1. Why Growth Rarely Feels Good

You know that moment in business when everything feels a bit shaky? Your confidence is off. You're unsure what decision to make. You’re learning something new but questioning whether you’re doing it right. Part of you wonders if you’re falling behind.

That uncomfortable space? It’s not failure.
It’s growth.

Because growth rarely feels calm and controlled in the moment. It often feels like chaos, doubt, and doing things poorly before you do them well.

But that discomfort isn’t the problem. It’s the price.

The real danger isn’t in struggling - it’s in expecting things to feel easy when they shouldn’t. That mindset can keep you stuck, repeating the same patterns, avoiding the changes you need to make.

2. The Myth of “Easy” Growth

Many business owners expect that growth should be smooth. That if you’re on the right track, you’ll feel motivated, clear, and in control the whole way.

But here’s the truth: growth comes with friction. Especially when you're levelling up your leadership, learning new financial skills, or redesigning your systems.

Comfort often means you're doing what you’ve always done. It may feel safe, but it’s usually a sign you're standing still.

“If the owner wants a better business, first the business needs a better owner.”

That transformation doesn’t happen in your comfort zone.

3. The 3 A’s of Growth: Attitude, Activity, and Acumen

When you’re doing hard things in your business, it helps to have a framework to make sense of the discomfort. We use a simple but powerful lens with clients: the 3 A’s.

A. Attitude – Willing to Be Uncomfortable

Growth starts with your mindset.

If you're willing to be uncomfortable, to admit “I don’t know yet” or “this isn’t my strong suit,” then you're on the right path. That willingness is a leadership superpower and one most business owners resist.

This is part of the price to be paid in learning something new: being willing to do it to a ‘less than perfect’ standard, until you can do it well.

B. Activity – Doing the Work (Even When It’s Messy)

Progress doesn’t come from knowing the theory. It comes from doing the reps.

Whether you're building a forecast, running hiring interviews for the first time, or managing a new default diary - you won’t get it perfect. But you’ll get feedback, and feedback is the only path to improvement.

The mistake many business owners make? Waiting for perfect clarity before they act.

But in reality, motion creates clarity.
Structure supports it.
And focused activity - like setting clear 90-day goals or weekly priorities - is what transforms effort into results.

C. Acumen – Developing New Skills Over Time

It’s one thing to do the work. It’s another to improve how you do the work.

That’s acumen - the deepening skill and judgment that comes with time, reflection, and repetition.

Think of it like swimming: many people can splash around in the water and claim to swim freestyle, but Olympic athletes swim with power and precision. They’ve built acumen through learning proper technique and improving over time.

In business, that might mean:

• Making sharper financial decisions
  

• Becoming a more strategic delegator
  

• Leading with calm authority instead of reactivity

All of which feel uncomfortable at first - until they don’t.

4. Five Signs You’re on the Right Path (Even if It Feels Hard)

Here are five clear signals you're growing, even if it doesn't feel like it in the moment:

1. You Feel Like a Beginner Again

If you feel clunky, unsure, or “not good at this yet” - good. You’re doing something new. That’s where transformation starts.

2. You’re Asking Better Questions

You’re less focused on defending old ways and more curious about better ones. Growth always starts with better questions.

3. You’re Delegating More (and Feeling the Tension)

Letting go isn’t easy. But it's necessary if you're going to build a business that works without you. Discomfort is part of that process.

4. You’re Focusing on Fewer, Bigger Priorities

You’re no longer chasing every rabbit. You’re committing to 3-5 quarterly goals that actually matter - and saying no to everything that doesn’t align.

5. You’re Becoming the “Chief Reminding Officer”

You’re not just doing the work. You’re reinforcing expectations. Guiding the team. Keeping the drumbeat going. That’s leadership.

5. The Payoff: Growth That Sticks

Here’s what happens when you push through the discomfort:

• You develop stronger systems
  

• You build a more capable team
  

• You get a business that runs more predictably - with or without you

Most importantly, you grow as a leader.
Not just smarter or more efficient, but more confident. Clearer. Calmer under pressure.

Because comfort doesn’t come before capability.
It comes after.

Important Note:
While discomfort is often a natural part of growth, it’s also important to know your limits. If your business is experiencing serious financial distress or you’re concerned about your legal obligations, it’s critical to seek advice from a licensed insolvency practitioner or legal expert. Business coaching is not a substitute for professional financial or legal advice.

6. Why Coaching Can Help You Stay the Course

Let’s be honest - doing this alone is tough.

The self-doubt creeps in. Priorities blur. You get pulled back into old patterns or distracted by shiny new projects.

That’s where coaching makes the difference. It gives you:

• A proven structure to follow
  

• An outside perspective when you’re too close to see clearly
  

• Weekly accountability to stay focused and follow through

Most owners know what they should be doing. The problem is doing it - consistently, in the right order, without getting lost.

That’s what we do with our clients.

7. Conclusion: The Growth Equation

At the heart of it, here’s the growth formula:

Growth = Attitude + Activity + Acumen, multiplied by your willingness to stay uncomfortable long enough to improve.

So if you’re in the thick of it - and it feels hard - don’t panic.
You’re probably on the right path.

Discomfort is not a signal to stop. It’s often a sign to keep going.

And if you’re ready to push through with clarity and support, coaching might be the next step.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or insolvency advice. You should seek independent professional advice tailored to your specific situation.