Why You’re Stuck in Planning Mode, and How to Finally Launch
- Joanna Hannam
- Oct 11
- 3 min read
You’ve read the books.
You’ve joined the courses.
You’ve watched many, many (many) YouTube videos.
You’ve written - and rewritten - the business plan.
But somehow… you’re still not launched.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. So many entrepreneurs get stuck in what I call “productive procrastination” - where it looks like you’re moving forward, but really, you’re just endlessly preparing.
The good news? Once you understand what’s keeping you stuck, you can finally move into action.
1. You’re Waiting for Perfect
Maybe you’re tweaking your logo just one more time.
Obsessing over the perfect photos for your website.
Or rewriting your “About” page because you’re worried it doesn’t quite capture your expertise.
Perfectionism disguises itself as professionalism — but it’s really fear in a smart outfit.
💡 What to do: Launch imperfectly (in your head). You’ll refine faster in the real world than you ever could behind a laptop. Start talking to people about your business. You’ll be surprised how often clarity comes mid-conversation. The beauty of the digital world is that you can always go back and tweak things later. In the meantime, your audience won’t notice the tiny details you obsess over - they’ll just remember your message and your professionalism.
2. You Don’t Have a Clear Focus
Sometimes you’re not really procrastinating — you’re overwhelmed. You’re trying to speak to everyone, so your message resonates with no one.
💡 What to do: Get specific. Who are you helping? What problem are you solving? The clearer you are, the easier everything else becomes — from your branding to your content. Again, talk about your business out loud. Passion and purpose often surface more naturally in conversation than they do in your head.
3. You’re Comparing Your Chapter 1 to Someone Else’s Chapter 20
You scroll through Instagram and see someone else’s polished business, confident videos, glossy brand… and suddenly you feel behind.
💡 What to do: Remember, you’re seeing the highlight reel, not the journey. Every successful business owner started where you are now — with an idea, a little fear, and a lot of figuring it out as they went. Keep a journal of your own journey so you can look back and see how far you’ve come.
4. You’re Not Sure What to Do Next
Sometimes it’s not mindset, it’s just not knowing the order of things. Do you start the website first? Build your brand? Post on social? Send emails?
💡 What to do: Think about your customer journey and work backwards. For example, if you meet someone at a networking event and plan to send them a WhatsApp follow-up, where do you want to send them next if they’re not ready to work with you? If it’s your website, that’s where your focus should be first.
Pick one thing to move forward each week. Done beats perfect every time. And if you’re unsure, get support — a marketing coach or strategist can help you map the steps so you can focus on action, not guesswork.
5. You’ve Lost Connection with Your “Why”
When you’re deep in planning, it’s easy to forget why you started in the first place. What made you want this? What problem did you want to solve?
💡 What to do: Revisit your vision. Write it out, stick it somewhere you’ll see it, and remind yourself that progress matters more than perfection.
Ready to Finally Launch?
It’s time to stop waiting for the perfect moment, because it doesn’t exist.
Your business will evolve as you do, but it won’t start growing until you start.
Still unsure?
If you’re unclear on your strategy, what marketing you really need, or whether what you’ve done is good enough, Happy Friday can help.
From Done-WITH-You sessions (where we give you clear pointers and confidence to improve what you’ve built) to our Done-FOR-You service (where we take the pressure off your shoulders completely) — wherever you are in your business journey, Happy Friday is here to help.
✨ Let’s make it happen, together.
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