Are You Building a Business… or Just Running One?
Let’s be real for a minute.
Most business owners are busy. Like, *really* busy. You’re answering emails, solving customer problems, tracking inventory, managing your team, and still trying to remember to eat lunch. Oh and who used the last roll of paper towel?
It’s a lot.
And while all those tasks are part of keeping things running, they can also trap you in a cycle of *doing* instead of *growing*. That’s the big difference between working **in** your business and working **on** it.
In the Business: The Daily Grind
When you’re working *in* your business, you’re in the thick of it. You’re the one handling support calls, editing the newsletter, posting to social media, checking invoices—basically wearing all the hats. Stuck in the weeds.
And in the early days? That’s normal.
But if you *stay* in that mode, two things usually happen:
– You burn out.
– Your business plateaus.
You’re so busy putting out fires that you never get around to installing the sprinkler system.
On the Business: Big Picture Thinking
Now, let’s flip it.
Working *on* your business is when you step back and act like the CEO instead of the technician. It’s about:
– Creating systems and processes.
– Building a reliable team.
– Defining your vision and long-term goals.
– Making space to innovate and grow.
You’re no longer the person doing every little thing—you’re designing how everything works together.
So, Why Make the Shift?
Here’s what starts to happen when you make time to work *on* your business:
🧩 Scalability: Chaos doesn’t scale—but systems do. When you streamline and delegate, growth becomes possible.
🎯 Clarity: Strategic thinking gives your business direction and helps your team rally behind the vision.
🌴 Freedom: Want to take a vacation—or even just a long weekend—without everything falling apart? This is how.
💰 Value: A business that runs without you is more valuable to future buyers or investors.
Your Mini CEO Moment: A Reflective Exercise
Block off 15 quiet minutes (coffee optional) and ask yourself:
- What are 3 tasks I do every week that someone else could be trained to handle?
- What part of my business feels the most reactive or chaotic right now?
- What’s one system or checklist I could build this month to lighten my load?
- If I disappeared for two weeks, what would fall apart first?
Start there. That’s where your business needs leadership, not labor.
Final Thought: Smart, Not Just Busy
You don’t own your business just to work yourself into the ground. You own it to create something meaningful—maybe even something that gives you freedom. Something that is valuable and transferable.
So this week, try this shift in mindset:
Instead of asking, “What do I need to get done today?” ask, “What does my business need from me to grow?”
That’s the moment you start working *on* your business.
Catalyst Group ECR is a resource for you – if you would like set a time to talk with Lori Moen to learn more connect here!
