How to Stop Chasing “More” When Your Business Is Already Working
Feb 02, 2026
At the beginning of the year, there’s this strange pressure that sneaks in.
You’re back at work, the calendar has flipped, and suddenly it feels like you should be further along already. I joked recently that on January 5th — my first day back — I worked a full day and then told my husband I hadn’t solved all my business problems yet, so clearly I was failing.
And while I was half-kidding, I know that feeling is very real for a lot of you.
This episode came straight out of a coaching conversation I’ve been having a lot lately. Smart, capable women coming to me saying some version of:
“I need something different. I need more. I need to be doing more.”
And here’s the part that matters most — in many of these cases, the business is actually working.
So let’s talk about what’s really going on when the strategy makes sense, the clients are coming in, but everything still feels heavy.
When “I Need More” Isn’t About Strategy
What I’ve noticed over and over again is that when someone says, “I need more,” they think they’re asking for a new tactic.
A better plan.
A smarter strategy.
A different platform.
Something faster.
But most of the time, that’s not what they’re actually asking for.
What they’re really asking is:
Can you make this feel safer?
Can you promise me I’m not wasting my time?
Can you tell me this will work before I run out of energy, time, or money?
This shows up a lot in seasons where the timeline suddenly feels tighter. Maybe your capacity has changed. Maybe life is moving faster than your business. Maybe the margin you thought you had just isn’t there anymore.
And when pressure enters the room, everything starts to feel heavier — even things that are technically working.
Nothing Is Broken — But Something Is Being Tested
One of the hardest things to accept as a business owner is this:
Sometimes nothing is broken.
It’s not your work ethic.
It’s not your talent.
It’s not your strategy.
It’s not your business.
What’s being tested is your belief.
We tell ourselves that after a certain amount of time — one year, five years, ten years — growth should feel lighter. Easier. Less uncertain.
But what often happens instead is that the business doesn’t get harder — the stakes get higher.
There’s more responsibility.
More people depending on you.
Less tolerance for uncertainty.
And your nervous system pushes back.
That’s usually when the urge to blow everything up shows up.
Why Novelty Feels Like Progress (But Isn’t)
New things feel good.
A new offer.
A new platform.
A new plan.
Novelty gives you a dopamine hit. It gives you hope. It makes it feel like you’re moving again.
But novelty is not the same as progress — especially if you’re running a relationship-based business.
And if you’re service-based, referral-driven, or dependent on trust and reputation, your growth is going to be quieter. It won’t spike — it stacks. It takes time. It requires proximity, trust, and consistency.
That kind of growth can mess with your head because it doesn’t always look impressive in the moment.
What the Data Actually Says About Growth
After having this conversation so many times, I did something interesting.
I reached out to every seven-figure service-based business owner I know and asked them a simple question:
“What percentage of your business comes from referrals?”
The answers ranged from 50% to 80%.
The rest?
Some social media.
Some events.
More relationships.
In other words — the growth everyone wants usually comes from depth, not volume.
And yet, when things feel heavy, relationships are often the first thing people abandon in favour of chasing something new.
The Reframe You Might Not Want (But Need)
Here’s the reframe I want you to sit with:
If your business is relationship-led — and for most of you, it is — you don’t need a new strategy.
You need:
- Fewer distractions
- Clearer boundaries
- Better energy protection
- The courage to let trust take time
Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is stop searching for the thing that will finally make you feel calm.
Because calm doesn’t come from adding more tactics.
It comes from knowing you’re not missing something — you’re just early.
Or you’re in the quiet part.
Or belief is being tested more than strategy right now.
Why This Season Feels So Uncomfortable
This part of business is uncomfortable because it’s quiet.
No one’s clapping.
Nothing looks flashy.
There’s no big external validation.
But this is where real momentum is built.
And if you don’t have the depth of relationships you need yet — referrals, introductions, people actively sending work your way — that’s not a sign to rebuild everything. It’s a sign to double down where it matters most.
You don’t need to chase every idea that promises certainty.
You might just need to make the right strategy work harder.
A Final Word If You’re Feeling the Pressure
If you’re listening to this and thinking:
“Why does this feel harder than it should?”
“Why am I questioning something that technically works?”
“Why do I want something different even though nothing is wrong?”
I want you to hear this clearly:
You’re not failing.
You’re not behind.
And you’re not wrong for wanting relief.
Sometimes you’re just in the part of business where belief is being tested.
And that part — as uncomfortable as it is — is often the doorway to your next level of growth.
Double down on your people.
Look at your data.
Maximize what’s already working.
There’s a very good chance you’re closer than you think.
