Let’s cut the crap.
If your business is stuck, struggling, or straight-up failing, the problem isn’t the economy, your competitors, or bad luck. It’s you.
I’ve been there – making excuses, dodging tough calls, and hoping things would magically sort themselves out.
They don’t.
But here’s the silver lining: if it’s your fault, you can fix it.
This newsletter edition lays out 10 brutal truths about why your business isn’t where you want it to be, and what to do about it. Let’s dive in.
## 1. You Don’t Hold People Accountable – Including Yourself
Conflict sucks. Nobody likes calling out an employee for missing deadlines or half-assing their work. You’re scared of losing them or just hate the awkwardness. Worse, you let yourself off the hook too – promising to finish that strategy or hit the gym, then getting sidetracked by emails or Netflix. When you don’t hold people (or yourself) accountable, mediocrity becomes your brand.
The Fix: Build a culture of accountability, starting with you.
– Set Clear Expectations: Define what success looks like for every role, including yours. Make goals specific and measurable (e.g., “Close $50K in sales this month”).
– Follow Up Like a Hawk: Use tools like Trello or Monday.com to track progress. Schedule weekly check-ins. No excuses.
– Make Tough Calls: If someone’s not cutting it after clear feedback and a fair chance, let them go. Keeping dead weight drags everyone down.
– Lead by Example: Hold yourself to the same standard. If you commit to a deadline, hit it. If you miss it, own it publicly and fix it.
I once saw a business owner avoid firing a toxic employee for years. When they finally cut ties, the team’s morale and output soared. Accountability isn’t mean – it’s freedom.
## 2. You Don’t Charge Enough for Your Product or Service
You’re terrified to raise prices because you think customers will bolt. So, you scrape by on razor-thin margins, or worse, lose money on every sale. Newsflash: undervaluing yourself doesn’t just hurt your wallet, but screams you don’t believe in your own worth.
The Fix: Embrace value-based pricing.
– Know Your Value: Calculate the real impact your product or service has. If you save clients time, money, or stress, charge for that outcome, not just your time.
– Test Price Increases: If you’re scared, then start small. Raise prices 10-20% on new clients and track their response. Most won’t blink if the value’s clear.
– Communicate Confidence: When you pitch, focus on the transformation you deliver, not the cost. Customers pay for results, not apologies.
A friend of mine doubled her consulting rates and braced for pushback. Instead, she landed bigger clients who respected her expertise. Stop racing to the bottom and start charging what you’re worth.
## 3. You Hire Wrong and Keep the Wrong People Too Long
You’re desperate to fill a role, so you hire the first warm body with a pulse. Or you don’t even know what “great” looks like for the job. Then, when they underperform, you keep them around hoping they’ll magically get better. Spoiler: they won’t.
The Fix: Hire slow, fire fast.
– Define “Great”: Create a clear job description with must-have skills, values, and outcomes. Don’t settle for “good enough.”
– Build a Process: Use structured interviews, skills tests, and reference checks. Involve your team to spot red flags.
– Cut Losses Quickly: If a hire isn’t working out after clear feedback and 30-60 days, part ways. It’s kinder to everyone.
One company I know revamped their hiring process and went from a 50% retention rate to 90% in a year. Good hires build your future; bad ones bury it.
## 4. You Work In the Business, Not On the Business
You’re drowning in daily tasks: Answering emails, fixing problems, doing everyone else’s job.
There’s no time for strategy, growth, or leadership because you’re too busy playing firefighter. Sound familiar?
The Fix: Prioritize working on your business.
– Delegate Like a Boss: Train your team to handle daily operations. Start with small tasks and scale up.
– Block Time for Strategy: Schedule uninterrupted hours each week for big-picture thinking: Planning, marketing, innovation. Protect this time like it’s your kid.
– Build Systems: Document how things get done (more on this later). Systems free you to focus on growth.
A client of mine went from 80-hour weeks to 40 by delegating and focusing on strategy. Revenue doubled in six months. Stop being the bottleneck.
## 5. You Don’t Know or Track Your KPIs
You’re driving blind. You don’t know which metrics – sales, margins, customer retention -actually move the needle for your business. Or worse, you know them but never check. If you’re not measuring, you’re guessing.
The Fix: Define and track your KPIs religiously.
– Identify Critical Metrics: Pick 3-5 numbers that drive your success (e.g., conversion rate, customer lifetime value, profit margin).
– Set Up Tracking: Use tools like Google Analytics, QuickBooks, or a simple spreadsheet. Check them weekly.
– Act on Insights: If a KPI’s off, dig into why and fix it. For example, if retention’s dropping, survey customers or tweak your service.
