Picture this: You’re out for a run, and everything feels smooth. Then, you feel it—a tiny rock in your shoe.
You could keep going. Adjust your stride, land a little differently, grit your teeth through the discomfort. That’s coping. It keeps you moving, at least for now.
Or, you could stop. Take off the shoe. Remove the rock. That’s recovery. It feels inconvenient in the moment, but it’s what allows you to keep running without causing bigger problems later.
This is the choice I see business owners make every day, especially when it comes to growth.
Instead of stopping to reimagine a lead generation plan or overhaul their systems, they limp along with what’s already there. The plan that will get them just enough—about the same amount of business they had last year. It feels easier to keep adjusting and powering through than to pause, take stock, and create something that could actually lead to growth.
And let’s be honest: stopping is scary. Slowing down to reassess means facing hard questions like:
Where is my plan falling short?
Growth requires clarity, and that starts with identifying the gaps. Maybe your lead generation plan isn’t built to attract your ideal clients, or your follow-up system is inconsistent. Pretending these shortcomings don’t exist won’t make them go away—it only ensures you stay stuck where you are.Where am I wasting time on activities that don’t actually move the needle?
Not all busyness is productive. Are you spending hours on tasks that feel good in the moment but don’t generate meaningful results? Shifting your focus to high-impact activities might feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s the only way to ensure your time and energy are aligned with your goals.What rocks in my shoe am I too afraid to stop and address?
Fear often keeps us running with discomfort rather than confronting it head-on. Maybe it’s fear of rejection, fear of trying something new, or fear of admitting what’s not working. But here’s the thing: the rock doesn’t go away on its own. Facing it is the only way to free yourself to move forward.Am I relying on outdated methods because they feel safe, even if they’re not producing results?
Sometimes we stick with what we know because it feels familiar, even when it’s no longer effective. Growth requires the courage to let go of what’s comfortable and embrace what’s necessary.What habits or excuses are keeping me from executing consistently?
It’s one thing to have a great plan, but plans don’t work without action. Facing the truth about procrastination, lack of discipline, or fear of failure is critical to building momentum and seeing real results.
Here’s the truth: you can’t out-limp a flawed plan. Coping strategies may keep you afloat this year, but they won’t get you closer to the growth you’re dreaming of. Worse, they might leave you burned out, overworked, and wondering why your business feels stuck in the same place year after year.
Recovery, on the other hand, requires courage. It means pausing to evaluate what’s working and what’s not. It’s letting go of the fear that stopping means falling behind. It’s trusting that taking time to fix the root problems now will allow you to run farther, faster, and with more ease in the long term.
So ask yourself: Is your current lead generation strategy built for growth—or is it designed to keep you running in place? Are you coping with the discomfort of “good enough,” or are you ready to stop, remove the rock, and build a plan that can actually take you somewhere new?
Recovery isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Stop limping. Take off the shoe. Remove the rock. And then get back out there—this time, running toward a future that’s bigger than where you’ve been.