After a while when we’ve been living the same lives day after day, hoping for the next opportunity to arise, our lives can start to feel a bit like that movie Groundhog Day. This can make one feel stagnant and like they’re just not getting anywhere with their goals. The problem is that this is the point where many people simply give up. “Well I’ve plateaued, maybe this isn’t my thing.”  In reality, this is the time to push forward even harder and keep persevering. This is the time to put pen to paper and brainstorm the next steps.

• Ask yourself these questions.

Where can I expand? What skills can I improve? Is there something I can turn this into that may not be expected? Where are my connections? Is there an area I have not yet tapped into yet? Sometimes a little brain storming about our ideas and goals can be the jump start we need to inspire and motivate ourselves again to make the next step. So what’s your next step?

• Realize that just having goals is not the point.

Only having an idea of what your goals are keeps you at a distance from them in a way.  Truly reaching your goals just means living out your vision on a daily basis and taking the steps necessary to making them solid. Instead of thinking about them as “goals” as a final destination, think about it as an ongoing evolving process that is malleable and can change at any time.  If you have an idea, just go for it, do what you can today to make it real.

Writing prompts: What is your process? How do you feel like you’ve evolved your business idea or project since you started it? How do you feel like you can improve upon your process?

• Quality Content

Content can mean numerous different things, whether it’s articles on your blog, inventory to showcase in your online store, art or design pieces in your portfolio, content is basically *the* most important thing to function as a business.  It is extremely important to already have quality content or inventory to back up what you will be describing yourself as to people.  Creating quality content is probably the most time consuming step, but it is also one of the most enjoyable.

• Make it professional.

The difference of whether you have a hobby or have a profession is completely up to you.  There is often a long period of time from starting your venture and when you actually start making money off of it.  If it’s something you love to do you’ll probably be doing it whether or not you make money off of it. Go for things you are passionate about, and then when you have some content built up, start functioning as though you are already a successful venture.  Get business cards, have a graphic designer make a logo for you, print out postcards and start distributing them around your community.  Develop a presence in social media and in your community to let people know what you are up to!