Are You Holding Your Business Back? How to Identify and Overcome Self-Imposed Roadblocks
Want to watch instead? Check out the YouTube video where I discuss aligning business goals with your core values.
As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to blame external factors when our business hits a roadblock—whether it’s market conditions, a lack of clients, or even social media algorithms. But what if the real reason your business isn’t moving forward is you? It’s not easy to admit, but sometimes, we are the ones getting in our own way. Acknowledging this is the first step toward growth. In this post, we’ll explore how to recognize these self-imposed roadblocks, stop sabotaging your progress, and take intentional action to move your business forward.
The Big Picture: Why Isn’t My Business Moving Forward?
When your business feels stuck, it’s natural to search for external causes. Maybe you think it’s the social media algorithm, or perhaps it’s your products or services not hitting the right audience. But what if the real issue lies within? I faced this exact challenge when I first started my business. I was convinced the problem was external—either the algorithm wasn’t on my side, or people just weren’t interested. But the hard truth was this: I was scared to sell.
I feared that showing up on Instagram stories and talking about my services would make me seem too "salesy." I didn’t want to come across as self-centered. But that mindset held me back. My business wasn’t growing because I wasn’t telling people how I could help them. Once I identified this, I realized that I was the roadblock. The key to moving forward was within me.
Identifying Your Own Roadblocks
Once I recognized that my fear of being too salesy was the issue, everything shifted. I realized that avoiding certain tasks—like marketing—was holding my business back. If I wasn’t talking about what I could offer, how would potential clients know that I could help them?
Here are some common self-imposed roadblocks that can prevent business growth:
Avoiding Essential Skills: Are you avoiding learning key skills, like marketing or sales, because they seem overwhelming or uncomfortable?
Fear of Failure: Are you holding back from launching a new product or service because you’re afraid it might not succeed?
Busywork vs. Productive Work: Are you spending your time on tasks that feel productive but aren’t actually moving your business forward? If this resonates, check out my previous post on prioritizing money-making tasks.
Inconsistent Execution: Are you great at planning but struggle with follow-through? Knowing what to do is one thing, but doing it consistently is where the challenge lies.
Taking Action to Move Your Business Forward
After facing my fear of being too salesy, I started exploring how to market myself in a way that felt authentic. I asked myself, How do I talk about my services without feeling boastful? Once I shifted my mindset to focus on serving rather than selling, my business began to open doors. I was no longer holding myself back. I started confidently sharing the transformation I offered because I knew it wasn’t just about making sales—it was about helping other women achieve success.
If you’ve identified that marketing, for example, is holding you back, it’s time to take action. Make marketing a priority, and add it to your daily goals as a money-making task. Consistent efforts in areas you’ve been avoiding will lead to movement in your business.
Here’s how you can break through your roadblocks:
Acknowledge the Problem: Recognize that avoiding certain tasks is what’s keeping you stuck. Whether it’s marketing, sales, or another critical area, pinpoint where you’re not making progress.
Create a Plan: Once you know what’s holding you back, create a plan to address it. Just as I started focusing on marketing, you can prioritize the areas that will drive growth in your business.
Take Action Daily: Consistency is key. Even small, daily steps can lead to significant progress over time. For example, if inventory management is a roadblock, take daily actions to organize and replenish your stock.
Hold Yourself Accountable: Stop blaming external factors for your business’s lack of progress. Take responsibility for your actions and decisions. When you own your role in your business’s growth, you take control of its success.
Moving the Needle in Your Business
Your business will only move forward when you move it forward. Once I aligned my marketing efforts with my values and started showing up authentically, I stopped holding myself back, and my business began to grow. The key takeaway? The power to drive success lies within you. When you stop blaming external factors—like the algorithm or client behavior—and start taking action, you’ll see real progress.
For example, if inventory management is a struggle, don’t just acknowledge it—act on it. Make it a priority task each day to streamline and stay on top of your stock. The more proactive you are, the more your business will grow.
Your Business Growth Starts with You
At the end of the day, the only person who can hold your business back—or push it forward—is you. By identifying the areas where you’re avoiding action and making them a priority, you’ll start seeing real growth in your business. It’s not about external circumstances; it’s about taking ownership of your role as the driving force behind your success.
If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back and start making progress, let’s connect! I’m here to help you overcome your roadblocks and create a strategy that will move your business forward.
Ready to break through your business roadblocks? Let’s work together to unlock your business’s full potential.
