This might seem a bit counterintuitive. Here's what I mean: building a successful business takes a lot of time and hard work. And especially in the beginning, when you're starting from scratch, that end point of having a profitable business might seem inconceivably far away.
So if you're measuring your progress against that ultimate goal, it can often feel incredibly daunting and even impossible.
For example, let's say you've made one sale in your business for $1,000. And your goal is to make $20,000 in sales before you feel comfortable turning in your notice.
Looking "forwards," you might think to yourself, "I've only made $1,000 in my business, and I need to make $19,000 more." And that might feel incredibly overwhelming.
However, if you are looking "backwards" you would instead think, "Wow, I went from having no idea if anyone would even want to pay me to making my first $1,000. Look how far I've come!" And that would probably excite and motivate you.
The truth is that every successful entrepreneur starts from the same place: zero. Zero clients, audience, or brand recognition. Those who succeed don't do so because they're luckier or smarter than the rest of us.
If you're willing to problem solve, prioritize your business goals, take consistent action, and be disciplined in your thinking, you too could be turning in your notice sooner than you might've thought possible.
Luisa Zhou is the creator of the Employee to Entrepreneur system, which teaches people how to leave their day job and start their own six-figure plus business working for themselves. She's been featured in Forbes, Inc, Entrepreneur, Success magazine, and more. Get her free blueprint for building a profitable online coaching business that frees you from the 9-5.