That feeling of wanting more but not knowing how to get it is frustrating–especially when your money doesn’t match your mindset. It is tough to be broke with million dollar ideas!

On this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, I believe my favorite quote by Dr. King can offer us some inspiration when we find ourselves in this space.

I have to tell myself to KEEP MOVING so many times throughout my days, weeks and months. If I’m working on a huge project, or dealing with challenges (especially challenging people), or seeing traction with whatever I’m working on, this phrase stays on my lips and in my mind.

I also believe this is great advice when you’re feeling tugs on your heart and spirit.

In particular, for people who want to start businesses but don’t know what kind of business to start, KEEP MOVING is the mantra you should let guide you. You may not know the whats or hows or wheres, but that feeling you have can be your compass.

I decided to write this quick post to list several ways you can keep moving, even if you don’t know where to start.

The truth is, there’s no right answer. You start wherever you start and you go wherever you go. The below list is just a little guidance to get you moving forward.

You don’t have to take ALL of these steps. Just pick a few to get your brain cells firing! My goal here is just to show you that there’s A LOT you can do to get some ideas out of your head.

WHERE TO START WHEN YOU’RE BROKE AND DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START

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1. Brainstorm a list of what excites you.
2. Brainstorm a list of how you’re giving advice or helping people already.
3. Brainstorm a list of what you’re good at.
4. Google “expert at” [any of #1-3].
5. Make of list of potential businesses you can start.
6. Google “how to start a [any of #5] business.”
7. Make a list of potential topics you could focus on in business.
8. Google “[each topic from #7] expert.”
9. Make a list on your phone or laptop of the top 5-10 experts that come up in your Google search.
10. Visit the websites and social media pages of those top 5-10 experts.
11. Sign up for the newsletters of the 5-10 experts on their websites.
12. Follow the 5-10 experts on social media.
13. Watch the moves/launches/online activities of the 5-10 experts.
14. Watch for who those 5-10 experts are talking about, citing, and retweeting.
15. Follow those people too.
16. Brainstorm a list of what you want to be good at, even if you aren’t right now.
17. Research ways to become good at those things.
18. Brainstorm business names.
19. Google each potential business name and whittle down the list.
20. Visit your Secretary of State’s website and search for business names similar to those on your list.
21. Search the trademark database at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website for your business name.
22. Strike the business names that are already [legally] taken.
23. Choose a business name.
24. Google “top hashtags for [each topic from #7]”
25. Search for those top hashtags on social media.
26. Follow those top hashtags on social media.
27. Leave comments on the top posts using those hashtags on social media.
28. Brainstorm consistent social media handles for your new brand/business.
29. Reserve social media handles for your new brand/business (if necessary).
30. Brainstorm domain names for your new brand or business.
31. Search a domain name database to see if anyone already owns the domain name.
32. Google “how much money does [any of #5] business make.”
33. Google “how does [any of #5] business make money.”
34. Create your own platform (this could be a website, email newsletter list, or anything else).
35. Create a website (this may or may not cost money)
36. Start an email list of potential partners, clients, and customers.
37. Create a strategy to email your list of people helpful content once per week.
38. Create a free Google Sheets account and build a schedule of topics you can create/share content about. Here’s one example for a college & scholarship blog.
39. Watch YouTube videos about potential businesses and topics.
40. Subscribe to podcasts about potential businesses and topics. (Mine is pretty great! 😃)
41. Check books out of the library about potential businesses and topics.
42. Read blog posts about potential businesses and topics.
43. Go to a SCORE workshop in your area.
44. Go to a Chamber of Commerce event in your area.
45. Find some accountability partners — you can join my free group at programs.shontavia.com if you don’t have an accountability partner in your area.
46. If your business idea includes a physical location, go to a place like that in your area. For example, if you want to start a bakery, visit 5-7 different bakeries.
47. Ask to interview the owner of that physical place that you visit. *They may say no, and that’s okay. Try someone else.
48. If your business idea is an online business, follow the social media accounts of businesses like what you want to start.
49. Email a person doing what you’d like to do and ask them a specific question (but not “can I pick your brain,” or an invitation to meet–just one specific question). Even if they ignore you, that’s okay. Again, just try someone else.
50. Create a list on your phone of business ideas and inspiration.
51. Screenshot photos of business ideas and inspiration and create a folder for them.
52. Create your vision.
53. Daydream a life where you have literally everything you want and need. Write it down.
54. Take your daydream and break it down into things you want to pursue using four categories: (1) your life, (2) your business, (3) your reputation and (4) your energy.
55. Pick one category from your daydream and list 3 baby steps you could take.
56. Take those baby steps.
57. Put a reminder in your calendar for 7 am (or whatever time works for you) each day that simply says “KEEP MOVING.” Turn on the alerts so you see it every day at the same time.