How to Choose the Right Business to Start (So You Don’t Quit)

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The truth is, choosing the right business is much simpler than people make it.

If you’re wondering how to choose the right business to start, most advice tells you start by thinking about the future. But that’s where people get stuck. You need to stop asking this question:

What do I want my future to look like? That’s the wrong place to start.

Instead, you need to start asking:

What do I want my life to look like right now?

It’s that simple. Stop overthinking it.

There’s no way in hell you’re going to stay consistent with a business that doesn’t fit your current life.

If the ideas you choose today requires a version of you that doesn’t exist yet, burnout is inevitable.

How to Choose the Right Business to Start Based on Your Life Right Now

I was recently coaching a woman who knew WHO she wanted to serve but was unsure HOW she wanted to serve them. As I walked her through my own journey, something clicked for me. I told her to ask herself one simple question:

What are your goals right now?

When you get clear on your present-day goals, choosing the type of business to start becomes much easier. Without that clarity, you’re just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. Trust me–been there, done that.

Now, here’s the balance: we don’t know what works unless we try. But trying doesn’t mean ignoring reality.

Starting this blog was an easy decision for me. Why? Because I knew my goals and my priorities. Closing my first business after five years was also an easy decision, for the exact same reason.

Our life changes. Who we are today is not who we are going to be in 5 years and that’s exactly what happened with my business.

When I started my first business, I was in a completely different season of life. Then life happened. I got married. Had a child. Got divorced. Moved out of state. You get the picture.

An event planning career no longer fit my life. I couldn’t dedicate evenings, weekends, and every ounce of my free time to my business when my priority was raising my daughter as a single mom and rebuilding a life in a new state.

And that’s exactly why, when I coach women at the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journey, I always have them start here:

What are your goals right now?

Not in one year.
Not in five years.
Definitely not in ten years.

Right now.

Because if you build a business for the life you hope to have someday, you’re not building one that supports the life you’re actually living, and the odds of it surviving are slim.

That’s why, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20-23% of businesses fail within the first year, about 50% fail within five years, and nearly 65% don’t even make it to year ten.

This time around, I knew I needed a business that fit my life, not one that demanded I reshape my life around it. I needed something that wasn’t dictated by client schedules, meetings, or constant availability. I needed control over when and how I worked.

That’s why blogging fits my life so perfectly right now.

And as this blog evolves (Lord knows, I have so many plans for this brand), so will I. If my life and this business continue to grow together, amazing. If they don’t, that’s information, not failure. That’s exactly what happened with my first business.

The goal isn’t to build something that lasts forever exactly as it is today. The goal is to build something on a strong foundation. One that supports your life right now and gives your business room to evolve as you do. In 5, 10, 15, 30 years, your business will evolve into so much more than you could have ever imagined. Why? Because you started on a strong foundation and let the business grow with you. You didn’t force it into something that wasn’t ready.

When you understand your current goals and priorities, deciding what business to start becomes much clearer, and far less overwhelming.

Start where you are. Build for who you are today. Let the rest grow from there.

Here’s to all the incredible Moms juggling a million things—keep shining bright, cheering each other on, and building the life you love!

Ashley

Friendly Note: I’m simply sharing my journey, experiences, and lessons learned as a Mom in business. This isn’t legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check with a qualified pro for guidance tailored to you.