Wait, There Are Directions?…

The way I see it there are three types of people in this world when it comes to building something. There are those who carefully follow directions, there are those who just look at the box and toss the directions and then there are those who loosely follow the directions and wonder why there are extra parts leftover when a project is completed.

I tend to be the guy that looks at directions. I read and reread and refer to the directions a lot whenever I’m building a project. I tend to overdo it, and I often take too long, but the project is complete.

My brother, who is an engineer at heart, can look at a box from all angles, think about it, and then empty the box out on the ground and carefully build whatever the box looks like. He refers to the box cover from time to time, but for the most part he has it in his mind what to do. It’s pretty amazing.

My dad was a combination of both of us. He scanned the directions and occasionally referred to them when assembling something. But almost every time I can remember helping him with a project, we had extra parts. He would shrug his shoulders and say, “well, it’s put together.” And then he was off to grab a cup of coffee.

Now, I’m not judging any of the three methods for completing a project or a task as better than another. We each have our strengths and gifts and used them to finish a project.

However, I know that my dad and brother would get frustrated with me as I insisted on following the directions as closely as possible. And I would equally get frustrated with them with my worry that a step would be missed or something would go wrong.

When I asked my brother the question, “what if the picture is incomplete or, heaven forbid, there is no picture?” He did not have an answer. And when I asked my dad, “what if those extra parts were important.” He would simply glare at me, and I knew that it was not my position to question his work if I knew what was good for me.  😉

In the end, both my dad and my brother would eventually admit that my way was probably the best way.

Now that’s not to say I could not have been more efficient and trusting without triple or quadruple checking my work. But when my way was applied, whatever we were doing was done correct the first time.

As I look back decades later, I miss those times working on projects with my brothers, my sister and my dad. My dad is gone now, but every time I see an extra part on the floor after a project is completed, I think of him and smile. Every time I see a picture on the box, I think of my brother who has a brilliant engineer mind. And then I look for the directions! 😀

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

When I think back on those project-building days with my dad and brother, I realize that no matter what method each of us used, we all relied, at least in some way on one crucial thing…The Directions. Whether we followed them, ignored them, or “mostly” followed them, the instructions in the box were still the foundation. Building an online business works the same way. Some people try to wing it, others skip steps and hope for the best, and a few try to build entirely from memory. But every single person eventually discovers that you need more than enthusiasm.  You need a blueprint.

And this is exactly where so many new entrepreneurs get stuck. They start with excitement and a big dream, but without a blueprint or a clear set of directions, everything feels overwhelming. They’re not sure what step comes first, they’re not sure which tools they actually need, and they’re not sure how all the pieces fit together. That’s when momentum stalls. That’s when discouragement sets in. That’s when the “extra parts” pile up and you’re left wondering what went wrong.

This current blog series exists to prevent that from happening. What I’m giving you, piece by piece, is the blueprint I used. A clear roadmap, simple directions, and an understanding of why each step matters.

And it all begins with four foundational pillars. These are the structural beams of your business. If you don’t build on these, nothing you stack on top will feel stable.

The Four Pillars of Building an Online Business (Your Blueprint Starts Here)

Below are the four pillars. Think of these as the core sections of your blueprint. Future blog posts will break each one down in more detail.

1. Plan – Your plan is the master blueprint, the picture on the front of the box along with the actual directions. This is what you’re building. A plan gives you clarity, direction, and purpose. Without one, you’re guessing. With one, every decision becomes easier. It’s the foundational map that keeps you focused instead of scattered.
2. Coaching – Coaching is like having someone stand over your shoulder saying, “That piece goes there.” It gives you guidance, accountability, and confidence. A good coach helps you avoid wrong turns, unnecessary mistakes, and wasted time. They’ve already followed the blueprint themselves and now they can help you follow yours.
3. Community – Community is the support structure behind your blueprint. These are the people who encourage you, challenge you, inspire you, and walk beside you. Building alone is hard. Building alongside others gives you ideas, solutions, momentum, and motivation. Community is the reinforcement that keeps your blueprint strong.
4. Tools – Tools are the functional parts of your blueprint. These are the pieces, equipment, and systems that help you build efficiently. Too many people buy tools before they even know what they’re building. In this series, I’ll show you how and where you can get those tools.

The next several blog posts will break these pillars down step-by-step, showing you exactly what I needed to get my business up and running without overwhelm.

When you combine these four pillars, Plan|Coaching|Community|Tools, you aren’t just starting a business, you’re following a proven blueprint. You’re building with direction instead of guessing. You’re moving forward with clarity instead of confusion. And just like those projects I built with my family, the journey becomes far more enjoyable when you know what piece goes where.

This blueprint is the framework. But don’t worry, more detailed directions are coming. Much more. No fluff, no hype, just clear directions. Think of today’s post as the overview on the box and the posts ahead as the page-by-page instructions.

Before you go, let me ask you a question. Which part of the blueprint do you want to understand better? Plan, Coaching, Community, or Tools?

Leave a comment below and let me know. Your questions help shape the next steps in this series.

Let’s build this together one step at a time, blueprint in hand.

Directions, who needs ‘em. I do! Just ask my wife. But she’ll probably tell you then I’m too slow when I try to be the handyman! 😉

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and starting on the first one.” — Mark Twain

“It’s not the tools you have faith in. Tools are just tools. They work, or they don’t. It’s the people you have faith in or not.” — Steve Jobs

And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

My wife said, “Can you fix the loose doorknob?” I said, “Sure, I’ll handle it.” She didn’t laugh.

I told my son to measure twice and cut once. He measured once and called me twice.

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!

 

 

 

 

**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more.  And please continue following my blog.  My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.