You’ve got the idea. You’ve daydreamed the logo. You’ve even imagined your TED Talk. But your business? Still chilling in the “someday” folder of your brain, right between Get in Shape and Finally Learn Italian.
Here’s the truth bomb:
The best time to start your business wasn’t today. It was yesterday.
Why yesterday?
Because momentum loves movement, and waiting is momentum’s worst enemy. Yesterday, you had one less doubt, one less distraction, and one more window to take a baby step forward. Whether it was reserving a domain, sketching your logo, or yelling “Let’s do this!” into your steering wheel — that was a window. And it’s gone.
Now, don’t panic. There’s good news:
The second-best time?
Right. Freaking. Now.
In the time it’s taken you to scroll social media, someone else started their side hustle, launched an Etsy store, or built a free landing page. Was their idea better than yours? Probably not. But they had the unfair advantage of doing something instead of nothing.
Still waiting for the perfect moment?
Bad news: there isn’t one.
Perfect moments are a myth, like inbox zero or a single chip from the bag.
The market won’t wait. The AI revolution won’t wait. And that inner spark you keep trying to smother with “maybe next quarter” won’t stay lit forever.
Your idea is not too small.
You are not too late.
But your window won’t stay open forever. The world is moving. Will your dream move with it?
So start messy. Start scared.
Start now, and tomorrow you’ll be glad you did.
Gallo, Carmine. “Why Successful People Start Before They Feel Ready.” Fast Company, 14 Nov. 2016, https://www.fastcompany.com/3066044/why-successful-people-start-before-they-feel-ready.
Petriglieri, Gianpiero. “Overcoming the Fear of Starting Something New.” Harvard Business Review, 29 Jan. 2020, https://hbr.org/2020/01/overcoming-the-fear-of-starting-something-new.
Hernandez, Dayna. “How to Start a Business in 2024 (Even If You’re Working Full-Time).” Shopify Blog, 5 Jan. 2024, https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-start-a-business.
Local Inspiration
Miguel Nieves didn’t have a business degree or deep pockets. What he did have was a pair of clippers, a beat-up chair, and the courage to start. He opened his first barbershop with almost nothing—no fancy setup, no investors, just a passion for his craft and a belief that showing up every day would make a difference.
Fast forward a few years: Miguel now runs multiple barbershop locations, a barber school that helps others learn the trade, and has expanded into related businesses like dog grooming, beauty salons, and even small business consulting.
He didn’t wait for perfect timing. He just started—and he kept showing up.
Because when you start today, tomorrow has a shot at becoming something real.