The Weekly 4: one question, one answer, one insight, and one resource to help you on the path to business ownership.
If you’ve been thinking about owning a business for a while, you’ve probably told yourself you’ll get serious “when the time is right.” More savings. Fewer responsibilities. A little more certainty.
But waiting for the perfect moment keeps most people in the same place for years. The real shift happens when you stop asking “Should I?” and start exploring “How would I?”
This week, we’ll dig into what that first step actually looks like and why it might be smaller and more fun than you think.
One Question
If you gave yourself permission to explore business ownership without committing to anything yet, what is the first curiosity you would follow, and why does it pull you in?
One Answer
The easiest way to take the first step is to remove the pressure to “start a business” and replace it with a structure for exploring one. A mentor of mine, T.A. McCann, has a process he calls a side project. It’s simple, practical, and it gives you a way to build clarity without making a big commitment. He’s used it to start multiple successful companies.
Here’s how his process works:
Focus on one thing you’re curious about. It could be an industry, a customer, a problem, or a technology that keeps grabbing your attention. You don’t need certainty. You just need something that pulls
you in.
Commit consistent time each week. It might be two hours or it might be ten. What matters is that it’s blocked on your calendar and protected.
Explore with intention. Spend about 20% of your weekly time reviewing what you learned the week before and planning what you’ll dig into next. Then use the rest of your time to do the exploration work: researching, interviewing, or prototyping.
Reflect every 30 days. Ask yourself if you’re having fun, if you’re excited to keep going, or if it’s time to pivot. Some paths will open up. Others won’t. Both outcomes are useful.
This is how you build clarity through action. Not by betting your savings or quitting your job, but by investing steady time into learn your way into what fits.
If you want to go deeper, I break down each step in this week’s video: You can watch it here.
One Insight
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
– Lao Tzu
One Resource
If you’re ready to take the first small step and are curious to leverage my mentor’s approach, I built a Side-Project Guide that walks you through how to structure your own 30-day exploration. It covers how to choose a focus, find time, plan your weekly learning, and run your 30-day reflection.
You can download it here:
https://jeremyames.com/resources/the-side-project-guide/
That’s it for this week. I hope to see you again with the next Weekly 4
Cheers,
What’s on Your Mind?
I write this newsletter with you in mind… the best questions come straight from readers. If you’re wondering about something related to business ownership, please join in the conversation. Send your questions, thoughts, or comments my way and I’ll do my best to answer it in a future issue or video.
