I don’t know if anyone ever really feels ready to start a business.

A lot of folks don’t actually start one on purpose. It sneaks up on them – a side hustle here, sharing a bit of expertise there – and before they know it, they’ve become the solution to someone else’s problem. And from there? Well, the business starts forming around them.

But the idea of being ready? That’s trickier.

I’m not convinced readiness is even something most people can fully access before they begin. Honestly, I think a lot of us don’t know what we don’t know – so readiness is less of a checklist and more clear-eyed conviction.

For me, the desire to build something of my own started young. I dipped my toe in with Mary Kay at 19, chasing what I thought was a fast track to financial security. Wealth wasn’t in my vocabulary back then, but being responsible for myself and my young son was.

And if I was going to carry that responsibility, I wanted to do it on my terms.

I wanted to choose when I worked.
I wanted to choose what I worked on.
And most of all, I wanted to choose my own leadership.

I didn’t want to be someone’s assistant.
I didn’t want to play support.
I didn’t want to quietly keep things running behind the scenes.
I wanted to call the shots.

But let’s be clear, at that time, the spaces where women held authority were limited. Classrooms. Hospital floors. Those were our typical options. The leadership path? Blurry at best, because it was still being carved out. Women’s rights and advocacy were beginning to open doors, but those doors didn’t swing open easily.

Leadership roles weren’t typically offered on day one.
As women, we often had to earn our way into management.
Prove ourselves. And keep proving ourselves. 

That experience shaped me.
It taught me how to navigate systems not built for me – and how to lead anyway.

Over time, that desire I had at 19 never went away. It evolved. It matured. It deepened.
And eventually, it couldn’t be ignored.

Fast forward a few decades, and we arrive here, Blue Heron Coaching, a home for purpose-driven entrepreneurs.

So what changed?

I got clear.

Clear on my values.
Clear on the impact I wanted to make.
Clear on the legacy I wanted to leave.

And then, I got moving – because making entrepreneurship accessible isn’t just a mission. It’s a priority.

And it’s why I’m asking you now:
Not “Are you willing?”
Not “Are you motivated?”

But – are you clear?
Do you know what you’re stepping into, and what it will actually require of you?

Readiness isn’t a vibe.
It’s not a vision board.
And it sure isn’t a bingo card filled with quotes.

It’s a grounded knowing.
A practical awareness.
And a strategic decision to act in a way that supports the future you want to build.

Thinking about starting something? Don’t rely on a gut feeling or a guess. Step back, take inventory, and find out what’s true for you right now.

We created the Entrepreneur Readiness Assessment to help you get clear. It’s a quick, real-time reflection tool designed to meet you where you are – whether you’re ready to launch, exploring the idea of business ownership, or just beginning to imagine what’s possible. Wherever you are on the path, this is a solid first step.

Take the Entrepreneur Readiness Assessment
It only takes a few minutes. Your path forward might be clearer than you think.

No one hands you a permission slip to begin.
You write your own.
And clarity? That’s your pen.

#SoarAboveAchieveBeyond