My longing to do something amazing is very strong lately. I want to make an impact and I want to make money doing it. I feel pressure to have a second stream of income and I feel the pull of helping my community and doing good. All this has my mind in a frenzy. I have so many ideas, so many ways, so many things I love to do. There are several ways I feel I could be a good samaritan in my town; and so the ideas flow, and then I get overwhelmed…and do nothing.

This cycle is extremely unproductive. And one thing I like to be, is productive. I am solutions based, I like to have a plan and get things done. But for some reason, can’t get started on anything I want to do. I’m not sure if there is a name for this feeling. I don’t feel I’m stuck due to fear or uncertainty. I don’t feel I’m stuck due to the fear of actually being successful. I think I want to do all the things I love to do at one time, and that doesn’t seem to be possible.

So I guess I have to choose a path. I feel the urge to incorporate all the things I love into one space. Part of this hesitancy is all the crap that’s a part of IG right now. Everything on IG is aesthetics and branding and marketing and business. Everyone is trying to sell and I honestly want IG to be the modern day tumblr again. But that’s why I am writing here on Substack and sharing on IG as I go. IG is not my focus.

So for the moms who can relate, here is how I’m starting small. I have big dreams, and I want to do all the things and experience all the things; but I have to accept that things have to come as they may…one thing at a time.

How am I going to incorporate all the things I love into one blog, one IG account(well two: one personal page + one blog page), and one email list? Let me first break down what I love:

I mean, these topics couldn’t be more broad. But they all are a part of who I am and what I love. So I have to find a way. I can’t have 5 different IG’s. That sounds like misery! But I can scrunch those things down to 2 pages. And for the sake of my sanity, I’m going to start small with sharing my posts and hopefully making an impact. I have to do what serves me first in order to begin to serve others. I have to do what brings me joy in order to not get overwhelmed in this process. We can’t pour from empty cups!

My big goal is to start a non-profit for single parents. So while I start small with sharing content, I will also start small with starting an organization that will give back to the community.

Starting small means to do a couple of small tasks each day to lead up to the big picture. As moms, it’s not wise to throw yourself into building a business or side hustle all at once. We are already overwhelmed with motherhood and life, I can’t imagine adding hustling to my list right now. I’ve been there before. I’ve always been business minded and felt a strong longing to start a business. And I’ve tried many times in the past. I’ve thrown myself into this business and that business over and over, just to fall flat each time. Why? Because I bit off more than I could chew. I took on way more than I could handle as a single mom. It was idiotic to be honest. But that’s how much drive and ambition I have. I felt like I was unstoppable.

The truth is, God stopped me in my tracks each time. Another part of starting slow means that we go to God for wisdom about our next move. Pray about that idea, or the steps you need to take when it comes to moving forward with your ideas. I went to God just last night and I feel at peace with the decision to take this slow. God gave me the idea, He will bring it to pass in His time. And for now, I will take small steps towards the goal, listening for Gods directions and guidance along the way.

If you’re a mom who is ambitious and eager to start that business or to go after that goal that’s on your heart, I’d suggest that you slow down and regroup. Get clear on exactly what it is you want to do and start with the very first thing you can do to move the needle forward. Slow progress is still progress. Don’t let social media make you feel like you have to be an overnight success, because no one is. Everyone we see who’s “winning” online right now, has a story of failure and consistency to tell.

So what will your first step be? Remember, we are taking small steps, we are not stopping! My first step will be to figure out how I can change my business entity over to a non profit organization without getting a new EIN number.

Maybe your first step will be to grab your IG handle and create your business IG account so that it’s ready to go when you start posting. Maybe it’ll be to write your first blog post. Maybe it’ll be to do some preliminary research on your niche. Or to come up with your business name. Whatever your first step it, I hope you take it with pride. There’s no need to rush. No need to expect huge results early on.

Here’s to us being consistent and watching how things unfold. Here’s to us going to God when we are unsure. Here’s to our success in all of our endeavors. ✨

Be sure to share this post with a mom who needs it.