Seven Common Mistakes That Kill Growing Businesses
When your business starts picking up speed, it’s vital that you don’t let your actions turn into a killing blow right at the start. Over the next seven weeks I’ll break down the most frequent pitfalls that have swallowed countless startups.
MISTAKE 1 – Trying to Do Everything On Your Own
It’s easy to think that keeping everyone on your team to a minimum will save money, but that shortcut can backfire big time. Picture this: you’re sprinting every day, juggling orders, emails, customer support, and strategic planning, all at once. Suddenly, there’s no room for a pause, for thinking ahead, or foreseeing trouble. That’s the classic “fire‑fight → calm → fire‑fight” cycle.
When it starts feeling like you’re always in a firefight, it’s a clear signal: you’re doing too much yourself.
- Family Time vs. Work Time: The guilt of not being present for family can pile up, leading to burnout and even collapse.
- Late Hiring: Many owners wait until the cracks show before bringing in help. By then, the damage is often irreversible.
- Proactive Planning: Think ahead and recruit before the exhaustion hits.
So next time you find yourself back in the firefight loop, picture the opposite scenario – a calm, balanced workday. Break that vision into actionable steps, split them into bite‑size chunks, implement them, and keep an eye on progress. If you spot early warning signs, intervene before the cycle repeats.