“Many people won’t take a step until they think that they know what the right thing is. There is an expression, ‘Do the right thing.’ But how do we know what the right thing is? We can’t know for sure. Maybe we should just say, ‘Do the next thing.’ And if we do that –whatever it is–to the best of our ability, chances are it will turn out to be the right thing as well.”

Bernie Glassman, Founder of Greyston Bakery and author of Instructions to the Cook

The thing about being a business owner is that you never get anywhere. You start out with the idea that, “If I just get a business going and become independent, then I’ll be satisfied.” Then when you establish your business and are fully independent you get the idea that, “If I just get someone else to answer my emails and do proposals, finally I’ll be able to get some more sleep and relax!” After you hire someone and continue to build your business you have the idea that, “As soon as I make $1M I can step back and have someone else run part of my business.”

The truth is, it never ends. The fatal flaw of humanity is that we’re never satisfied and are condemned to suffer through the present.

It’s actually exciting if you’re not trying to get anywhere special, if you’re enjoying the ride. Or, if you’re looking at doing the next thing to the best of your ability.

As a business owner whenever you reach a plateau, it’s like starting over. Constantly hitting refresh on your knowledge. When you start you have to figure out how to get people to buy what you’re selling. Then you have go to the trouble of making a product or expanding your service line. To add employees, you have to learn how to interview and do payroll and keep them happy. And on and on.

The only answer is to get going and live in the moment.

A big problem that I see with business owners is complacency coupled with unhappiness. “I won my freedom so I deserve to coast.” No–the world needs you now more than ever! True joy is worth the hard work. (You know this.)

Why aren’t you letting your business and yourself loose on the world? Because you’re attached to some outcome–the right thing. So you distract yourself so don’t have to do much at all. You revamp your website (again) or read a book about business or hatch a social media plan. Anything to dull the not-doing. Excuses are endless and at the ready.

Do you recognize any of these?:

The Have-Not

I could do it. But I don’t have the time, money, brains, friends, knowledge, flat abs, great ass, etc.

Loserville

I’m just not good enough. There’s no way people will want what I have to offer.

Analysis Paralysis

I’ve got a ton of freaking great ideas, I’m just not sure what to do next. I just need to figure out a few things.

Numberizer

What’s the point? My bounce rate sucks.

Shooting Blanks

I’m worried I’ll spend all this time on my thing and no one will buy it.

Logo the Turtle

I could do this but first I need a logo. And a great website. And a business partner. Then.

The Resume Refresher

I need more experience. Once I work a few more years, I’ll freshen up my resume and then I can do it.

Twitter Trap

I just need more followers. Then I’ll have some momentum. Hold on, I have to tweet.

There are others. And they’re all pretty common. So common in fact, I would bet my left whatever that EVERY business owner (or anyone who has ever made anything) has intimately encountered one or many of these excuses.

Combating them is about getting out of your own way and getting on to the next thing.

I’m about to get all launchy

Here’s the payoff. I have been researching and writing about the stuff that trips all of us up for several years now. I’m fascinated by how creativity works and how a project goes from a twinkle in the eye to a tangible thing that rocks worlds. And, bottom line, I’m super-passionate about getting you on to the next thing.

So, in the coming weeks and months, I’m launching a suite of products and services to help you do just that, so you can let your business loose on the world.

1. If you get the newsletter then you’ve heard me talk about Make Better Stuff, a free month-long email series to blast your projects to the stratosphere. That’s coming super soon.
2. For a full year I’ve been wanting to offer you a baseline service that is so useful, accessible and delightful it will make you cry (with usefulness, accessibility and delight). I’m this close to launching a new service that is designed for one purpose: to get you to your next thing in ONE HOUR. It’s personal,  intense, totally useful, built for clarity, and above all it’s affordable. And it doesn’t have a name yet.
3. Down the pike a little ways is a product about pulverizing long-term goals (tentatively titled Goal-zebub, since the devil’s in the details) and a service on the deeeeeeeeeeep end of the spectrum that functionally turns ME into YOUR ad hoc Chief Operating Officer.

As you can see, A LOT has been happening behind the scenes. And I want you to be a part of it. And I want your friends to be a part of it.  Please tweet this, share it, G+ it, email it to your friends, pass it around, send it to Chris Guillebeau or Naomi Dunford or Havi. Whatever you need to do to let the masses in on the goodness about to come.

Sign up for the newsletter by putting your email address in the little box or clicking here.

You’ll get:

• Sneak peaks into what’s coming
• First access to the FREE month-long email series Make Better Stuff
• The latest information about all the new products and services BEFORE I post about them
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(I won’t do anything sleazy with your email address and I pledge to be mindful of how I’m using your time.)

P.S. I’m pretty excited about what’s on the docket and I think you will be, too. Sign up for the newsletter to get all the information on the suite of products and services to get you doing the next thing to the best of your ability.