have a rough draft by [insert date here]
c. Research how to launch a product online.
d. Announce launch on blog, social media, etc.
There are of course other steps you can take. The point is that you give yourself a rough idea of what it is you need to do in order to reach your goal. You can go back later and fill in the nitty gritty details.
3. Set a public deadline.
I have to credit this idea to Lindsay over at The Boomerang Kid. Once you have a pretty good idea of what your next project is going to be and what it takes make sure to announce a public deadline. And when I say public deadline I don’t mean 10 years from now, I mean as soon as you think you can get it done.
Deadlines help you put things in perspective. They make your project seem real. They give you enough pressure to finally get to work on things you’ve always wanted to do. Tim Ferris, author of The 4 Hour Work Week (great book by the way) has a pretty interesting theory about deadlines: the sooner you make them the more you’ll work. In other words if you set something for a year from now you’ll be less likely to succeed than if you have yourself a deadline of a month. It’s psychology, really.
Of course this does depend on the magnitude of your project. If you want to launch an entire business – like an online consulting service – you’re going to need more time than a month. The point is to announce a public deadline where you give yourself enough pressure to actually work. I did it with the upcoming GMW Ebook and I promise you it works.
4. One project at a time.
If you want to really do something well then you need to focus. You may have a million ideas running through your head but you won’t really get any of them done unless you go one by one. If you get an idea for a new project while in the middle of completing another one just put it on a running list.
This is what I started doing when I realized I was spreading myself too thin. It helped me become more organized and focus. Above all it allowed me to actually get things done!
5. Remember to have fun!
This is your project. It’s what you are passionate about. In other words it shouldn’t feel like a drag.
Remember to have fun while you’re working on your projects. Reach out to like minded entrepreneurs or make videos to show fans what you are up to. Also remember to take a break if you need it.
The truth is that you CAN accomplish all those ideas in your head – whether it’s starting a freelance business or launching a product. All it takes is a little organization and patience. 
Another tip which works well with defining a deadline is establishing rewards/consequences. If you meet your deadline, reward yourself. Even the smallest reward, like the bowl of your favorite ice cream, works. But if you fail to reach your deadline, prepare to deal with a consequence. For instance, sacrificing a day off to get back on schedule.
That’s a great tip! I sometimes reward myself with an episode of one of my favorite TV shows after a job well done.
Writing stuff down is huge for me. I have a notebook, but I also use Evernote on my phone and on my computer. It keeps everything together so I can go back and elaborate on an idea, or just brainstorm on something new.
I’m a big fan of Evernote as well! It makes remembering things so easy