Now that you know what you are aiming for, the next step is to get an understanding of where you are really starting from - then you can begin to plan a route between the two.

Your time

How do you spend your time now, and how will you find time for your business?

The document below (Document 02 - only visible to logged in users) will help you to work out where you time goes every week. Print one off, plan some of the personal symbols you will need to represent some of the things you do, as well as the common symbols that have already been set out at the bottom. Then as you go through the week, mark in what you do at each time.

Once you know what you do with your time (and you may be surprised!) you can work out how you will fit in time for your business.

Your money

It's important to know where you are in terms of savings and investments or debt, and your monthly outgoings.

People you know

It's a great advantage if you already know someone, even remotely who runs their own business, and you can ask them for a bit of advice. Also, who do you know in the line of business you plan to work in? Who could be your mentor?

Things you know

What do you know from your education, your work, your hobbies or elsewhere?

The book has a lot of advice to help you work through each one of these headings.

Emma

Read how Emma got on in week 3.