A short time later, I attended another discussion. Again, I was confronted with a leader in the human design and energetics space who attributed systems and structure to “masculine” energy. And again, with that same negative, almost dismissive tone.

As I sat there listening in both instances, I found myself feeling a little attacked.

I was trying to solve a problem. I wanted clear, quantifiable data, progress percentages, and demonstrable value tracking for both myself and my clients, specifically for the next iteration of my Strategic Advisory Partnership. However, I am not a coder. I don’t write code. I don’t write scripts. And I honestly don’t even consider myself that Excel-formula savvy. So I wasn’t sure how to achieve what I was looking for. 

Consistency is boring. No one wants to hear about it. Everyone wants the quick, easy wins. That instant gratification. And I’ll admit the hit of dopamine is intoxicating when you get it. But you know what? That’s not the norm. And that’s typically not what sustains a business. It is, in fact, the consistent, boring actions taken day in and day out that grow a sustainable business.

The business grows, the owner needs more help, they throw bodies at the problem and hope they can just figure it out as they go. That usually never works. Or at least, never works well. Despite what some may think, hiring and training is actually a very hands-on, time-intensive process. Why? Because the type of training a team member receives will have a direct impact on how they proceed to move through and grow within the business.

One thing I don’t think people talk about enough is how hard owning, running and growing a business can be. Sure, we’re our own boss. Yes, we can do whatever we want. Absolutely, we have an incredible amount of freedom and we’re making an impact. But the mental and emotional weight of all that heavy lifting can be a lot.

It occurred to me that “internal structure” might be a little inside baseball; that maybe not everyone knows what I mean when I use that phrase. So I’d like to clarify.

When I talk about internal structure, what I mean is: the WHAT, WHEN and HOW of your business. The practical, tangible, execution-based pieces that allow your business to function.

I’ve been working a lot lately on message refinement. On really trying to get to the heart of how I help, and what’s actually going to help you move your business forward. And what I’ve landed on, is, “Structure creates freedom.” I think that’s actually my main message. How I’m trying to get people to think, act and do differently.

Let’s talk about growing pains in business. We all, eventually, come up against them. Growing pains are essentially the speed bumps, setbacks or resistance that occurs when a business's current systems, team, or strategy can no longer support its size or ambitions. This evolves over time and can occur at varying intervals.

Here are some signs you’re experiencing growing pains…

At a recent networking event, someone asked, “What’s everyone’s take on free versus paid webinars?” It was a simple question, but it sparked a great conversation and honestly, it’s something I’ve been thinking about myself. And there doesn’t seem to be a blanket answer here. The right choice really depends on your goals, who you’re trying to reach, and where the webinar fits within the larger strategy of your business.

We don’t always think of Business Identity and Business Strategy as being connected, but they should be. One defines who you are and what you stand for. The other guides how you grow and make decisions. When these two are working together, your business has both clarity and direction. But when they’re disconnected, things start to feel off, like the work you're doing isn’t quite matching the business you want to build.