One business owner started tracking their sales pipeline weekly. They spotted a bottleneck, fixed it, and boosted revenue 30% in three months. Numbers don’t lie: Listen to them.
## 6. You Avoid the “Money Talk” With Customers and Employees
Talking about money feels icky. You dodge pricing discussions with clients or performance reviews with employees because it’s uncomfortable. Meanwhile, your business suffocates from unclear budgets or unspoken expectations.
The Fix: Get comfortable with money conversations.
– Practice Transparency: Be upfront about pricing with clients. Explain the value, not just the cost.
– Train for Tough Talks: Role-play performance reviews or client negotiations with a trusted colleague. Confidence comes with practice.
– Make Money a Priority: Treat cash flow like oxygen. Review your finances weekly and discuss them openly with your team.
I once avoided a pricing talk with a client and lost the deal because they assumed I was too expensive. Now, I lead with clear, confident numbers. It’s a game-changer.
## 7. You Don’t Invest in Marketing or Branding
You think marketing is a luxury or that “word of mouth” will save you. Spoiler: it won’t. Customers don’t magically appear, and hoping they do is a recipe for obscurity.
The Fix: Build a real marketing strategy.
– Know Your Audience: Define your ideal customer: Demographics, pain points, desires. Tailor your messaging to them.
– Set a Budget: Allocate 5-10% of revenue to marketing. Start with low-cost channels like social media or email campaigns.
– Be Consistent: Post regularly, engage with your audience, and track what works. Tools like Hootsuite or Mailchimp make this easier.
A small business I advised invested $2K in targeted ads and saw a 5x return in three months. Marketing isn’t optional, it’s survival.
## 8. You Can’t Say “No”
You say “yes” to every customer, deal, or idea because you’re afraid to miss out. The result? You’re overworked, underpaid, and chasing things that don’t align with your goals.
The Fix: Master the art of “no.”
– Define Your Boundaries: Know your core values, target market, and profit goals. Say no to anything that doesn’t fit.
– Practice Polite Declines: Try, “That’s not a fit for us right now, but I appreciate the opportunity.” It gets easier with time.
– Focus on What Matters: Every “yes” to a bad deal steals time from a great one. Protect your energy.
Saying no to a lowball client freed me up to land a dream project. It’s not about scarcity, but about strategy.
## 9. You Don’t Have Clear Processes
Your business is chaos when you’re not around. Why? You haven’t documented how things get done. Everything depends on you, or it’s a free-for-all. That’s not a business, but a house of cards.
The Fix: Systematize everything.
– Document Processes: Write down step-by-step guides for key tasks: Sales, onboarding, customer service. Use tools like Notion or Google Docs.
– Train Your Team: Teach them the systems and hold them accountable. Test by stepping away for a day.
– Refine Regularly: Update processes as you learn what works. A living system beats a perfect one.
A client systematized their customer onboarding and cut errors by 70%. Systems let your business run without you babysitting.
## 10. You Don’t Adapt
You’re stuck in the past and are using outdated tools, ignoring market trends, or refusing to pivot. You’re doing what you’ve always done. Meanwhile, agile competitors are eating your lunch. The market doesn’t care about your comfort zone.
The Fix: Stay curious and adaptable.
– Stay Informed: Read industry blogs, attend webinars, or follow thought leaders on LinkedIn. Know what’s coming.
– Experiment Small: Test new tools or strategies on a small scale. For example, try a new social media platform for a month.
– Pivot When Needed: If your market shifts, don’t cling to old ways. A retailer I know went online during a downturn and tripled sales.
Adaptability isn’t about chasing trends, but about staying relevant. The world moves fast; keep up or get left behind.
## Take Ownership, Take Control
If any of these hit home, don’t beat yourself up. Awareness is the first step. The beauty of “it’s your fault” is that it means you have the power to change. Pick one area, start small, and take action today. Your business – and your sanity – will thank you.
Which of these is your biggest struggle? Drop a comment below, and let’s talk about how to fix it. Stay tuned for more no-BS advice on building a business that thrives.
It’s Your Own Damn Fault: You’re Too Proud to Ask for Help
This is the one mistake that’s probably keeping you stuck in the same rut you’ve been in for years: You don’t know how to fix your problems, and you’re too damn proud to admit it. If you knew how to fix them, you would have done so years ago. Let’s unpack why that’s your fault and how to break the cycle.
You Don’t Know How to Fix Your Problems And You Don’t Even See It
Be honest. Your business isn’t where you want it to be. Maybe sales are flat, your team’s a mess, or you’re working 80-hour weeks just to keep the lights on. You’ve tried tweaking things, maybe you read a book, watched a YouTube video, or “brainstormed” with your team. But nothing changes.
