-American Dreamer

Dear Dreamer,

I love a good dream.

But this one sounds like its in the early phases of development.

Weve all had that friend who talks about their business idea theyve never actually tried to launch, right?

a happy woman is seen through a business window holding an open sign.

Or the guy who swears hell be an overnight success one of these days?

You have a dream.

Do you have a plan?

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Its time to take off those rose-colored glasses and get real about your ambitions and your action steps.

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Next, its time for research.

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Check out some library books on business planning.

Find low-cost small business classes offered by your local economic development corporation.

Consider signing up for a freeSCORE mentor.

Consider ways to dip your toe in the entrepreneurial pool with aside hustlebefore cannonballing in.

(In the meantime,start saving!)

But lets not get ahead of ourselves.

Your job right now is to start talking about your dream.

Start talking about it like its reality.

Talk to your partner, your friends, people you trust in your community.

Get your dream out of your head, and see how it sounds out loud and looks on paper.

Have an awkward money dilemma?

Send it to[email protected].

Did you know?

I wont be able to answer every single letter (I can only jot down so fast!).

We reserve the right to edit and publish your questions.

Dont worry your identity will remain anonymous.

I do, however, promise to give you honest advice based on my own insights and real-life experiences.

Lisa Rowan is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)

You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…