Why Most Professionals Stay Stuck in Thinking Mode
- Akino Davis
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
This Newsletter is brought to you by:
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your step-by-step blueprint to turn your skills into a real business without quitting your job.
Welcome back to the Becoming An Entrepreneur Newsletter. Last week, we discussed "The Safe Path to Entrepreneurship: How to Reduce Risk Before Quitting," highlighting ways to build a stable foundation before leaving your full-time job. If you missed it, you can catch up here.
This week, we’re continuing our journey on the theme From Unclear to Unstuck. Let’s dive into a problem that affects almost every aspiring entrepreneur I've coached:
"What if I start and get it wrong?"
That's the thought haunting most smart, capable professionals. The fear of failure. The worry of disappointing ourselves or the people who matter. So instead of taking a risk, we delay, we overthink, we research...and we stay stuck.
The Real Reason You’re Still in Thinking Mode
Being stuck in thinking mode doesn't mean you're lazy or unambitious. Far from it. In fact, the professionals I work with are some of the most driven, talented people you'll ever meet.
But there's a catch.
When you're good at your job, the thought of stepping into unfamiliar territory feels like you're risking everything you've built. Your reputation. Your comfort zone. Your identity.
It's easier and feels safer to keep learning and planning rather than acting and potentially stumbling.
I completely understand. Because I've been exactly where you are now.
My Own Battle with Overthinking
Before starting SME Digital, I spent years managing projects and facilities in high-pressure environments. I loved strategy, loved problem-solving, and loved knowing exactly what to do next.
When the idea of starting my own coaching practice began bubbling up, I immediately went into "research mode."
I devoured every book and podcast on coaching I could find. My evenings were spent jotting down business ideas, potential clients, packages, and services.
It felt productive. But looking back, I was simply spinning in circles.
Months passed, and I still hadn't launched anything. I realized I was stuck in what I now call “safe procrastination,” where you do everything but the actual thing needed to move forward.
Sound familiar?
Why Common Approaches Fail
Most professionals stuck in thinking mode try one of these three common tactics to break free:
1. Information Overload: They consume endless amounts of business content: courses, books, podcasts, and YouTube videos.
Why it doesn’t work: More information rarely leads to clarity. Instead, it leads to overwhelm and analysis paralysis. You know more, but you still don’t know exactly what step to take next.
2. Waiting for the Perfect Moment: They tell themselves they’ll start when the timing is right, when they have more savings, a clearer idea, or more experience.
Why it doesn’t work: There is never a perfect moment. Waiting is just another way of staying safe and avoiding discomfort. Meanwhile, years can slip away without real action.
3. Over-Preparation: They build websites, design logos, and perfect branding materials before they even have an offer or a single paying client.
Why it doesn’t work: These activities feel productive, but they’re premature. Without validating your core business idea, you're building on assumptions, not real feedback or revenue.
The Real Solution: Small Actions, Rapid Clarity
Here’s what I discovered through my own entrepreneurial journey:
Clarity comes through action, not thinking.
When I finally realized this, everything changed. I decided to test one small idea: a single coaching offer to three professionals.
The results shocked me.
One of those three became my first paid client. That small step gave me a huge win: proof my idea worked. It also gave me confidence and direction to refine my offer.
That simple experiment was worth more than months of research and planning combined.
My Coaching Approach: The Low-Risk Business Transition Plan
Here’s what I recommend instead, and what I walk my clients through in the Becoming An Entrepreneur™ 1:1 Business Coaching Accelerator:
1. Clarify Before You Create
Get clear on what you want to offer, who it’s for, and why you’re the one to deliver it.
Don’t quit to “find your passion.” Start by solving a real problem with the skills you already have.
2. Validate While Employed
Test your idea in the real world before making a full transition.
Pilot your offer with 3–5 people. Charge. Learn. Refine.
3. Build Proof and Demand
Before leaving my last full-time job, I had
5+ coaching clients under my belt
Dozens of newsletters and posts published
A clearly defined process that got real results
That foundation gave me confidence and income to grow full-time.
4. Design a Financial Runway
How many months of expenses can you cover? How much revenue can you earn part-time before you quit?
Knowing these numbers removes emotion from your decision. It’s math, not a leap of faith.
5. Set a “Quit Criteria” Checklist
Don’t quit on vibes. Quit when you meet your benchmarks.
Monthly recurring income goal hit consistently
Offer validated with real customers
Minimum savings runway achieved
Business systems in place
One of my clients, a corporate design specialist, followed this exact framework. She built an agency brand while employed, validated her niche offer, and within months had a waiting list.
She didn’t leap. She stepped confidently.
My Recommended Approach as Your Coach
If you find yourself stuck in thinking mode today, here's my clear, practical advice:
Choose ONE clear, simple business idea related directly to your existing skills or expertise.
Create ONE small, easy-to-deliver offer (a coaching session, a mini-project, or a consultation).
Find THREE people to test this offer on. Start with your existing network: friends, colleagues, and former employers.
Get feedback immediately. Listen openly to their thoughts, and refine your offer accordingly.
Don’t build a website yet. Don’t pick colors or logos. Don’t create an elaborate marketing plan. Keep it simple and real.
Most importantly, stop researching. You already know enough. Now it’s time to do.
I've coached dozens of professionals through this same step-by-step approach. Many went from overthinking to launching profitable businesses simply by testing ideas rather than just contemplating them.
If you need more detail on safely testing your idea, revisit our recent article: "The Safe Path to Entrepreneurship."
The Shift You Need: Confidence Through Doing
Here’s the powerful shift I want you to remember:
The only way to move from unclear to unstuck is by doing, not by reading, thinking, or waiting for perfect clarity.
Your first step won’t feel perfect. It might not even feel fully clear. But action will create the clarity you're craving far faster than thinking ever will.
I’ve been there. This approach transformed my life from a professional employee stuck in my comfort zone into an entrepreneur and business coach helping others create real change.
And if it worked for me, it can absolutely work for you.
Let’s Get You Unstuck From Thinking Mode
This newsletter exists to help high-performing professionals, like you, transition successfully into entrepreneurship, without getting stuck along the way.
If this resonated with you, you’re exactly who I write for each week. Subscribe today to continue getting clear, actionable insights that move you from dreaming about entrepreneurship to actually becoming an entrepreneur.
Join our community of professionals taking action. Subscribe now at: www.smedigital.biz/blog
Let's leave thinking mode behind and finally step into the clarity of real entrepreneurship.
Whenever you are ready, there are more ways that I can help you:
Get My New Book: Becoming An Entrepreneur™: The Professional’s Guide to Monetizing Expertise,
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UNSTUCK! 1:1 Business Clarity Call: A High Impact Private Session for Professionals who need targeted guidance to move forward with clarity and confidence. Fast. Learn More Here
4-Week 1:1 Business Launch Accelerator: Clarify and Solve Offer Confusion, and Develop A Real Launch Plan in 30 Days. Learn More Here
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You don’t need another degree. You need a decision—and a roadmap.
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