JUST START
Over the past 30 years, I’ve started many businesses. Some failed. Some were so small they barely paid the bills before I moved on. There are countless ways to begin your business journey, but all successful founders have one thing in common: they just started.
If your business is self-funded—or running on a credit card—do you need a business plan or pitch deck? A business plan, maybe. A pitch deck? Not really. (Unless you’re eventually seeking investors.)
Here’s a list of businesses I started—none had a pitch deck or formal business plan:
Betty Blue Boutique on Wheels (mobile boutique at college campuses)
Selections by Shana Colbin (independent jewelry/accessory wholesale rep)
Shanamanna (health food vending machines)
Kismet (women’s boutique—up to three locations at once, 5 total)
True (women’s boutique—two locations)
Luna and Jasper (gift shop, later rebranded from one of the boutiques)
Kailashan Enterprises (real estate, with my sister)
Colbin Consulting (small business consulting)
A pitch deck is great if you’re putting someone else’s money to work. But my philosophy? Let the business lead you. I’ve always learned by doing. Here’s why I skipped the traditional route:
Less time planning, more time doing. I’ve watched friends spend years planning only to burn out before ever launching. You won’t know if your business will work—or if it’s even the one you want—until you try it.
Start small. Really small. Use free tools. Design a logo on Canva. Build a website with templates. Post to social and ask friends to share. These small steps are bricks—and before you know it, you’ve built a house.
Your business teaches you. When I launched Betty Blue, I sold clothing from my sister’s Bali imports to college students. Then I tried selling at holiday markets like Junior League—different clientele, different response. That’s how I learned to identify my demographic. Trial and error is the best teacher.
So, if you’ve got a business idea that keeps you up at night? Start experimenting. Make a prototype. Offer your service for free in exchange for feedback. Bounce the idea around. Be willing to pivot. Just start.
