26. Stage 1: The Discovery Phase — When You’ve Got Ideas, But Don’t Know Where to Start

You’ve passed Stage 0.

You’re no longer just thinking about starting something—you’re ready to explore. Your brain’s buzzing with ideas, possibilities, and maybe even a few domain names.

But now? You’re stuck.

This is Stage 1: The Discovery Phase—the point where most would-be side hustlers stall out.

Not because they don’t care.

Not because they’re unmotivated.

Because they have too many possibilities… and no idea how to choose.

The Problem Isn’t Lack of Ideas

If anything, you’ve got too many.

You’re passionate about multiple things. You’re skilled in several areas. One day you’re thinking about launching a coaching offer, the next day you’re dreaming up a newsletter, and the day after that—maybe a course?

Sound familiar?

It’s not that you’re unfocused. It’s that you haven’t found a filter yet.

What Stage 1 Feels Like

This is the idea fog.

• You’re full of creative energy, but unsure where to direct it
• You second-guess every option: Is this a “real” idea? Would anyone pay for it?
• You want clarity—but the more you think about it, the more overwhelmed you feel

And because you can’t pick one idea, you do nothing at all.

Totally normal. Totally fixable.

Clarity Comes from Action, Not More Thinking

This is the core lesson of Stage 1.

You don’t figure out the “right” idea by thinking harder.

You figure it out by trying something.

It doesn’t have to be a business.

It doesn’t have to be perfect.

It just has to be real enough to teach you something.

How to Move Forward in Stage 1

The goal in this stage is not to find the perfect, final idea. It’s to explore something with a little more intention than you did in Stage 0.

Here’s how:

• Pick one idea to test for the next 30 days. That’s it. Not forever—just one month.
• Make it public-ish. Share a social post. Tell a friend. Publish a blog or video. Say it out loud.
• Notice what excites you (and what drains you). Pay attention to how it feels—not just how it performs.

You’re not trying to be “right.”

You’re trying to learn.

And what you learn in Stage 1 is what fuels every step that comes next.

What’s Coming Up Next

Once you’ve explored an idea and gathered a bit of feedback—from yourself, your audience, or potential customers—you’ll hit a new question:

“Is this something I could actually turn into something real?”

That’s the entry point to Stage 2: Validation—where things get more concrete, and your side hustle starts to take shape.

We’ll get into that next time.

Until then—if you’re stuck in the idea fog, you’re not alone.

The hardest part isn’t picking the right idea.

It’s giving one idea enough attention to teach you something.

Let it be small.

Let it be messy.

Let it begin.

Talk soon,

Nathan Pearce

Creator of Risk Free Side Hustle

Other Articles in this "Four Stages of Side Hustling" Series

1. The Four Stages of Side Hustling (and Why They Matter)
2. Stage 0: The Pre-Commit Phase — When You’re Not Quite Ready (But Still Thinking About It)
3. Stage 1: The Discovery Phase — When You’ve Got Ideas, But Don’t Know Where to Start - THIS ARTICLE
4. Stage 2: The Validation Phase — When You’re Excited, but Overwhelmed