I was three years into owning my business and constantly banging my head against the wall. I was chasing growth only to feel like I was running in place.

Then someone gave me advice that I ignored, and everything changed.

I met with a successful entrepreneur who sold his business for a life-altering amount of money. He spent his early retirement consulting and advising with founders, and I got connected with him for a coffee meeting.

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying” was the phrase that stayed with me.

A meeting that was intended to inspire me to success made me realize I was chasing the wrong thing. 

I walked away from that meeting with the realization that his success wasn’t what I wanted. I had spent 3 years chasing growth, and none of it was authentic to me. 

I had acquired the business because I knew that it could be a great lifestyle business. I then proceeded to try and make it operate as a high-growth business. I started with a vision and then quickly fell into the trap of chasing something else when self-doubt crept in.

I was aiming for the wrong target.

So I went back to running it like a lifestyle business and kept the focus tight. Instead of trying to expand across the continent, I focused on becoming a recognized brand in our region. Instead of spending on marketing that wasn’t working, I met in person with as many customers as I could.

I built a business that was authentic to me and to my definition of success.

And then something interesting happened. When I stopped spreading myself thin, I could actually do the work that strengthened relationships. That’s what drove growth.

Not doubling or tripling, but consistent growth with maintained profitability. It provided the time and flexibility to raise our two young boys and to relocate to a new town. 

I spent 3 years trying to do something that wasn’t aligned with what I wanted or what I was good at. Turns out the business worked when I was clear on how I defined success for myself.

That lesson about defining success on my own terms shaped everything that came after, including my coaching work today.