“I think I’m doing everything right… but nothing’s working.”
That’s what a friend of mine whispered to me on a late-night voice note.
She had just launched her online coaching offer. She spent weeks designing the website herself, shooting the perfect reel, even took a course.
Launch day came…
She refreshed her inbox every 30 seconds…
And nothing. Crickets.
She wasn’t alone.
The truth is: everyone’s first online business feels like this.
But nobody talks about it, we’re too busy pretending everything’s fine. Smiling on Instagram.
Saying “Just launched!” while quietly spiraling.
So let’s break the silence! Let’s talk about the part nobody warns you about the part that feels like you’re drowning in doubt while trying to look like a CEO on the surface.
Vision Forge has been around the block for some time now and since we started helping people build succesful online businesses, we have noticed a pattern. Most entrepeneurs start their business with high expectations having only seen the beautiful part of a succesful businesss. In this article we will go through some hard truth you should know before you start your online business.
1. The Emotional Rollercoaster Is Real
For the most part you’ll feel like you’re faking it. Freedom sounds sexy. But it’s terrifying when you’ve never had to create your own structure. That same freedom? It will scare the sh*t out of you. There’s this voice that creeps in:“Why would anyone buy from me?” You will find yourself questioning every decision. This emotional turbulence is normal and part of the growth process.
You’ll even second-guess your prices, your content, even your existence on the internet. That’s not imposter syndrome it is the cost of stepping into a new and unfamiliar territory.
What you need to understand is everyone starts as a nobody. Confidence isn’t a pre-requisite it’s a byproduct of your actions.
Think of it this way, Your ACTIONS build CONFIDENCE AND MOTIVATION, not the other way around.
2. The First Version Will Suck
Waiting for the “perfect” moment or product will most times lead to inaction. The truth is, perfection is an illusion.Your first product will be clunky; your first website won’t be perfect; your first offer may flop. But here’s the interesting twist, you need to launch anyway! Waiting to be “ready” is the business version of hiding. It’s better to launch and learn than to delay. Feedback from real users and clients is way more valuable than endless internal revisions of analysis paralysis.
To tackle this challenge, focus on speed in getting your ideas out there as fast as possible and build on that foundation.
At Vision Forge, we help businesses architect a strong digital foundation that sets them up for exponetial success. See How We Help Entrepeneurs Like Yourself
3. Your Friends & Family Probably May Not Support You
Friends and family might not grasp your entrepreneurial aspirations. They’ll smile politely. Some will nod. Most won’t understand.
You’ll outgrow friends and might even lose the ability to sit in rooms where people only talk about salaries and weekend plans.
Most of them may even question your decisions or express concern. It’s important to stay true to your goals and seek out mentors or peers and join spaces where dreaming big is normal
4. Making money online is simple, but not easy.
You will be tempted by courses that promise “$10K in 30 days”. And when you don’t hit that number? You’ll wonder if something’s wrong with you.
But let’s clear this up, the real game lies in
✅ Building an offer people want
✅ Creating a system that delivers it
✅ Selling it clearly and consistently
Most entrepeneurs quit before they get that part figured out. A simple to gain this clarity is to answer these questions: Who are you helping? What are you helping them do? What makes your method different?
If you can say that in one sentence, YOU’RE DANGEROUS!!
5. Success Comes After the Boring Stuffs
You’ll spend 3 hours writing a post you’re sure will go viral; Writing emails no one reads (yet); Recording content, deleting, re-recording then post it and watch it get 6 likes and a “cool” from your mum.
But these isn’t wasted effort, it is reps and volume. One day, those emails get opened. The offer lands! That first notification? “You’ve received payment.”
It won’t even matter if it’s $27 or $2700. You’ll screenshot it, heart pounding. Not because of the money, but because of the proof:
“Someone believes in me. This can actually work.”
And that moment? That moment will fuel you through the dry days.
6. Fear Never Leaves, You Only Get Better at Moving Anyway
Every next level brings new fears:
- “Can I handle this client?”
- “What if I can’t deliver?”
- “What if they ask for a refund?”
That’s normal.
But let me tell you this:
The people you look up to felt the same.
They didn’t make it because they were fearless. They made it because they kept moving anyway. The only way to kill fear is to stay stuck.
The Business Isn’t the Real Journey. You Are.
Starting your first online business will teach you more about yourself than any self-help book. It will be the greatest classroom you’ll ever enter.
You’ll learn:
- What you do when no one’s watching.
- How you handle rejection.
- Whether you’ll choose courage over comfort—again and again.
And when things do finally click, when your system works, your offer lands, your calendar fills…
Once you realize you can build something from scratch and someone will pay you for it, you’ll never see yourself the same again.
👊 My Challenge to You:
Don’t just read this and nod.
Take 15 minutes today no excuses and answer this:
- What problem do I actually solve for people?
- Who needs this most right now?
- How can I offer it simply and fast?
Then post it. DM it. Talk about it. Start.
Because the only thing standing between you and your first real win… is movement.
