E18 Your Creative Business Map: Why Knowing Your Destination Isn’t Enough
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the big picture of your creative business? Do you have a vision in mind of what it could be, but feel completely snowed under by the sheer amount of work it looks like it will take? Maybe you have no idea where to start or what the next step should be?
I get it. It’s easy to feel stuck, paralyzed by the enormity of your dreams. You know where you want to go, but it feels like there are a million hurdles between you and that vision. Not to mention—when you don’t know what the next step is, it’s like trying to drive through a foggy, unfamiliar road. You might even be asking yourself, “Why does this feel so hard?” Or maybe you’re just frozen, staring at your to-do list, knowing there’s a mountain of work ahead, but not sure which shovel to pick up first.
Here’s the thing: you’re not alone. It’s a challenge every creative entrepreneur faces, especially when you're trying to build something meaningful. And while it might seem like the big picture is the problem, the real issue goes deeper. It’s not about not knowing where to start—it’s a mental block. You’re looking at the entire journey instead of focusing on the next step. And that’s where things start to get tricky.
We’re all told to get crystal clear on the end result—visualize your success, see yourself living the dream. But what those visualizations techniques don’t have you doing is actually stepping into the shoes of the person who’s making those dreams a reality. All you can see is- you’re here and you’re there. But there’s a huge gap between those two points—and it’s the part we tend to ignore.
So let’s talk about how to bridge that gap. And here’s where the metaphor comes in: Think of your dream business as a road trip. A big one. For me, it’s driving across several states to visit my sister in northern Mississippi. Now, I’m sure you’ve driven on some long road trips yourself, right? It’s easy to look at that entire journey and feel overwhelmed, especially when there are multiple highways to navigate, multiple turns to make, and—let’s be honest—sometimes we don’t even know if we’re on the right path.
But here’s the secret: worrying about the end destination isn’t going to get you there. You have to focus on the next interchange—the next step in front of you. If you’re too busy looking at the entire route ahead, you might miss that crucial turn. And that’s exactly what’s going on in your creative business right now.
I’m going to show you exactly what’s going on and why your dream business feels so huge and out of reach. And then—stick with me, because I’m going to show you how to make that trip so much easier.
The best way I can describe what you’re feeling is through a metaphor. And what better way than through a real road trip I take often? Let me tell you about my drive to visit my sister in northern Mississippi. It’s a full day’s journey—yep, all day. Now, imagine this: on this trip, I have to navigate 10—yes, ten—different highways over 8 to 9 hours. We’re talking 190 to 30 to 440 to 40 to 61 to 70 to 49, which turns into 315, then 6, and finally 7. Whew, right? And that doesn’t even include the residential streets on either end. So, you get the picture. It’s a complicated, winding route.
But here’s the thing—this is one route. There are at least a dozen other ways I could take this trip, but no matter which route I choose, the beginning and the end stay the same. And the best part? I’ve had to pivot more times than I can count. If there’s an accident, or construction, or maybe a bridge is out—guess what? I take a different route. The journey doesn’t change, but how I get there does.
This is just like your creative business journey. You have a vision of where you want to go, but the road to get there is anything but a straight line. There are turns you didn’t see coming, detours, and sometimes, the route you thought you were on isn’t the right one anymore. But the destination? It’s still possible. It’s still there, waiting for you.
And here's the thing I’ve learned: stressing out over that final destination while you’re on the road… is not going to help you figure out the next step. When I get in my car, I know where I’m headed, but I don’t obsess over that final point on the map. That would only slow me down. I focus on the next interchange. The exit that’s coming up in the next 10 miles, the signs that tell me which way to turn. When I concentrate on that, everything else becomes so much more manageable. If I spent all my time wondering, “How much longer? When will I get there?” I’d be wasting precious energy and risking a mistake by missing a crucial turn.
I can’t afford to let that mental clutter take over, and neither can you. When I started this trip, I had to let go of the idea of “when will I finally get there?” That would only cause stress. Instead, I focused on the next step. What am I supposed to do right now? It’s that mindset shift that makes all the difference. If I didn’t focus on the next interchange, I’d be lost, overwhelmed, and probably on the wrong highway entirely.
Just like that drive, your creative business journey is full of twists, turns, and interchanges you can’t always predict. Your vision of success is there in the distance, but it’s the next step that matters. Focusing on the entire highway—on the endless stretch of road—only leads to frustration. Stressing about the future, the milestones ahead, all while you're still in the early stages, that’s what makes you feel stuck and uncertain.
You’ve got a clear vision of where you want your creative business to be, but here’s the thing: if you’re only looking at the end goal and not focusing on the next step, you’re going to miss the turn you need to take. You’ll get lost in the vastness of what seems like an endless journey. The key is to take it one step at a time, to keep your eye on the next move, not the entire map.
Your business vision is your destination, yes. But just like the drive, the journey isn’t just about getting there. It’s about knowing what to do next. And that’s where the magic happens. When you start focusing on those small next step s, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and more empowered to keep going. It’s not about the entire road trip at once. It’s about making progress, one turn at a time.
And that, my friend, is the actual problem. The problem isn’t that your vision is too big. It’s not that there’s too much to do, or that you have no idea what to do first. The overwhelm you’re feeling? It’s real, but what’s causing it is something you might not have even realized. The real problem—the root cause of that overwhelm—is a mental block. You’re overwhelmed because you’re trying to take on the entire road trip in one go. You’re trying to navigate through all the highways at once, instead of focusing on the next interchange.
