One of the biggest questions I hear from HR professionals who are considering leaving their roles is: “But what would I even do instead?” The prospect of starting a business seems quite enticing – you love the thought of creating your own thing (and charging more for it) and having the freedom to choose who you work with, but where do you even start? And what would your business even be?
That single question can keep you stuck for months…years even. Because not knowing what you want can feel scarier than staying where you are, even if you’re unhappy. So you tell yourself: “I’ll just wait until I’ve figured it out.” Meanwhile, the weeks roll on, your energy dips lower, and the cycle repeats.
Sound familiar? Let’s break this down.
Why “not knowing” keeps you stuck
When you’re in that uncertain space, your brain goes into overdrive:
- What if I make the wrong choice?
- What if I waste time and money?
- What if I’m not cut out for it?
- How will I compete with all the other people who are doing it?
That self-doubt, combined with the pressure of needing the “perfect idea,” leads to paralysis. You look at all the other women who are running businesses and wonder how you’ll ever be as good as them, and how you could ever stand out from them. Instead of experimenting or moving forward, you get stuck in endless research, comparison, and hesitation.
The things you think you need to do (but don’t, at least not yet)
When people first start thinking about starting their own business, they often believe they need to:
- Take a million courses and learn everything about marketing, finance, branding, etc.
- Perfectly define their service offering before they’ve spoken to a single client.
- Create a polished website and business cards before they’ve tested an idea.
And while those things might eventually be part of the journey, they’re not what actually gets you started.
What actually works (and feels better)
If you want to get unstuck and figure out what’s next, here’s where I suggest you start:
1. Notice what gives you energy
Think back over the last few weeks or months. Which parts of your work made you feel most alive, engaged, or in flow? And which parts drained you completely? Your energy is your best compass. Follow what lights you up – it’s usually pointing you towards your most aligned path.
2. Create a vision for your life (not just your work)
It’s easy to focus purely on “What business should I start?” But the bigger question is: “What kind of life do I want to build?” Do you want spaciousness and flexibility? Do you crave adventure and travel? Do you want to be home for school pick-up every day?
When you’re clear on your vision for your life, your business can be designed to support it, not compete with it.
3. Define what meaningful work looks like for you
Impact matters. And not all work environments will align with your values. For example, if you care deeply about social impact, you might feel stifled working in a huge corporate machine. If you value creativity, a rigid, process-driven environment will wear you down. Get clear on the kind of work that will feel worthwhile for you so that when opportunities come, you know what to say yes (and no) to.
The bottom line
You don’t need the perfect business idea today. You don’t need to read every book, take every course, or have a flawless plan before you begin.
What you do need is clarity on your energy, your life vision, and your definition of meaningful work. From there, the next step isn’t so much about “building a business” as it is about building a life – one that’s fuelled by purpose, not pressure.