Launching a new endeavor is exciting and terrifying. Expectations, hopes, and fears jumble together. I want to remind you to keep your eye on the final result you are working to achieve. Every day there will be new hurdles and successes. Let these be your building blocks.

While you are building it is not unusual to seek out validation from friends and family. Proceed with significant caution when sharing your vision. The most loving and well-meaning tribe member can tarnish your view rapidly. I draw scads of questions and comments when I suggest this. Allow me to explain a little further. Imagine that you are an artist painting a landscape and you are about to paint the sky. You ask several other painters what color blue they would suggest. The answers will be as different and varied as each artist. Then you will have someone who suggests that you paint storm clouds or a pink sunset when you clearly indicated you wanted to paint a blue sky. While they are well-meaning in their advice, they can add confusion and doubt to the work you are creating.

If you have access to trusted resources and professionals that will help to further your work, then use them as your sounding board during the process. This will allow you more freedom to explore your venture and build confidence as it develops. There will be a place and time when you are ready to reveal your work. Don’t keep us in the dark for too long though. We need your brilliant ideas to shine.