Most business owners are sitting in one of three phases:
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Growing Pains
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Plateauing Pains
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Declining Pains
And yes, they all come with a bit of a sting.
I’ve been running businesses since 2002, and I’ve felt each of these at different points. You don’t stay in one forever, but knowing which one you’re in helps you move through it faster.
Let’s break them down.
Growing Pains
It sounds like a great problem to have, and in some ways, it is.
But growing too fast can burn you out if you don’t change something. Whether that means scaling up, scaling back, or getting smarter with your time, it has to shift.
You might feel:
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Flat out with work
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Your calendar is jammed
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Working long days (and nights)
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No time for yourself
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Juggling too many systems
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Mentally tapped out
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Struggling to manage or grow your team
At one point, I had over 25 projects on my plate. That was just too much. I finally hired a contractor to help with web design. That changed everything.
Try this:
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Audit your tasks
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Identify what energises you vs what drains you
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Automate wherever possible
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Delegate draining work to a VA
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Put a pause on new projects
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Raise your prices (quality over quantity)
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Block time in your calendar for your priorities, and for yourself
Plateau Pains
This one is hard, because it’s not always obvious. Your revenue might look fine, but you don’t feel fine.
You might feel:
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A bit “meh” every day
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Unclear about your vision
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Procrastinating more than usual
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Unclear about where your business is heading
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Going through the motions
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Not loving what you used to enjoy
It’s not about your numbers here. It’s about your energy. When I felt this, I stopped chasing new goals and started tuning in to what felt aligned, my clients, my mission, and my joy.
Try this:
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Reassess your day-to-day tasks
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Focus on what still lights you up
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Reconnect with your “why”
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Read over your testimonials and client wins
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Shake things up, run a workshop, attend an event, try something new
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Launch a new offer
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Refresh your onboarding, website or internal processes
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Join a coaching group for fresh perspective and structure
Declining Pains
This one’s brutal. Watching your revenue drop or feeling your business slip through your fingers is heartbreaking.
You might feel:
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Sales are dipping
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Leads have dried up
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You’re second-guessing everything
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Churn is high
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Waking up with night sweats
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Like your business is sinking and you can’t plug the holes
Between 2014 and 2016, I lost 25% in revenue. The year before, we moved to Toowoomba and I felt deeply isolated. That phase hit hard.
In 2017, I switched platforms, did new training, and joined a local networking group. That one move sparked major growth—and from 2018 to now, it’s been my best run yet. One thing I’ve learned: declining numbers don’t always mean failure. Sometimes you need the drop to create space for your health, your family, or a better direction.
But if you’re ready to grow again:
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Watch your thoughts. Don’t believe all of them.
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Cancel anything that’s draining your cash (subscriptions, tools, etc)
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Focus on selling (especially to past or current clients)
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Bring out a new offer, or refine an old one
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Share wins and testimonials across all platforms
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Double down on what’s already working
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Say no to work that won’t move the needle
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Control what you can, your content, your energy, your offer
And remember, sometimes a drop in revenue gives you space to show up better elsewhere. That’s not failure.
Every stage comes with pain. That’s the reality of business.
But each one also brings the chance to adjust, reset and rise.
The first step? Get honest about where you are.
So, where’s your pain right now?
And what would shift everything for you?
If you’re ready to get strategic with your systems, automate your marketing, and grow without the grind, we can help.
