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You Don’t Need the Whole Plan to Take the First Step

One of the questions that came in for this podcast was from Ann, and it’s a common one.

She asked how to properly plan the next three, six, nine, or twelve months in a way that actually moves her business forward. Not just talking about it. Not hoping it will all fall into place. But knowing what to focus on and what to do first.

Underneath her question was something I see all the time.

The belief that if you could just get the plan right, everything would finally click. If the roadmap was clear enough, the overwhelm would disappear. The business would blossom. Momentum would come.

I understand why we want that.

But creating a twelve-month plan is not what moves your business forward.

Planning Feels Productive, But It Isn’t Action

As business owners, yes, we think ahead. We set annual goals. We zoom out and look at the bigger picture. But we do not flesh out every detail of the next twelve months all at once. That’s not realistic, and it’s rarely helpful.

What has worked for me is choosing one main focus at a time. Typically, that looks like one big focus per quarter. And then the details are built in real time.

Because clarity doesn’t come from putting something on paper. It comes from doing the work and learning as you go.

Planning can make us feel organized. It can make us feel like we’re making progress.

But planning by itself does not create momentum. Action does.

The Glass Ball and Plastic Ball Reality

This actually came up recently in my local entrepreneur group here in Orlando.

When I moved here in 2024, I started a monthly entrepreneur meetup. We gather to share wins, talk through challenges, and say our goals out loud. It’s simply a room full of people who understand what it’s like to build an online business.

At our last meeting, we were talking about overwhelm and prioritizing action. One of the women shared an analogy that stuck with me.

She said she’s learned to stop treating everything like it’s equally important. Instead, she asks herself which balls are glass and which are plastic.

Glass balls are the things that cannot be dropped. If they fall, something breaks. Plastic balls might matter, but if they drop for a while, nothing catastrophic happens.

The problem is that most of us are trying to juggle everything as if it’s all glass. And when we treat everything as urgent and fragile, we freeze.

You Don’t Need the Whole Plan

When I look back at my own business, I never had the full roadmap.

• I didn’t know exactly what niche to focus on.
• I didn’t know which offers would stick.
• I didn’t know how things would evolve.

What I did know was the next step I was willing to take. Every time I took that step, the next one became clearer.

Not before.
After.

That’s the part people miss. Clarity doesn’t arrive because you planned perfectly. It forms because you moved.

What Is the Glass Ball in Your Business Right Now?

If you’re feeling stuck, here’s the question I want you to ask yourself:

What is the glass ball in my business right now?

• Is it finishing and launching one offer?
• Is it clarifying what you’re selling?
• Is it focusing on bringing in new leads?
• Is it showing up consistently with your message?

Everything else may matter eventually. But not everything deserves your attention at the same time.

Some things can be plastic for this season. And letting them drop for now does not mean you’re careless.

It means you’re focused.

Your Action Step

You don’t need the whole plan to take the first step. You need one clear priority and the willingness to act.

Clarity will meet you there.

That’s how purpose turns into impact.

Submit Your Question for the Podcast for Your Chance to Win

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what your next step should be, you’re invited to submit your question for the podcast.

Many of the episodes in this series are inspired by real listener submissions. When you submit a question, you’ll also be entered into the listener giveaway for access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at: youronlinebusinessmentor.com

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This post is based on Day 4 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.