Why?
Because you don’t know what you don’t know. And worse, you don’t even recognize there’s a gap in your knowledge.
If you did know how to fix your issues, whether it’s a broken sales process, a toxic employee, or a nonexistent marketing plan, you’d have done it by now. That you haven’t is the first clue you’re in over your head. The second clue? You’re still pretending you’ve got it all figured out.
I get it. Admitting you’re stuck feels like failure. But here’s the truth: every successful business owner I know has hit a wall at some point. The difference between them and the ones who stay stuck? They admit they need help and go get it.
The Fix: Own your blind spots and start learning.
- Do a Self-Audit: Write down the top three problems in your business right now. Be brutally honest. If you don’t know how to fix them, that’s your starting point.
- Seek Out Resources: Read books like The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber or Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. Listen to podcasts from industry leaders who’ve been where you are. Dive depper into all the resources offered by myself via The Automated Millionaire (I’d love to help you).
- Experiment with Solutions: Pick one problem and try a new approach. For example, if your cash flow’s a mess, create budget for your business and a plan to improve it, or hire a part-time bookkeeper. Small steps beat standing still.
I once worked with a business owner who swore they “knew” marketing but had zero online presence. After swallowing their pride and reading Digital Marketing for Dummies, they implemented one tactic – email campaigns – and doubled their leads in three months. Knowledge is power, but only if you admit you need it.
You’re Too Proud (or Skeptical) to Get Outside Help
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: You think you’re above hiring a coach, consultant, or mentor. Maybe you’re skeptical, rolling your eyes at “business gurus” who promise the world. “What do they know about my business?” you scoff. Or maybe it’s pride – you’ve built this company from nothing, so you should be able to fix it yourself, right? Wrong.
I’ll be real with you – I’ve been that skeptic. I used to think consultants were just slick talkers with fancy PowerPoints who knew less than I did.
However, the great business consultants actually have insights and tools and have vast experiences, having helped many businesses and seen many solutions, those that work and those that don’t work.
When I worked alongside some of my brilliant colleaues as a business consultant, I too learned so much. Truly, it was the case of two minds being more brilliant than just one. They had different perspectives at times, and another method than what I knew of and invariably I learned additional fast track methods and brilliant solutions.
Having helped several hundred business owners, it has become evident that there were so many things business owners miss almost all the time, and fixing just a few of the items, and their businesses instantly turned onto a new and much improved trajectory.
Great business consultants don’t just give advice; they help establish a roadmap, accountability, and results.
And they get results.
Most of my clients obtain a return on their investment of 4-7 times their investment. A few of them obtain even greater results. I recently reported that one of my latest clients with my help obtained a result almost 32 times better that of his past 5 years’ average results before engaging me to help him, and a result almost 6 times better than his best year ever. His return on his investment with me was over 10 fold.
Here’s the deal: You know some things about business. You wouldn’t have made it this far if you didn’t. But if you knew just a few more things – how to optimize your pricing, streamline your operations, or motivate your team – you’d be leapfrogging competitors with less effort. An outside expert can fast-track you there. They bring fresh eyes, proven strategies, and no emotional baggage about your business. But you have to let go of the “I’ve got this” mentality.
The Fix: Get over your ego and get help.
- Find the Right Expert: Look for someone with a track record in your industry or problem area. Check reviews, ask for case studies, or talk to their past clients.
- Start Small: If you’re scared, start off with a smaller “package”, but don’t do the mistake of being too scared to invest in yourself and in your business.
- Trust but Verify: Be open to their advice, but don’t drink the Kool-Aid blindly. Test their ideas and measure results. A good consultant won’t mind the scrutiny.
A client of mine resisted hiring a coach for years, convinced they could “figure it out.” When they finally brought in a pricing expert, they raised rates strategically and boosted profit margins by 25% in a quarter. Pride costs more than a consultant’s fee.
Why This Matters
Your business isn’t a solo mission. Thinking you have to solve every problem yourself is a trap that keeps you stuck, stressed, and underperforming. The most successful entrepreneurs – think Elon Musk or Sara Blakely – surround themselves with advisors who challenge their thinking and push them forward. If they can ask for help, so can you.
The longer you stay in denial about your blind spots or refuse to seek outside expertise, the longer you’ll stay stuck. Your business deserves better. You deserve better. Swallow your pride, admit what you don’t know, and take action to learn or hire the help you need.
What’s one problem you’ve been stuck on for too long? Have you ever considered getting an outside perspective? Drop a comment – I’d love to hear your story and share some ideas to move you forward. Stay tuned for the next edition, where we’ll dig into another way you’re holding yourself back (and how to stop).
