Stacking Rocks

How to Start Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Alright, last week we talked about building your cliff—the metaphorical platform you jump from into your dream life or career. But let’s get real and dial it in a bit more, because I know some of you are sitting there thinking, “How the hell am I supposed to leap if I don’t even know what I want to do?”

If that’s you, welcome to the club. I’ve been there. You’re not alone. The first step is realizing that the cliff you’re supposed to leap from? Yeah, it’s not just gonna magically appear.

If you’ve been tinkering with the idea of starting something—whether it’s a business or a big career shift—but feel like you’re walking around in the dark, here’s the deal: there’s no set destination, but building your own map? That’s where the fun is.

You don’t need everything figured out right now, but you do need to start stacking those rocks. Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Brain Dump Your Ideas—What Rocks Are You Working With?

Before you can start building your cliff, you’ve gotta figure out what rocks you’re working with. What are your skills, your interests, and those random-ass ideas that pop into your head at 2 a.m.? These are the foundation.

This part, It’s just letting your brain run wild. Grab a notebook, scribble on a napkin, type it into your phone—I don’t care how you do it, just start unloading all those ideas. Don’t filter anything. Write it all down. It’s like word vomit, but the productive kind.

Think about jobs you’ve enjoyed, hobbies that get you hyped, or things you just naturally gravitate toward. What lights you up? What makes you lose track of time?

Here’s what my brain dump might’ve looked like back in the day:

• “I love mentoring people.”
• “I’ve always been into graphic design.”
• “Problem-solving is my jam.”
• “Writing has always come naturally to me.”

No need to make sense of it yet. Just throw it all out there. These random thoughts? These are your rocks—the raw materials you’re going to stack into something real.

Step 2: Sort the Rocks—What Do You Actually Want?

Now that you’ve brain-dumped a pile of ideas, it’s time to make sense of it. You’ve got to figure out what really matters to you and what direction you want to go in.

Ask yourself the big question: What’s the endgame here?

Are you chasing that fat paycheck? Or is it about finding something that lights your soul on fire, even if it doesn’t come with a huge salary?

The answer to this is gonna help you organize your rocks into something that looks like a plan.

For example, if you wrote down “mentoring” and “people,” but also “I want to make bank,” maybe consulting or coaching for corporate clients is your path.

If you’re more focused on fulfillment and less on dollar signs, maybe working with nonprofits or becoming a life coach is more your speed.

Figure out your non-negotiables. If you hate long hours, don’t build a business that’ll have you hustling 24/7. If you need to feel financially secure, don’t chase an idea that’ll take forever to turn a profit.

Step 3: Let AI Help You Stack the Rocks

Alright, now things get fun. You’ve got your pile of rocks, but you’re not entirely sure how to stack them. Good news—you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. We’ve got AI for that.

Take that mess of ideas you just brain-dumped and plug it into an AI tool. Let it spit out potential business ideas or career paths that line up with what you’ve got.

For example, if your list includes “problem-solving,” “mentoring,” and “writing,” AI might come back with ideas like:

• Consulting for startups—helping them streamline their operations.
• Content marketing manager—blending problem-solving with writing for brands.
• Freelance writing coach—mentoring people who want to improve their writing game.

Let AI toss out some ideas you might not have thought of yourself. If none of the suggestions hit the mark, tweak your inputs and try again.

It’s like throwing a few extra rocks into the pile and seeing what sticks.

Step 4: Check If Your Rocks Pay the Bills—Research Salaries

Alright, so you’ve got some solid ideas, but before you get too attached, you’ve gotta make sure they can actually support your life. Because, let’s be real—money matters, and your passion isn’t gonna pay the bills unless you can make it work financially.

Time to hop on Glassdoor or Indeed Salaries and start looking at how much people in those roles are making. If the numbers don’t line up with the life you want, it’s time to pivot or adjust.

For example:

• Startup consultant: Depending on your niche, you could pull in $80k to $150k.
• Content marketing manager: You’re looking at around $60k to $100k.
• Freelance writing coach: This could range from $40k to $80k, depending on your client base.

If the salaries are in the ballpark, great! If not, you might need to rethink or tweak the direction you’re going in. Maybe take on a side hustle to close the gap. The goal here is to make sure the cliff you’re building isn’t leading you off a financial ledge.

Step 5: Start Small—Stack One Rock at a Time

This is where a lot of people trip up. They’ve got the ideas, done the research, and they’re ready to rock—but they freeze. Why? Because the idea of jumping headfirst into something new is scary as hell.

Here’s the secret: You don’t have to leap all at once.

Start small. Test the waters. If you think you want to be a consultant, don’t quit your day job just yet. Offer your services to a few people you know and see if you actually like it.

If you’re looking to start a business, maybe launch a small side project first. Sites like Upwork are perfect for testing the waters.

You don’t have to bet everything on day one. Stack one rock at a time and build your cliff slowly. That way, you learn as you go without the pressure of making everything perfect right out the gate.

Step 6: Jump When You’re Ready

Eventually, you’ll get to the point where the rocks are stacked high enough and your cliff feels solid. You’ve brainstormed, researched, and tested the waters. Now it’s time to leap.

Will it feel perfect? Probably not. Hell, it might even feel reckless. But here’s the truth: you’ll never feel 100% ready, and that’s okay. The important thing is, you’ve built something that feels right to you. When the time comes, you’ll know it’s time to jump.

Bottom Line: Build Your Own Damn Cliff

Nobody’s going to hand you a perfect cliff to leap from, all tied up in a neat little bow. If you want to make a change, whether it’s in business or life, you’ve gotta build it yourself, rock by rock.

Brainstorm your ideas, figure out what makes you tick, and use some AI help if you need it. Do the research, test things out, and start small. Before you know it, your cliff will be ready—and when it is, take that leap.

Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start stacking those rocks, and go make something happen.

And remember, there’s a better life waiting outside your comfort zone.