When I first started playing the French horn, I was just 10 years old. I lugged that horn home on the school bus, excited but clueless. I knew almost nothing about music, but I loved the idea of playing in a group, making music with friends.

But did I have a “grand vision” to play professionally? Did I know I’d one day perform with the Chicago Symphony and even play with them in Carnegie Hall?

Not at all. I was ten!

That innocence—the freedom to dive into something new without overthinking—feels like such a luxury in hindsight. As adults, we have so much more tied to our big goals: expectations, bills, responsibilities. We know the risks. And that knowledge can hold us back.

But here’s the thing: it wasn’t “talent” that took me from that clueless 10-year-old to playing stages like Carnegie Hall. It was having a vision and focusing on the next step—not the whole staircase.

The truth about focus

I’ve seen the word “focus” thrown around a lot in the online business world lately, and for good reason. With endless distractions—social media, notifications, content overload—it's true that just turning it all off can give you a 10X advantage.

But I’m talking about a different kind of focus. The kind it took to go from a complete beginner to mastering my instrument over nearly two decades.

At 10, I wasn’t thinking about playing on world-class stages. I started with small, manageable goals:

• Learning to make a sound.
• Playing in my school band.
• Joining youth orchestras.
• Taking lessons and improving, bit by bit.

One small goal at a time, I climbed the mountain.

Now imagine if I had started at 10 by saying, “It’ll take 18 years to play Carnegie Hall.” it would have been *so* overwhelming.

Why starting as an adult feels harder

When we’re kids, we don’t know how long something will take, and that’s a gift. We’re free to focus on the next step instead of worrying about the whole path.

But as adults, we know how hard things can be. Starting over—whether it’s online, pivoting careers, or building something new—feels massive and overwhelming. And social media makes it worse:

It’s easy to feel like you’re starting at the base of an insurmountable mountain.

But here’s the good news:
Building a full-time online income is so much faster than mastering an instrument. You don’t need 18 years. You need focus and consistency.

I’ve seen many creators go from zero to a 7-figure business in just 4–5 years. And even if 7 figures isn’t your goal, 6 figures—or even an extra $10K a year—can be life-changing.

So, what’s the formula?

There isn’t just one formula. Every person’s path and every person is different.

When you see someone making 7 figures in four years, you’re not seeing the full story. Maybe they had a big network from their corporate job. Maybe they already had an audience before they started. There's much more to the story than the snapshot you see on a post.

So instead of comparing, focus on what you can do.

When I started online, I had zero business skills. Zero audience. Just an idea and a willingness to start small.

Here’s what I did:

• I started posting consistently—just on Facebook at first. I paid attention and learned what resonated.
• I refined my content by studying what worked, both in my niche and beyond.
• I started a podcast, inviting people whose careers inspired me. Over time, it became the #1 music business podcast.
• I built a network by being a real person on social media—personally reaching out to people who liked my page and inviting them into free challenges and trainings.
• I made my first offer to my small audience. My first year after launching my first offer/s? Over $40K in revenue.

All in just three years. And honestly? Looking back on that time, it felt way longer. But it really wasn't that long.

Where to start: your vision

Remember vision boards? Cutting out magazine pictures and imagining the life you want—like shopping, but for your future.

In my early 30s, a friend told me about a simple version of this: the Treasure Map. It’s like a vision board, but on paper. You draw the life you want. It's so much easier (and anyway, who has magazines anymore? 😂 )

I did this exercise, sketching a life where I played in an orchestra with friends and dated a guy with a dog.

Years later? I married a guy with a dog and played in an orchestra with him and my best friends. The treasure map came true. I do think there's something to them!

So, what’s your vision? What kind of life do you want?

Here are some questions to help you clarify it:

• Where do you want to live? Even if you’re not planning a big move, imagine what freedom could look like. (For me, I never thought I’d live in Mexico—but my business made that possible!)
• How much income do you want? Don’t filter yourself. What number excites you? And why?
• What kind of work lights you up? What business models intrigue you? What do you see others doing that sparks something in you?
• What’s your anti-vision? Sometimes, getting clear on what you don’t want makes what you do want even clearer.

Now, create the circumstances for your vision to happen

Start with small, consistent steps.

Start going online to build your presence.

• Choose one social platform and post content around what you love and know.
• Don’t overthink it. Just post. Every post is a win.

Engage with people genuinely.

• Have real conversations, not just surface-level interactions.

Consider using conversational content (like a podcast or interviews).

• This approach helps you connect faster and stand out—without overthinking content creation.
• It keeps you in the beginner mindset—focused on one conversation at a time.

(Podcasting is how I started and the way I know is the best in 2025 for so many reasons! Hit reply if you want to talk about how I can help you do it!)

Beginner mindset, every day

When I started playing the horn, I didn’t worry about how I’d get to Carnegie Hall. I focused on what I could control: practicing today, learning the next piece, showing up for the next concert.

Starting online is the same. You don’t need all the answers yet. You just need to:

• Start showing up.
• Be consistent.
• Build daily habits that serve your vision.

Your vision keeps you going. Your beginner mindset keeps you from quitting.

So tell me—what’s your big dream? I’d love to hear about it. Hit reply and let me know!

Tracy

p.s. Are you eager to get your podcast up-and-running? Podcast Accelerator gets your podcast imagined, systemized and realized in 6 weeks. Let's talk about it!​