How to establish a journaling practice as an entrepreneur and use it to grow your business
Regardless of whether you’re brand new to entrepreneurship or you’ve been in business for years, a consistent journaling practice will bring more clarity to your decision-making, help you move your ideas forward, and guide you in creating a foundation for lasting success.
In this blog post, we’ll explain why journaling is essential for both personal and business growth. We’ll also teach you how to develop a powerful journaling practice for yourself and provide a handful of business planning journal prompts to get you started.
Why entrepreneurs should journal
There’s a reason successful people often have journaling practices. When you journal, you create space for daily reflection, problem-solving, and creativity. Here’s a list of ways in which journaling will enrich your entrepreneurial experience:
It will help you reflect on your progress and make changes as necessary
It will be a space for you to set goals and define your vision
It will help you grow your business with more clarity and intention
It will give you a break from technology and the demands of the day
It will help you celebrate the milestones you may otherwise overlook
It will help you develop your writing and communication skills
It will help you sort through your feelings and emotions
It will make you a more reflective and considerate leader
How to start your journaling practice
Identify what you hope to achieve through journaling
Journaling is a highly personal experience. You might decide that the goal of your journaling practice is to relax and decompress. Or perhaps your aim is to get the creative juices flowing and come up with solutions for business challenges you face. What do you want to gain through journaling? This experience is for you and you alone.
Decide what kind of journal is right for you
There are loads of fantastic journals out there from bullet journals to gratitude journals to productivity planners and more. Picking the right journal is paramount to developing a journaling practice that’s both beneficial and enjoyable. If you’re looking for a journal to help you develop entrepreneurial skills and grow your business, check out our guided journal for entrepreneurs, Bedside Business Plan.
Commit to a consistent journaling practice
A consistent journaling practice is key to reaping the benefits of the experience. You might decide to set aside 10 - 15 minutes every morning before work to write about the things that matter to you. Or maybe you’ll decide to journal at the end of every workweek. It can be helpful to block off a consistent time in your calendar so that you’re uninterruptible.
Create the right journaling environment
A calming and reflective environment will help you stay focused on your journaling experience. You might want to pick a particular chair or desk in your home or office that you’ll use for journaling. Also, there might be rituals you incorporate into your practice like making a warm cup of tea or sitting under a cozy blanket. Think about how you can set up your experience in a way that inspires you to write and reflect.
Journal prompts for entrepreneurs
Below you’ll find 20 powerful journaling prompts to build your confidence as an entrepreneur while growing your business. As a business coach, I use these prompts with my own clients and they’re a fantastic way to reflect on your experiences and move forward intentionally.
10 Journal prompts for personal growth
In an ideal world, how do you want your entrepreneurial experience to go?
Is there a purpose you feel called to fulfill, or a difference you’d like to make?
Is there any self-talk that’s currently holding you back?
How might you mitigate your inner critic?
How could you take better care of your well-being as an entrepreneur?
What skills do you need to build and cultivate?
What could you outsource so you have more time for what matters?
What’s one thing you can do this week to develop your leadership skills?
How could you stretch yourself outside your comfort zone?
What would you try today if you knew you could not fail?
10 journal prompts for business growth
What does the next level of business growth look and feel like for you?
What’s currently holding you back from arriving at your next level?
What’s not working for you / not serving you right now?
What changes do you need to make when it comes to your business?
What do you need to keep doing more of in your business?
What resources and support do you need to bring in?
How could you better use your time?
What partnerships or relationships do you need to build?
How could you generate more sales and revenue this month?
What’s one big thing you’ll do this week to move the needle forward in business?
As an entrepreneur, your journaling practice has the power to become a source of clarity and inspiration for both you and your business. If this post resonated with you, we’ve created a complimentary post designed to help you set goals as an entrepreneur.
