There’s a lot of advice in this industry that sounds responsible.
Strategic, even. To be honest, I’m GRATEFUL that I started my business journey BEFORE the “business development” industry was born, because MOST of the “leading advice” that I HAVE followed… cost me time, money, or momentum before I knew better, and went back to my roots.
Here are five things I was told would grow my business — that quietly did the opposite:
1️⃣ Trying to look bigger before I was more profitable
This one hits close to home.
I’ll never forget my cousin mocking my dad for driving a beat-up truck while he drove something flashy. “No one will hire you driving a beater like that,” he laughed.
Fast forward a few years: starting in that piece of crap truck, my dad grew and then sold a multi-million-dollar business. My cousin ended up bankrupt and out of business.
That lesson shows up online every day.
Hiring help too early. Paying for prestige before profit. Buying the optics before earning the income.
Looking big is expensive.
Being profitable gives you options.
2️⃣ Building systems before I had consistent sales.
I love systems. I run seven that operate on autopilot now. (I’ll link in comments to my seven systems, in case you’re interested.)
But here’s the question no one asks:
What exactly are you systemizing… if sales aren’t predictable yet?
Systems are maintenance tools — not growth tools.
Before six figures, rhythm matters more than automation.
What you do habitually — and how you monetize it — is the real lever. ALWAYS start here.
3️⃣ Posting constantly instead of publishing intentionally.
I’ve fallen for this one too.
“You’ve GOT to get on this.”
“It’s blowing up.”
“So-and-so went from zero to a gazillion followers overnight.”
Rule of thumb I wish I’d followed sooner: Go where your people already are.
Not “social media.” OF COURSE they’re on social media, but that’s like looking for a specific grain of salt in the ocean. Look for specific rooms, specific pages, specific platforms that already have the trust and attention of YOUR ideal client.
Volume isn’t visibility.
Placement is.
4️⃣ Choosing trends over truth.
Trends are seductive, but BEWARE… they can distract you from your own data.
The truth of your business lives in what’s already working:
What prices convert FOR YOU.
Which offers sell FOR YOU.
What messages resonate with YOUR people.
Chasing trends usually means ignoring your own proof, and very possibly going WAY off course…
5️⃣ Letting other people’s rules override my instincts.
Especially around pricing, deliverables, and how I actually wanted to work.
At some point, experience earns you the right to trust yourself. Outsourcing your judgment past that point is VERY expensive.
Curious — which one of these have slowed YOU down?
