The DIY Entrepreneur
Business—the Ultimate DIY Project
It was about a week after I left my career in corporate America. I was used to going a million miles a minute with people asking me questions or needing me for something all day every day—in other words, being “on” constantly. Now, I was hearing crickets. Suddenly, my life had drastically fewer demands, and I was bored. So, I did what any mom does when she finds herself with extra time and not much to do—I got on Pinterest.
The land of visual inspiration and DIY. This is where I found a most wonderful woman named Ana White. Ana made me feel like I could build anything! She made DIY simple and approachable. It was summer, and I immediately found some build plans for a beautiful solid wood patio set. Under Ana’s guidance, I quickly built my first patio chair, and I’ve been hooked ever since!
From DIY to Business: Overcoming the Fear of the Unknown
Just like a budding business, a DIY project can feel both overwhelming and exciting at first. There are tools, terms, and techniques you aren’t totally familiar with, and skills you haven’t mastered yet. Just getting started can feel intimidating. At first, you’re brimming with excitement, but then…a bit of fear bubbles up, and you start thinking, “What did I get myself into?”
Here’s what I’ve learned: whether you’re building furniture or building a business, pushing past that initial fear is where the magic happens. Once you start taking even the smallest action, your confidence begins to build. With each step—whether it’s sanding a piece of wood or developing your first business strategy—you start to see that you can do it.
Things Rarely Ever Goes as Planned—And That’s Okay
In both DIY projects and business, things rarely go exactly as planned. You’ll be one board short (because, of course), or you’ll realize you need to make yet another unexpected trip to the hardware store. In business, you might find that your marketing strategy didn’t land quite right, or your product launch didn’t get the attention you hoped for. It’s all part of the process—there’s always a "Whoops, didn’t see that coming!" moment.
The ability to pause, assess where you are, and adjust is what makes both DIY and entrepreneurship so rewarding. There’s no feeling quite like snapping that “after” photo of your DIY project—and let’s be real, we all love a good before-and-after. The same goes for hitting that big milestone in your business. It’s the moments in between—the messy middle—that really shape the journey.
The Grit Behind Every Great Project
Nothing great ever comes easy. Whether you’re DIY-ing a project or running a business, it takes grit to push through when things don’t go perfectly. And you know what? That’s where the growth happens. Every mistake, every hiccup, every “what did I get myself into” moment is part of the learning process.
DIY projects remind me that I can do hard things—and so does entrepreneurship. Both teach you to be patient, to pivot when you’re stuck, and to keep going even when the plan changes. It’s all about figuring it out as you go. And let’s be honest—there are about 1,000 ways to get to the same endpoint, so why not just pick one and get started!
Building Momentum by Taking Action
When I’m too in my head about a work problem, I turn to a DIY project to literally get out of my head and start creating momentum with my hands. That’s the same thing I teach my clients: if you feel stuck, take action. It doesn’t have to be big or perfect—just start. Whether you’re working with wood or building a business, taking action is what fuels confidence and progress. We all walk before we run.
The Journey and the Joy
There’s a beautiful aspect of doing a project yourself—you experience the journey from the idea in your head to the final outcome. This process is strikingly similar to the journey of developing a business idea. In both DIY projects and business, it all starts with an idea. You envision a product, service, or project and set out to bring it to life.
The initial excitement fuels your creativity and motivation. You gather resources, make plans, and take the first steps. The journey from concept to launch might involve market research, product development, and strategic planning. Just as in DIY, this process requires adapting and refining the original idea.
When a DIY project doesn’t go as planned, it’s a chance to learn and improve. You might laugh at the misstep and think, “Well, I won’t do it that way again.” This mindset is crucial in business as well. Mistakes and failures aren’t just inevitable—they’re essential for growth. They teach resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving.
The journey of a DIY project, from conception to completion, is not just about the end result—it’s about the process. Learning new skills, overcoming challenges, and seeing your idea take shape is incredibly rewarding and can continue to fuel your passion for creating and innovating.
In business, enjoying the process is equally important. Entrepreneurs and business leaders who find joy in the journey—navigating challenges, learning, and growing—are more likely to persevere and succeed.
The Takeaway: Embrace the DIY Spirit in Business
Whether you’re building a patio set or building a business, the principles are the same. You don’t need all the answers at the start—you just need an idea, a bit of grit, and the willingness to learn along the way. With each step, you’ll get closer to your vision, and while the journey might not always go as planned, the outcome is always worth it.
The parallels between DIY projects and business innovation are clear. Both involve taking an idea from conception to reality, navigating challenges, learning from mistakes, and finding joy in the process. By embracing the DIY mentality, businesses can cultivate creativity, resilience, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
So, what’s the next DIY project on your business building list? Start now! You might be surprised by what you can build.