25. Stage 0: The Pre-Commit Phase — When You’re Not Quite Ready (But Still Thinking About It)

You’re not lazy.

You’re not behind.

You’re not “missing your moment.”

You’re just in Stage 0—the phase that comes before the hustle begins.

This is where a lot of people stall out—not because they don’t have potential, but because they’re not sure how (or when) to begin.

And that’s okay.

What is Stage 0?

This is the space where ideas start to simmer—but never quite make it to the surface.

You’re intrigued by the idea of starting something of your own. You might even talk about it with friends, jot down ideas, or daydream about launching something “someday.”

But you haven’t taken action yet—and that can feel frustrating.

Here’s what Stage 0 often looks like:

• You love the idea of a side hustle but don’t know what it really means
• You’re anxious about putting yourself out there
• You’re unsure if you’re “ready” or qualified
• You keep telling yourself: “I’ll start when things calm down.”

The truth? Most side hustles don’t begin with certainty.

They begin with curiosity.

Why This Stage Matters

Stage 0 is foundational—because what you do here determines whether you ever make it to the starting line.

If you ignore the doubts, the fears, the inner critic… they don’t go away. They just grow louder over time.

But when you acknowledge the discomfort—and keep going anyway—you give yourself permission to explore without pressure.

This isn’t about having a business plan.

It’s about listening to your curiosity and seeing where it leads.

What You’re Actually Wrestling With

Let’s be real—Stage 0 isn’t just about a lack of clarity.

It’s about fear.

• Fear of being seen starting small
• Fear of wasting time on something that might not work
• Fear of choosing the “wrong” idea
• Fear of what people might think

Sound familiar?

That’s not a flaw. That’s what it feels like to try something new.

What to Do in Stage 0

If this is where you are, you don’t need a niche, a strategy, or a fancy tech stack.

You just need one small move to give your ideas space to breathe.

Here are a few things you can try this week:

• Talk to someone about something you’ve been thinking about
• Journal privately about ideas, interests, or frustrations
• Research people doing work you admire—what draws you to them?
• Set a 20-minute curiosity block on your calendar and follow where it leads

This isn’t about building a business.

It’s about starting a conversation—with yourself.

What Comes Next

Once you explore freely for a bit, patterns emerge.

You start noticing the topics you care about. You see connections between your skills and the problems you want to solve.

That’s when you’re ready for Stage 1: Discovery—the point where side hustle ideas start to take shape.

We’ll break that down in the next article.

Wherever you are right now—especially if you’re still in “thinking about it” mode—you’re not behind.

You’re just beginning.

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) - THIS ARTICLE
3. Stage 1: The Discovery Phase — When You’ve Got Ideas, But Don’t Know Where to Start
4. Stage 2: The Validation Phase — When You’re Excited, but Overwhelmed