How to Tell the Difference Between a Rough Patch and the Wrong Path in Business
Mar 23, 2026
Entrepreneurship has a way of bringing us face-to-face with some very big questions. One of the most common ones I hear from women building businesses — especially moms — is this:
How do I know if I’m just going through something hard… or if I’m actually on the wrong path?
This question came up recently when I was invited to speak with the Moms in Tech community, a group of nearly 19,000 moms working in the tech industry.
We were talking about motherhood, entrepreneurship, and why so many women choose to build their own businesses after having kids.
For many moms, entrepreneurship feels like a way to create more flexibility and more presence with their families. But somewhere along the way, the reality of building a business can get heavy. And during the Q&A portion of that conversation, one woman asked the question that inspired this episode:
How do you know when you’re just in a hard season… and how do you know when it’s time to burn the whole thing down?
It’s a powerful question — and the truth is, it doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer.
Why This Question Is So Hard to Answer
When you’re in the middle of a difficult season in business, everything tends to blur together.
Exhaustion, financial pressure, comparison, and mom guilt can all show up at the same time. And when they do, it becomes very hard to separate what you’re actually feeling.
A slow month might make you question your entire business model.
One difficult client might make you question whether you should even be doing this work.
And most of the advice out there doesn’t help.
Some people say, “Just push through.”
Others say, “Trust your gut and quit.”
Both of those responses are far too simple for something this nuanced.
The reality is that most established entrepreneurs hit this moment more than once.
I’m in my eleventh year of entrepreneurship, and I can tell you honestly that I’ve asked myself this question more times than I can count:
Do I still want to be doing this?
Am I actually good at this?
Is this still the right path for me?
These moments are normal. The key is learning how to recognize what they actually mean.
Signs You’re in a Rough Patch
Sometimes things feel hard simply because you’re in a tough season. That doesn’t mean the business itself is wrong.
Here are a few indicators that you might just be going through a rough patch.
The Vision Still Excites You
Even if the day-to-day work feels frustrating, the bigger picture of what you’re building still lights you up.
Maybe you’re tired of sending emails or managing spreadsheets, but the overall mission of your business still feels meaningful. That’s usually a good sign that the work itself still matters to you.
The Struggle Is Mostly External
Sometimes the difficulty isn’t coming from the business itself.
It might be:
- A slow season
- A difficult client
- A personal situation at home
- A temporary financial stretch
Those external pressures can make everything feel heavier, but they don’t necessarily mean the business is wrong.
You Can Identify What Triggered the Hard Feelings
If you can point to a specific moment or event that made things feel difficult, chances are you’re dealing with a rough patch rather than a deeper misalignment.
You Still Care About Your Clients
If you still care about the people you serve and the outcomes your work creates, that’s a very good sign.
When the connection to your clients is still there, the foundation of the business is usually still strong.
You’ve Felt This Way Before — and Moved Through It
Many entrepreneurs cycle through periods of doubt. If you’ve experienced this before and eventually regained your momentum, that pattern can be an indicator that this is simply another temporary season.
Signs You Might Be on the Wrong Path
On the other hand, there are moments when the discomfort is pointing to something deeper.
Here are a few signals that the business itself may no longer be the right fit.
The Work Feels Meaningless — Even on Good Days
If the work no longer feels meaningful, even when things are going well, that’s worth paying attention to.
This isn’t about burnout from a busy week. It’s about a deeper sense that the work itself no longer resonates.
You Feel Resentful Toward Your Business
There have been moments in my own business where I felt resentment toward it.
But here’s an important nuance: sometimes the resentment comes from how the business is structured, not from the business itself.
In those cases, the solution isn’t necessarily to quit — it’s to redesign the structure.
Your Values Have Changed
As we grow, our values evolve.
If your business was built around a set of priorities that no longer reflect who you are today, that misalignment can start to show up in how you feel about the work.
You’ve Been “About to Make Changes” for Over a Year
If you’ve been telling yourself you’re going to pivot or make adjustments for a long time — but never actually do — that hesitation can be a sign that something deeper needs to shift.
Success Doesn’t Excite You Anymore
If achieving your goals in this business doesn’t excite you anymore, it may be time to reconsider the direction you’re heading.
And it’s important to say this clearly:
Being on the wrong path does not mean you failed.
Sometimes it simply means you’ve grown past the version of the business you originally built.
Three Questions to Help You Get Clarity
If you’re still unsure where you stand, here are three questions I often suggest reflecting on.
1. The 90-Day Look Back
Look at the last 90 days.
Was there a moment during that time when you genuinely felt energized by your work?
If the answer is yes, you’re likely experiencing a rough patch rather than a deeper misalignment.
2. The Fantasy Test
Imagine someone offered to buy your business tomorrow and you never had to think about it again.
Would you feel relief or loss?
Relief can indicate that something about the current path isn’t working for you.
3. The Stripped-Down Question
If money weren’t a factor, would you still want to be doing this work?
Your answer to that question can be incredibly revealing.
Clarity Is Better Than Staying in the Fog
Neither answer — rough patch or wrong path — is necessarily easy.
But clarity is always better than staying stuck in confusion.
If you’re in a rough patch, that simply means it’s time to make adjustments and move through the season.
If you’re on the wrong path, that doesn’t mean everything has to disappear overnight. It might mean pivoting, redesigning the business, or changing how you work.
Either way, change becomes possible once you see the situation clearly.
So here’s the question I want to leave you with this week:
On my best recent day in business, did I feel like myself?
Your answer to that question may tell you more than anything else.
And if this episode sparked something for you — whether you’re navigating a rough patch or realizing you’re ready for a new direction — my DMs are always open.
Because entrepreneurship is never linear. Hard seasons will show up from time to time.
But with the right reflection and the right questions, you can always find your way forward.
