Change Nothing and Nothing Changes

Tales from a coach working with business owners who are frustrated and ready to throw in the towel

As business owners, we know all too well the emotional roller coaster of running a business. Some years it's feast and other years famine. You may feel like that headless chook running wild wearing one hat, then another, then another. From being the marketer, to the chief relationship officer, to the problem solver, to the politician and the people consoler, the days often go by in a blur. Before we know it, it’s the weekend, then the end of the month and before we know it, it’s time for that Christmas ham.

Why aren't things changing?

It's no wonder we see a lot of burnout, anxiety and depression in the world of small and medium businesses, let alone around the world. It’s sad, but it’s true. You might be wondering why things aren’t changing. You might find yourself questioning why you ever got into business in the first place. You may even be feeling disheartened, lacking passion and energy and looking for the quickest way out. Or maybe you’ve just settled into a state of ‘it’s just the way it is and I need to keep going’.

Do you have a fear of letting go?

Why are you still in chaos after all this time in business? You feel like you’ve tried everything but nothing changes. Or is it possible that you're not shifting? The truth is, if you're in chaos personally, your business will be too.

You have good people with good skills but you’re still doing too much. Could you still be holding on because you have a fear of letting go? It's likely that you're getting in the way of things getting done. Chances are, your best people will leave as they will be frustrated too.

Do you find yourself thinking “I have no time for myself, I’m feeling so overwhelmed and have so much on”? It’s important to remember small changes can make a big impact, so take charge and set up your ideal week. It will never be perfect, but it is better than not making any changes at all.

Why communication is key

Do you often feel like the people in your team are not stepping up? That they can do so much more but they only want to do the bare minimum? Is it possible they haven't been given enough direction and/or training?

Sometimes you might assume that everyone knows what to do or you have the view "Why should I tell people what to do, isn't that common sense?” The reality is that you may not have communicated nearly enough, so your team is doing the best they can with what they know. So, as a leader, are you really leading or have you abdicated that responsibility because it's too hard?

Change starts with you

The landscape is changing rapidly and who knows what the new normal will really look like. If you’re wanting things to change or be different, wanting the change is only the first step. Real change starts within you first and it's making the decision that the current state of play is just not acceptable. Once you’ve made that decision, then you need to be prepared to do what it takes to make the shift. It won't be easy but each action step you take will get you out of where you currently are and on the road to where you want to be.

At Your Business Momentum, we believe in growth through learning and taking action.

If you need help and are ready for change, drop us a note at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Because accepting the status quo just isn't good enough!