Here’s the shift: the journey doesn’t require you to have everything figured out at once. What you need is to be able to temporarily let go of that grand vision—just long enough to focus on what’s in front of you. I’m not asking you to forget your dream, but take a break from obsessing over it while you’re working toward it. The big vision stays in your heart; it’s your north star. But if you keep your eyes on it too much while you’re navigating each next step, you’re going to miss those little turns and signs that are guiding you along the way.
It’s common to feel like you don’t know what to do next. When you’re unsure, it’s tempting to freeze up, thinking you have to do everything at once. But what you need to remember is that any step you take is progress. Whether it’s big or small, moving forward is still moving forward.
Think about it like this: your route might not be a straight line. Maybe there’s a detour up ahead. And that’s okay. Sometimes, the roadblocks are real—like construction, an accident, or the road being closed. But even then, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost your way. You just have to trust the process enough to recalculate and make a new plan. It might feel like you’re stuck or going off-course, but recalculating means you’re still in motion.
The road ahead might seem impossible to navigate, especially when you’re in unfamiliar territory. It’s going to feel uncomfortable. it’s okay to feel uncomfortable. In fact, it’s a sign you’re doing something new—stretching yourself, moving forward. When you hit that discomfort, slow down. Pull your eyes off the end goal and just focus on the step right in front of you. Stay glued to your map, watch for the next sign, and take each turn only as it comes. Don’t worry about the parts of the road that haven’t come into view yet—they’ll reveal themselves when you need them.
Now that we’ve unpacked the mental block that’s causing the overwhelm, let’s talk about how to get unstuck and into action. These are the steps that will help you turn that massive vision into manageable progress.
Step 1: Break It Down into Smaller Milestones
The key here is to focus on short-term goals. You don’t need to know every single step of the way right now. What you need to ask yourself is: What’s the next right thing I can do today? This week?
Instead of fixating on the huge goal of a fully functioning business, break it into smaller, more immediate tasks. Keep it small. Just like on the road trip, you’re not trying to navigate the entire journey at once—you’re focused on the next exit, the next road sign. This is how you make steady, measurable progress.
Step 2: Check Your Progress
It’s important to check in from time to time to ensure you’re still headed in the right direction. But here’s the key—don’t obsess over the big picture. Every now and then, take a look at the larger map, but most of the time, just focus on the immediate next step. If you’re constantly looking at the end goal, you’ll forget to appreciate the progress you’re making along the way.
Your business journey is full of twists and turns. You might find yourself needing to recalibrate here and there. But just like you wouldn’t get off course by obsessing over the final destination while driving, don’t let the enormity of your goal distract you from the next logical step.
Step 3: Trust the Process
Here’s where the magic happens. Progress is made in increments, not leaps. Sometimes, it can feel like you’re not moving fast enough. You might feel frustrated by how small your steps are. But let me tell you—small steps, when taken consistently, add up. You’ll be amazed at how much ground you’ve covered when you finally look back.
Remember that visualization exercise? The one where you were picturing yourself at the end of the journey? The part that was missing was the focus on getting there step by step. You have to picture yourself taking those steps in between, being successful, and pivoting when necessary. The key to success isn’t just dreaming about it—it’s taking the first step, then the next one, and then the next one after that.
In my roadtrip metaphor, that equates to feeling accomplished when I go through Texarkana. That means I’m a third of the way there. Maybe I stop to get gas or coffee. The next milestone is Little Rock where I need to look for the bypass. You get the point. I’m not lamenting the fact that I haven’t gotten to the end yet. I mark the milestone during the journey.
So, trust the process. Stay focused on the next step. And when you look back, you’ll see how far you’ve come.
So, what’s your next step? Can you break down that big vision of yours into smaller, more manageable goals? Take a moment right now—pause and think about the next thing you can do to move closer to your destination. Notice I said CAN do, not “need to do.” What’s the next step you can take today that will get you closer to your creative business vision?
It might feel like there’s a long way to go, but remember—it’s okay to not have the whole path figured out. No one does. The most important thing is that you’re making progress, one step at a time. You’re not expected to have it all mapped out. What matters is that you’re moving forward—and focusing on the next interchange, not the whole journey. There’s no need to worry about if there will be enough room to unpack in the driveway when I haven’t even crossed the state line.
Now, if you're thinking, “Okay, I get it. But how do I actually start breaking this down?” I’ve got you covered. I’ve created some resources to help you create your own map—tools and strategies for breaking down your big vision into smaller, actionable steps that will keep you moving forward.
If you haven’t already checked out my SEW Successful eBook, it’s full of practical advice on how to turn your love of fabric into a business and break down that process into manageable chunks. It also includes tips on setting goals, staying focused, and managing your time effectively, which will make your journey feel a lot less overwhelming.
And if you’re looking for more hands-on guidance, my SEW Successful workshop series will help you dive even deeper into these strategies, offering step-by-step instructions on building your business while keeping your eyes on the right next step. And, keep your eyes and ears open for the upcoming announcement about the SEW Successful Membership, a community of like-minded creative business builders that can walk that path with you!
Remember, it’s all about staying focused on the next step. The more you make that a habit, the easier it will become to move forward—without the stress of trying to do everything at once.
Now, as we wrap up, let’s return to that road trip analogy one last time. Think of your big creative business vision as your final destination. It’s there. It’s real. But the journey to get there? You can only see so far ahead on the road as you drive. It’s not about rushing. It’s about focusing on the next interchange, the next exit, and letting those small steps carry you forward. You don’t want to be gazing off into the distance and go sailing past your exit!
Remember, you don’t have to figure it all out at once. As you drive a mile, the next mile becomes visible. Just take the next step, then the one after that, and you’ll make it to your destination—without all the overwhelm.
