Ep 296: How to Start Small, Yet Play Big - for New Business Owners

If you're starting a business, it's imperative you PLAY BIG to avoid it turning into a hobby. In today's episode, I take you through 3 ways to start small, with low risk, yet go big so you can actually achieve the successful business you dream of.

Starting a business doesn’t have to mean taking huge financial risks or investing tons of money upfront. But it does mean showing up with intention—even when you’re starting small. And that’s a distinction I see so many new entrepreneurs miss.

Here’s the thing: there’s a big difference between starting small (which is smart!) and playing small (which holds you back). Starting small is about testing the waters, minimizing financial risk, and working within your current resources. Playing small, on the other hand, is about treating your business like a hobby—showing up inconsistently and hesitating to put real strategy behind what you’re doing. And if you’re stuck in that “I’m just starting small” mindset, it’s easy to avoid the very things that would actually help you grow.

So how do you play big while starting small? Let’s break it down.

First, you’ve got to offer something people are already looking for. That’s the best way to reduce risk because you’re not just hoping there’s a market for what you’re creating—you know there is. So many new business owners create something they love without checking if anyone else will pay for it. The reality is, the most successful businesses figure out where there’s already demand and step in to meet it. That’s not to say you can’t bring something new or innovative to the table! But if you’re doing that, remember you’ll need to spend time educating your audience. The sweet spot is finding the overlap between what you love doing and what people are already willing to buy.

Second, you need to be crystal clear on who you’re here to help and how you’re helping them. Without that clarity, it’s like throwing spaghetti at the wall with your messaging—posting random stuff, talking to random people, and hoping someone will bite. When you know your audience and the transformation they’re after, your messaging becomes focused and powerful. You’ll feel more confident sharing what you do because you know exactly how you’re solving problems and why it matters. And guess what? This kind of messaging doesn’t require a huge marketing budget. It just requires you to get really clear.

Lastly, you’ve got to have a plan for turning strangers into buyers—what I like to call your conversion strategy. This doesn’t have to be some fancy tech-heavy funnel. It just means having a step-by-step process for how people go from first hearing about you to eventually buying from you. Too many small business owners just post and pray, but hope isn’t a strategy. Whether you’re working with just a few hours each week or have more time to commit, you need a system that fits into your life and actually moves the needle.

Playing big doesn’t mean you’re aiming to build some huge empire overnight. It means you’re treating your business like a real business—putting thoughtful strategies in place and showing up with intention, even if you’re only making a few sales a month right now. Because that’s how you set yourself up for bigger results down the road.

At the end of the day, playing big looks different for everyone. Maybe for you it’s about creating a flexible lifestyle, or maybe it’s about hitting a specific financial goal, or maybe it’s about doing work that lights you up. No matter what your vision of success looks like, playing big means taking your business seriously and building it with purpose—right from where you are.

xoxo Kimberly