How Putting Pen to Paper Can Trigger New Business Ideas – and Be a Great Stress-Reliever for Every Entrepreneur  

I have wanted to write a romance novel for a decade. But when I finally got up enough gumption to make the decision to write a book, I decided instead that one about business was in my immediate future. So one day, when I am retired and sitting on a rooftop deck overlooking the beauty of city lights, I will type out that romance novel. I even have a sloppy handwritten first chapter in my cute notebook, which I enjoy picking up every now and again.

Either way, writing for me is cathartic. After drafting my business book and editing it countless times, I realized how much I had learned through the years — and that felt as much about a boost of confidence as it did about sharing useful business experiences with aspiring entrepreneurs. In fact, reading it over and absorbing it felt like an invisible high-five for all that I had accomplished, and was now able to disseminate on the page.

I understand that not everyone loves to write, and many people get a mental block when pen hits paper. However, there are many benefits to this process, whether it be composing a memoir or keeping a simple journal.  Following therefore are some of the wonderful benefits that an entrepreneur can get from writing:

Wheels Are Turning
The more you put on paper, the more the ideas flow. You can write about one topic per week or day, and as you are doing so, you will gain perspective.  You will also undoubtedly come up with even more ideas.

An example: one of the chapters in my book is devoted to public relations – and when I started writing about all the ways we have promoted our business through the years, still newer ideas came to mind, which I was then able to put into immediate practice.

Writing Is Better Than Chocolate (most of the time)
Writing can be therapeutic and a stress-reliever. Even if you never share your writings with anyone, you always have your papers to refer to. You don’t even have to tell a story; what you write can just be tidbits about gratitude, an account of your day, or observations regarding your office. It’s also an alternative to spending an hour on the phone venting (there have even been articles written about its therapeutic value).  Why is it so satisfying? Because when scribbling or typing thoughts, your audience of one is a captive audience. Later on, you can decide if you want that audience to grow.

My favorite time of day to write is in the early morning, before everyone gets into the office, or late at night. Finding the time to do so without being interrupted can be a challenge, but if you can carve out some hours that work for you, it may just become a habit you want to keep.

The Past Is Part of The Present
Whether your articles or books are published, you will always have your writings.  And when you need some reflection, pulling out that notebook or pulling up that file can be just what you need. I used to keep journals, and finding ones from years ago made me realize how much I have grown — and yet how much I have also stayed the same (which isn’t always bad).

Sometimes I write in my office, and sometimes on my laptop while reality television is blaring in the background, but my best writing is actually accomplished while listening to music. (The ability of music to increase imagination is well-known, as this helpful article — complete with a list of creativity-fueling melodies — points out.) Being a mom and entrepreneur leaves me little time for myself, so writing has become an outlet for that creativity, and a necessity for my sanity.

Writing, in fact, is so multi-faceted that it can be what you need it to be. Most of all, don’t stress about it — the commas don’t have to be in all the right locations, and your sentences can be run-on. Should you publish later on, let an editor help you with those formalities. For right now, just let all those ideas flow.  Your next big business idea could be waiting on that blank page!