5 Steps to Start a Business You Love Without Quitting Your Job (Yet)
Not Sure What to Do with Your Life? Here’s How to Start Small, Stay Secure, and Build Something Meaningful
A few years ago, I found myself asking a question that wouldn't leave me alone:
What do I actually want to create?
And perhaps an even bigger one:
What matters now?
On paper, things looked good.
I had built a career, lived in several countries, reached a Director role, and developed a slight obsession with photographing birds. 😊
Yet there was a feeling that something in me was still waiting.
Not necessarily because anything was wrong.
There was simply a part of me that wanted to create something that felt more like my own.
Many of us reach a point where we start wondering if there is something more. A project. A business idea. A different way of working. A dream we've been putting off for years.
And almost immediately, the doubts arrive:
I can't afford to quit my job.
I don't even know where to start.
What if I fail?
What I've learned is that most people don't begin with complete clarity.
More often, they begin with curiosity and a willingness to explore what keeps calling them.
What I learned is that you don't have to quit your job to begin exploring what comes next.
In fact, starting while you're still employed can be one of the safest and most supportive ways to test ideas, build confidence, and learn what actually fits.
You don't need to have everything figured out.
You just need a place to start.
These are five steps that helped me and many of my clients begin building something that felt more like their own.
Step 1: Clarify Your Why
Before thinking about business ideas, pause and ask yourself: Why do I want to do this?
One day, I sat down undisturbed and made a long list of things I care about. Then I shortened it to my top three values: space, freedom, and creativity.
Space gives me room to think and reflect without rushing.
Freedom lets me make choices aligned with my values instead of someone else’s expectations.
Creativity keeps me energized, helps me solve problems, and allows me to bring new ideas to life.
These values are non-negotiable for me. Once I realized that, I could clearly see what was important and what fit into my life and what didn’t. Through this exercise, I discovered how much I love being of service to others, walking alongside them as they create their own path. That’s when coaching emerged as something worth exploring.
And there is no better acknowledgment of what I do than hearing a client say, “It has been inside me the whole time,” when they finally figure out what they truly wanted to do.
Try this exercise yourself:
Write down three things you love doing.
Write down three problems you care about solving.
Write down three skills you already have.
(And if you think of five, write five!)
Look for the overlap. That intersection often points to where purpose meets practicality.
My client Martina loved beautiful things and dreamed of opening an accessories store. She also loved restoring old items and giving them new life. Her skill was curating and styling with a designer’s eye. That overlap led her to open a vintage lifestyle boutique, a business that made her excited to get out of bed in the morning.
Step 2: Test the Waters
Many people assume they need to leave their job before exploring something new.
In my experience, that's rarely true.
You don’t need to hand in your resignation to explore a business or career change.
Start small:
Take a course
Test an idea with a few friends
Offer your skills to a local nonprofit or volunteer group
My client Dona did all three. She signed up for a coaching skills course, tested ideas with friends and family in a safe space, and volunteered as a coach for nonprofits to gain real experience. These small, low-risk experiments gave her clarity. They showed coaching was something she genuinely wanted to do and confirmed her desire to be of service to others.
Step 3: Be Intentional with Your Time
Balancing a job, family, and a new project can feel overwhelming. But when we spend our time intentionally, each step, no matter how small, moves us forward and starts to feel lighter.
Here’s what I invite you to try:
Block small pockets of time in your calendar and treat them as non-negotiable appointments with yourself.
Break big goals into bite-sized steps so they feel doable rather than intimidating.
Remind yourself that progress is meant to be slow and steady, not overnight.
Practice saying no to things that don’t align with your focus, so you can say yes to you.
Remember Step 1, when you clarified your values? Protecting your time means making conscious choices and letting go of what doesn’t fit so you can focus on what does.
My client Paul, who had recently lost his job, felt overwhelmed by all the possibilities and wanted to do everything at once. After designing a schedule, he committed 30 minutes a few times per week to search for a bridge role. Being consistent helped Paul the most. Now, he not only has the bridge role but also the clarity and routine to start building his event management business.
Step 4: Build Your Support System
Having your own support system makes all the difference when you’re building something new. This might include:
A mentor or coach who will help you design a routine and keep you accountable
A friend who is also starting a business and with whom you can share ideas
A Facebook group or community that celebrates your wins
When I started coaching, I met others on the same journey. We practiced together, gave each other support, shared ideas, and celebrated every success, no matter how small.
A support system can’t do the work for you, but it reminds you that you are not alone and gives you the courage to take the next step.
Step 5: Take One Small Step at a Time
Ideas are exciting, but action is where the magic happens. Don’t wait for perfection. Start with what you have and adjust as you go.
This could look like:
Offering a free session to one person
Posting your first product online
Asking for feedback from someone you trust
My client Nina did exactly this. She offered marketing and branding services to friends starting businesses, asked for honest feedback, and collected testimonials. Those early steps gave her confidence and helped her refine her services to match what people truly needed. Each small step builds confidence. It wasn’t giant leaps but tiny, consistent steps that carried her forward.
Your Turn
You don't need a perfect plan before you begin.
You don't need certainty.
And you don't need to leave your job tomorrow.
Often, what creates momentum is one small step.
A conversation.
An idea written down in a notebook.
Thirty minutes blocked off in your calendar.
A course.
A question you've been avoiding asking yourself.
What idea, project, or possibility keeps coming back to you?
I'd love to hear.
You can reach me at hello@createwithmarcela.com.
And if you'd like support exploring what comes next, whether that's a business idea, a career transition, or simply creating more space for what matters, I'd be happy to have a conversation.
About Marcela
Marcela Kratochvilova is an ICF-certified coach who helps thoughtful, capable women navigate career transitions, build businesses, and create next chapters that feel more like their own.
Drawing on more than 30 years of experience across healthcare, life sciences, private industry, and international organizations, she helps clients reconnect with their own wisdom and move forward in a way that feels right for them.
When she's not coaching, you'll often find her travelling, playing tennis, or walking around a park in search of the perfect bird photograph.
Learn more at www.createwithmarcela.com.
