So, you want to start a business?

In this episode, Diana and I share our not-so-glamorous but totally doable journeys of starting businesses from the ground up.

We’ll help you get clear on whether building a business is even for you, how to start small, test your ideas and how to make peace with imperfection. You’ll walk away with tangible steps and permission to start messy.

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need permission to start a business. 
• Fear and perfectionism are lying liars. 
• Approval-based thinking will kill your dream.
• Start small. Test first.
• Your business doesn’t have to be full-time or world-changing on Day One.
• If you’re not confident, you’re normal. 

Related Resources:

• Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This FREE 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.
• Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence in their relationships, emotional management, decision making, and self-development. Join us for live classes, coaching, Bible study, and book studies every month. Plus access to a huge library of education and coaching resources. Only $59/month. 
• Be sure to check out Diana’s podcast, Renew Your Mind, and then reach out to her at diana@dianaswillinger.com to get business coaching.  

Article: Building a Business After Divorce

If you’ve ever stared at your chaotic post-divorce life and thought, “You know what would make this even more fun? Starting a business!” you’re actually not alone! 

Let’s dig into the real questions Christian women are asking about entrepreneurship: post-trauma, post-church-shame, post-you-know-what.

How Does Starting a Business Help You Rediscover Yourself?

Listen, when your identity has been wrapped up in someone else’s opinion of you for years (maybe decades), starting a business is like sticking a middle finger up to all the lies you were fed about your worth. It’s reclaiming your brain, your voice, your power.

When I first started selling handmade soap (yes, soap), I wasn’t just trying to build a side hustle. I was clawing my way back to sanity. And do you know what helped me more than bubble baths and essential oils? Making the freaking soap. Creating something with my hands reminded me I wasn’t just a shell of a woman living for someone else’s approval.

It wasn’t just soap. It was healing. And money. Win-win.

What’s the Difference Between a Job and Your Work?

Look, there’s nothing wrong with having a “real job” (whatever that means). But there’s a huge difference between a job and your work. Your work is the thing that makes you feel alive. It’s the impact you’re wired to make. 

I’ve cleaned houses, homeschooled kids, sold soap, coached women, and written so many blog posts I could wallpaper a cathedral. Some of that was “a job.” Some of it? My work. You know when you’re doing your work because it feels like ministry and rebellion all at once. (haha)

So if you’re asking, “Is this what I was created to do?” and the answer isn’t a soul-screaming YES, you might just be in a job. And that’s fine for now. But don’t you dare forget that your work is out there waiting for you.

Is Fear and Perfectionism Running the Show?

Let’s talk about the two evil twins keeping you stuck: Fear and Perfectionism. These two? They’re like spiritual abusers dressed in Pinterest outfits whispering, “You’re not ready yet.” But you know what? You’ll never feel ready.

And perfectionism? Don’t even get me started. 

Here’s the truth: you’re going to mess up. Your first offering will be wonky. Your graphics will be ugly. Your cousin Clarrisa will roll her eyes. But guess what? The people you’re meant to serve? They don’t care. They’re not looking for your perfection. They’re desperate for your authenticity and your product.

Stop chasing approval. Start creating impact.

How Do You Even Figure Out Who to Help?

Your niche is basically the problem you solved for yourself and now can solve for someone else. Whether it’s holistic soap or trauma-informed coaching or tax prep for single moms, you’ve got gold in your story.

Start by asking:
What problem have I already solved in my life?
What do people always ask me for help with?
Who needs what I’ve got?

Boom. That’s your business idea. No need to pray for a sign in the sky. God gave you one: It’s called your life.

Can You Really Do This Without Burning Out?

Short answer? Yes.

Long answer? It depends on whether you’re trying to recreate the perfectionist hellscape you just escaped from. If you treat your business like a proving ground, yes, you’ll burn out. But if you treat it like an outlet, a mission, and (gasp) even fun? Then you’ll thrive.

I started my first business with nine kids, zero money, and a critical husband. I built it in the cracks of my day. Was it chaotic? Absolutely. But it gave me energy instead of sucking me dry.

If you need rest, take rest. If you’re an Energizer Bunny like me, sprint when you can. Schedule your time like a grown-up. (Join Flying Higher where I’ll teach you all the skills you need to get ANYTHING done!) 

Be realistic. Build it slow if you need to. But don’t let your fear of burnout stop you before you start. (Hey, I’ll also teach you how to deal with fear.)

What Are the Biggest Mistakes Women Make When Starting a Business?

Let me break it down:

1. Over-researching.
   You do not need a $10K website, a logo, and a business coach before you sell your first product. You need one offer, one person to help, and one way to get paid. That’s it.
2. Waiting for confidence.
   Confidence is not a pre-requisite. It’s a result of doing scary crap repeatedly until you realize you won’t die.
3. Changing your idea too soon.
   Stay the course. Test your offer for at least a year. Most businesses take time to gain traction. Your first three months don’t define your future.
4. Seeking approval.
   Repeat after me: “I don’t need permission. I don’t need to be liked. I have people to help.”

What Can You Do Today to Start?

Here are three quick wins you can do today:

• Tell someone. Say out loud, “I’m starting a business.” Scary? Yes. Freeing? Also yes.
• Write down the problem you want to solve. Then ask AI for related ideas if you’re stuck. Use it like a brainstorming buddy, not a guru.
• Make an offer. Just pick someone and offer to help them for free or cheap. Just get the reps in.

And don’t forget to decide how you’ll get paid. Venmo, PayPal, Stripe, pick one. Because your work deserves compensation, not martyrdom.

Final Word from Your Favorite Soap-Making Coach-Turned-Rebel

You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to be fed up. Done with being small. Done with waiting for a sign. Done with asking permission.

Your business doesn’t have to be flashy. It doesn’t have to scale. It just has to be yours. Start where you are, with what you have. One woman at a time.

Now go out there and fly higher, if you dare. 

Come work with me and hundreds of other divorced Christian women in Flying Higher, and don’t forget to check out Diana’s Renew Your Mind Podcast!

XOXO,

Natalie