Why Readiness Is the Step Most Business Advice Skips
If you’re a private practice owner or solo entrepreneur, you’ve probably had a moment like this:
“Maybe I’m in the wrong niche.”
“Maybe I should shift everything.”
“Maybe what I’ve built isn’t aligned anymore.”
And sometimes, yes — change is exactly what’s needed.
But more often than not, those thoughts don’t come from deep clarity.
They come from a quieter, more uncomfortable place:
You’re not misaligned. You’re just not ready to act.
In the 8-Phase Framework, this is Phase 2: Interest — the most overlooked yet essential part of sustainable business growth.
What Is Phase 2: Interest?
In EMDR, Phase 2 is about stabilization — creating a sense of readiness and safety before diving into the deeper work.
In business, Interest works the same way.
It’s the phase where you’re not in full action mode yet, but you’re paying attention. Something is stirring. Something is calling for a shift. But clarity hasn’t landed.
Most business frameworks skip this part entirely. They jump from Awareness (you realize something needs to change) to Action (so change it already!).
But when you act before you’re ready, the outcome is usually forced, disjointed, or unsatisfying.
Interest isn’t a delay. It’s a data-gathering phase.
It’s where you build emotional and strategic readiness.
It’s where you explore what could be — without demanding that it be fully formed yet.
Signs You’re in the Interest Phase
- You feel the urge to shift something, but can’t name what exactly
- You’re toggling between multiple ideas and second-guessing each one
- You’re craving more space and less pressure
- You’re tempted to pivot just to regain momentum
- You keep asking yourself: “What’s next?” — and hearing silence in return
This is not confusion.
This is clarity-in-progress.
What to Do (and Not Do) in This Phase
✅ What to do:
- Create mental and emotional space (without urgency)
- Reconnect with why you started your business in the first place
- Start capturing emerging ideas — not executing, just observing
- Use targeted safe place visualizations tied to your current business vision
- Let things feel unfinished. That’s part of the process.
❌ What not to do:
- Rebrand everything on a whim
- Burn it down just because it feels unclear
- Judge yourself for not having a plan
- Push for outcomes when the inputs aren’t clear
Readiness isn’t passive — it’s potent.
And honoring this phase ensures that what comes next will actually fit.
Why This Matters for Sustainable Business Growth
When you skip the Interest phase, you might see short-term movement — but it’s usually followed by burnout, regret, or the need to reverse course.
When you move through the Interest phase intentionally, you’re not guessing your way forward — you’re gathering insight that makes forward motion meaningful.
The 8-Phase Framework is designed to help you recognize where you are in the cycle so you can stop trying to solve the wrong problem — or push before you’re ready.
This Phase Is Part of the Map
Phase 2 is where vision work begins — not with execution, but with openness.
It’s where curiosity replaces urgency.
It’s where overwhelm turns into possibility.
It’s where the business you actually want begins to take shape.
You don’t have to rush this.
You just have to recognize it as a phase — and give it room to do its work.
Want to see how all 8 phases build momentum in your business?
👉 Explore the full AIDASLAR Framework inside The 8-Phase Hub
Inside, we walk through every phase — with examples, tools, and evolving insights that meet you exactly where you are.
Because readiness isn’t a luxury.
It’s a strategy.
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