Picture this: Me, surrounded by crumpled papers, empty coffee cups, and a 47-page business plan that took three months to write. I'd followed every template, checked every box, and created the most detailed projections imaginable. It was perfect.

And then I set it on fire. (Okay, fine - I dramatically threw it in the recycling bin, but emotionally, it was definitely a fire.)

Here's why: I realized I'd spent so much time planning my business that I'd forgotten to actually build one.

Let me tell you about the moment everything changed. I was at my kitchen table, stressing over financial forecasts for year five (because apparently, I could predict the future), when my phone buzzed. It was a message from a potential client: "Hey, are you available to help with this project? Need someone ASAP."

My first instinct was to say, "Sorry, I'm still finalizing my business infrastructure and optimal service delivery modules." (Yes, I actually used phrases like that. I'm cringing too.)

Instead, I took a deep breath and typed: "Yes, I can help. Let's talk about what you need."

That one "yes" taught me more about running a business than my entire 47-page plan.

Here's the thing about entrepreneurship that most people won't tell you: It's messy. It's imperfect. And most of the time, you're building the plane while flying it.

Want to know my biggest business mistakes? (Grab a snack, this is going to be good.)

I thought I needed:

• A perfect website (Spoiler: My first client didn't even ask for my URL)

• A fancy office (My most productive days are still in my pajamas)

• Every possible system in place (Turns out, you figure out what you need as you go)

• To sound "professional" (Whatever that means)

What I actually needed was the courage to start before I felt ready.

The real turning point came when I stopped trying to build the "perfect" business and started building a real one. You know what that looked like?

It looked like sending proposals from my phone while waiting in line at the grocery store. It looked like admitting to clients that I was figuring things out as I went, but promising to deliver value every step of the way. It looked like making mistakes and fixing them in real-time.

Here's what running a real business taught me:

Your first idea probably won't be your final one - and that's okay. Your biggest opportunities often come from being flexible enough to pivot. Your "unprofessional" authenticity is actually your biggest asset. Your mess can become your message (hello, blog post!)

The most successful business owners I know aren't the ones with the perfect plans. They're the ones who are willing to get their hands dirty, make mistakes, and keep showing up.

Remember that first client who needed help ASAP? They're still with me three years later. Not because I had everything figured out, but because I was honest about what I could deliver and then over-delivered on that promise.

These days, my business strategy is simple:

• Listen more than I talk

• Solve real problems

• Be honest about what I can and can't do

• Keep learning, even when it's uncomfortable

And you know what? Business is better than anything my 47-page plan predicted. Not because it's perfect, but because it's real.

So, to anyone sitting on a brilliant idea because they're waiting for everything to be "perfect" - this is your sign. Start messy. Start small. Just start.

What's holding you back from starting or scaling your enterprise? Drop a comment below. Let's talk about the real stuff - the fears, the doubts, and maybe even the business plans you need permission to throw away.

Until next time, Dr. Christopher Paul

P.S. Next week, we're talking about influence - and why the person with the most followers isn't necessarily the one with the most impact. Get ready for some uncomfortable truths about authentic leadership in the age of viral everything.