Feeling Stuck? Here’s What I Learned in My First 3 Months of Building Growth Club

Let me be real with you—building a business isn’t always the highlight reel you see on Instagram. It’s messy, emotional, and sometimes downright lonely. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

Three months ago, in May, I started Growth Club. I had no idea how quickly things would move compared to my first business, Ingrain. In just three months, I’ve accomplished more than I thought possible:

• Grew my Instagram to 180 followers and TikTok to 430 followers.
• Built a website from scratch.
• Created lead magnets that brought in 4 downloads within the first week.
• Built an email list of 15 people.
• Signed 2 coaching clients in the last month.
• Held 5 support calls, converting 2 into paying customers (with 1 on hold).
• Organically attracted followers who are commenting, sharing, and liking my posts.

Reading that back, I feel proud. But if I’m honest, there’s a voice in my head whispering, “It’s not enough. You could’ve done more. Other businesses are doing better than you.”

And I hate it.

I hate comparing myself to others because I know their journey isn’t mine. I know their wins don’t invalidate mine. But that voice? It’s loud. And I know I’m not alone in feeling this way.

The Mental Load of Entrepreneurship

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably felt it too, the comparison, the mental load, the loneliness. That nagging feeling that you’re not doing enough.

Here’s the truth: You are enough. Your journey is valid. And you’re not alone.

I see you. I feel you. I’m right there with you.

But here’s what I’ve realized: I can’t let those negative thoughts take over. I can’t let comparison steal the joy of what I’ve built. Instead, I’m choosing to focus on what’s working, learn from what’s not, and keep moving forward.

 

What’s Been Working for Me

Over the past three months, I’ve found a few strategies that have helped me grow my business and connect with clients:

1. Engaging with Other Accounts: Spending time commenting on posts, replying to stories, and starting conversations with early-stage business owners has been a game-changer.
2. Offering Free Support Chats: Inviting people to a free chat has helped me build trust and show the value I can bring. Once they understand what I do, they’re more likely to connect with me.
3. Welcoming New Followers: Sending a welcome message has been a great way to start conversations, though I know I need to refine my approach to keep the dialogue going.

 

Where I Want to Improve

As much as I’ve accomplished, there’s always room to grow. Here’s where I’m focusing my energy next:

• Improving Content Quality: I want my content to build trust, establish authority, and generate leads more consistently.
• Engaging Daily: Spending just 5–10 minutes a day engaging with other accounts can make a big difference, and I need to get back into that rhythm.
• Promoting My Freebie: I’ve been lagging on advertising my lead magnet in stories, and I know I need to step it up.
• Attracting the Right Audience: Right now, many of my followers are more established businesses. I want to focus on connecting with early-stage business owners who are just starting out.

 

My Next Steps

To get unstuck and keep growing, I’ve created a 2-week action plan:

Week 1: Focus on Engagement & Conversations

• Spend 5–10 minutes daily engaging with early-stage business owners.
• Test a refined welcome message for new followers that sparks conversation.
• Post 2–3 stories promoting my freebie with clear, benefit-driven copy.
• Create 2–3 posts: one authority-building, one relatable, and one freebie promo.

Week 2: Focus on Content Quality & Attraction

• Continue the daily engagement routine.
• Refine my freebie promotion copy based on Week 1 testing.
• Post 3 pieces of content: an actionable tip, a case study/testimonial, and an attraction post speaking directly to new business owners.
• Use polls or question stickers in stories to start conversations.

By the end of these two weeks, I’ll have:

• A tested welcome message that sparks real conversations.
• Refined freebie promotion copy that converts.
• A consistent engagement routine.
• Content that attracts the right audience.

 

Affirmations to Keep Me Grounded

When that voice of comparison creeps in, here’s what I remind myself:

• There is nothing I cannot do.
• No matter how fast or slow my business is growing, I have the capacity to build a successful business.
• Failure is the best way to learn.
• I will not compare my journey to anyone else’s. My journey is unique to me.
• Social media is a highlight reel, I will never compare my behind-the-scenes to someone else’s curated feed.

Final Thoughts

If you’re feeling stuck, know this: It’s okay. Plateaus are part of the process. What matters is how you respond.

Take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small they feel. Then, use that momentum to map out your next steps.

You’ve got this. And if you need someone to remind you of that, I’m here.

Let’s keep building, one step at a time.

If you would like business support from someone who gets it, book your free business support call here.