Thinking About Starting Something of Your Own?

Start Small. Think Big.

Inside this issue

A checklist to turn your idea into a side business
Tips for adding “Founder” to your resume or LinkedIn
Time to Sprint: Sketch your business idea
Have you ever started your own business?
From the Podcast: Jacob Stone on Reentering the Workforce and Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
The Last Laugh: Spot the difference
But before we get to all that, here’s what’s…

On My Mind

Starting something new can feel both exciting and terrifying. After years of working for someone else, or stepping away from work entirely, building your own thing or reentering the workforce feels like uncharted territory. But that first step doesn’t need to be a leap.

In this week’s podcast, Jacob Stone reminded me that whether you’re starting a business or restarting a career, the process is the same at its core. You don’t have to prove everything at once. You just have to show up as yourself, fully human, with all the lessons, patience, and adaptability that life and parenthood have already taught you.

Every business starts as a small experiment. Every comeback starts with a conversation. You don’t need perfection. You need movement.

Momentum comes from action, not certainty. And each step, no matter how small, moves you closer to the work, and life, that is yours.

Idea to Side Business Checklist

Why it Matters

Many dads have business ideas sitting on the sidelines. The right checklist helps you move from “someday” to “started.”

Why it Works

Breaking big ideas into small actions removes fear and builds confidence fast. You’ll prove your idea works before you ever print business cards.

How to Do It

Spot a Problem: What frustrates people you know? Could your experience solve it?
Define Your Offer: Write one sentence: “I help WHO do WHAT by HOW.”
- Example 1: I help busy parents save time on weekday meals by creating easy prep-ahead dinner plans.
- Example 2: I help small business owners attract better clients by improving their website copy and calls to action.
- Example 3: I help local nonprofits boost donations by managing their social media storytelling.
Test Interest: Talk to three people who might buy. Listen more than you pitch.
Start Small: Offer your service or product to one person. Deliver. Learn.
Document the Process: Note what worked and what didn’t. Refine as you go.

Pro Tip

Don’t wait for perfection. Waiters wait. Builders build.

Adding “Founder” to Your Resume or LinkedIn

Why it Matters

Listing yourself as “Founder” signals initiative and ownership. Even a small project shows you can identify problems, create solutions, and lead something from idea to execution… exactly what employers and clients look for.

Why it Works

Entrepreneurship highlights skills that traditional roles often hide: creativity, persistence, and accountability. It reframes your experience to show that you didn’t just “do tasks”, but you also drove outcomes. That shift turns gaps into proof of leadership.

How to Do It

Title

Some tips to craft your title:

Use Founder or Co-Founder if you built something yourself.
Add clarity with a subtitle, like Founder, BrightPath Tutoring (Online Education Startup).
If it’s still developing, try Founder (In Development) or Independent Project Lead.

Description Framework

Focus on achievements and scope, not size. Use outcome-based language:

Identified a market gap in INDUSTRY and developed SOLUTION.
Built early customer base through CHANNEL and achieved RESULT.
Managed operations across MARKETING, SALES, FULFILLMENT, streamlining systems for efficiency.
Launched MVP under budget and on schedule, validating product-market fit.

Example Entry:

Founder, GreenStep Goods (Sustainable e-commerce project)

Created a small-batch retail concept to test demand for eco-friendly household products. Designed Shopify site, sourced suppliers, and fulfilled 100+ early orders while working full-time.

Pro Tips

Lead each bullet with a strong action verb (Built, Launched, Designed, Negotiated).
Avoid startup jargon. Simple words like created, sold, organized, and improved carry more weight.
Treat this entry like a mini-case study: What problem did you solve, what did you learn, and what changed as a result?

Time to Sprint: Sketch Your Business Idea

Why it Matters

Clarity beats motivation. A 20-minute sketch turns a vague idea into a concrete next step you can act on.

How to Do It

Minutes 0-5: Capture problems. Write 3 to 5 real problems you, or people around you, face. Keep it specific.
Minutes 6-10: Spot patterns. Circle problems that match your skills or interests. Prioritize one that you can solve quickly.
Minutes 11-20: Draft your offer. Use: “I help WHO do WHAT so they can RESULT.” Add one line on how you’ll deliver it this week.
Bonus (5 minutes): Name it. Pick a simple working name. It makes the idea feel real and easier to share.

Pro Tip

Share your draft offer with one person today and ask, “Would this help you?” The fastest feedback is a conversation.

Your Move

Ever started (or wanted to start) your own business? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.

From the Podcast: Jacob Stone on Reentering the Workforce and Bringing Your Whole Self to Work

Why it Matters

Reentering the workforce after time away, especially as a dad, can feel like stepping into an unfamiliar game. Jacob Stone, founder of Worq Tap and veteran HR consultant, pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the hiring process and how to approach it with confidence, empathy, and humanity.

What You’ll Hear

Getting back into the job market isn’t just about resumes and job boards. It’s about rediscovering who you are and learning how to show that person again fully and unapologetically. Jacob shares how dads can bring their real-life experience, adaptability, and soft skills to the table in ways that hiring teams respect and remember.

You’ll learn how to:

Reframe your parenting experience into valuable professional skills.
Understand what’s really happening behind the scenes in HR.
Stand out in a sea of resumes by being more human, not more polished.
Network effectively and connect directly with hiring managers.
Regain confidence after career gaps or rejections.

Pro Tip

Hiring is human. Behind every posting is a person juggling deadlines, distractions, and decisions. When you reach out with honesty and curiosity instead of formality, you’re already ahead of most applicants.