How I Freed Myself from the Information Trap

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“I would do ANYTHING to make money online! I just want to run a business from home, and I will try anything to do it!” *Proceeds to go to YouTube and search “make money from home.”

Sound familiar? You might be stuck in an information trap, the stage of entrepreneurship that endless loop of information, consuming everything you can in a desperate attempt to make money.

However, WANTING to try something is different than TRYING to do something. So today, I need you to close out of YouTube and pay attention to the tough love I’m about to give you.

1. The Allure of the Information Highway:

With how accessible information is, it’s so easy to get stuck in a loop of YouTube videos and Pinterest boards and TikToks, all giving you the best advice ever to make MILLIONS from home! However, when you’re constantly consuming, you aren’t acting! It can be exciting to think of new ideas, to imagine yourself doing what these people are doing. However, you want to avoid…

2. The Procrastination Trap:

Constantly seeking more information can be a fantastic method of procrastination. You convince yourself that you're "learning" and "preparing," but in reality, you're just stalling. The fear of failure or uncertainty can be paralyzing, leading us to cling to the safety net of consuming more and more information until you don’t actually have time to do what you need to do, which is build up your business!

3. Knowledge Without Application Is Worthless:

No matter how much information you consume, it means nothing if you don't put it into action. Knowledge alone doesn't build your business. It's the application of that knowledge that creates results! The most successful entrepreneurs didn't become who they are by endlessly consuming information—they took bold action and learned through experience. If you aren't getting experience, you aren’t truly learning.

4. Embrace Imperfect Action:

One of the biggest hurdles many face is chasing perfection. When I started my writing career, I was terrified that people would hate my books, and it took FIVE YEARS for me to publish my first novel! But the truth is, perfection is an illusion. Even with all that work, people loved or hated my book. My next book took me a week to write, and it made me $40,000 in its first year! It wasn’t perfect, and it has plenty of haters to this day, but if I hadn’t sucked it up and hit “publish,” I would still be where I was before I started.

Embrace the concept of imperfect action—taking steps forward even if you don't have all the answers. You'll learn along the way, and making mistakes and changing accordingly will be what educates you the most.

5. Start Small, Start Now:

Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, start small and start now. Break down your business idea into actionable steps and tackle them one at a time. Whether it's creating a website, reaching out to potential clients, or launching a social media presence, take that first step TODAY. Not tomorrow, not “when you get around to it,” TODAY. Momentum builds through action, and before you know it, you'll have gained more knowledge and experience than any online course could offer. And, with any luck, you’ll have made some money.

6. Limit Information Consumption:

It's time to put a cap on your information consumption habit. There’s no reason to watch YouTube videos for hours a day, other than telling yourself that counts as “working on your business.” It doesn’t. Set boundaries for yourself, allocating specific time slots for learning and researching. Focus on quality over quantity—choose a few reliable sources instead of whoever pops up in your search results. Remember, taking in more information should help you with your current stage in your business, not distract from it.

7. Seek Accountability and Support:

Surround yourself with like-minded people who share your entrepreneurial spirit. Seek accountability partners or join communities where you can share your progress, challenges, and victories. I highly recommend Facebook groups specific to your niche. I have several friends in both the publishing AND digital marketing sphere to talk to, and we all make sure the others are working instead of procrastinating. Having a support system can provide the encouragement and motivation you need to take consistent action and keep pushing forward.

Aspiring entrepreneurs, it's time to break free from the cycle of information overload and start taking action. Stop aspiring, start acting! Remember that consuming information is just the first step—implementation is where the magic happens. Embrace imperfect action, start small, and seek support along the way. Your journey to success starts now. So close those YouTube tabs, put down the Pinterest boards, and get to work.