How Do You Know You're on the Right Path?

By Tricia Scott.

Here's the thing about life (and business), nobody hands you a roadmap. You don't get a neat little instruction manual with step-by-step guidance on where to go, what to do, and when to pivot. And if you did, you'd probably ignore it anyway because that's the entrepreneurial spirit, amiright?

So, how do you know you're on the right path? Well... you don't.

Starting something new is a bit like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions (having spent a chunk of time yesterday assembling office furniture, I know a bit about this seventh circle of hell) I mean, you might end up with a desk when you were aiming for a bookshelf, but that's okay because now you've got a desk to sit at work out where you go from here (and you can still pile your books on it too).  

The point is that as entrepreneurs, our job is to take the path less travelled (if travelled at all), and there are no maps for those uncharted places. The thoroughly inconvenient truth is that that's where the magic is, in the messy middle—the "screw it, let's just try" moments.

The secret isn't in knowing where the path leads but in trusting yourself to adapt, learn, and grow along the way. It's about asking the big questions: Does this feel good? Am I excited about this? Did I cry into my coffee today or do a little happy dance? If it's the latter, you're probably onto something.

And let's not forget the universal truth, according to Oprah: There are no wrong paths. Every dead end teaches you something. Maybe it's resilience, a new skill, or just that you really shouldn't work with people who give you the ick (we've all been there). Either way, you're moving forward.

So, if wondering if you're on the right path has been keeping you awake at night, let yourself off the hook and just keep walking. Take the detours. Laugh at your mistakes (they'll make a great founder story one day). Stockpile those little lessons like a squirrel with acorns because they'll trust me; they will come in handy later (and they are not mistakes you will make again).

And if all else fails, remember this: Beyoncé wasn't built in a day.

I believe in you, always.

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Tricia Scott is a passionate startup business mentor and the Founder and Editor of The Female CEO - Create Evolve Overcome, a platform and digital magazine holding the space to showcase female entrepreneurs from all over the world. 

The Female CEO is gaining global recognition daily and Tricia is able to bring her own level of expertise as a start-up mentor and multi-company director to her very exclusive table along with her team of brilliant Guest Editors and Contributors. You'll usually find her with her MacBook in one hand and a coffee or a glass of something fizzy in the other. Reach out anytime!