Control the Controllables: How Proactive Business Owners Win No Matter the Economy

I want to ask you something:
Are you a reactive business owner… or a proactive one?

Because lately, I’ve been hearing the same thing from a lot of people:

“Man, I don’t know what it is, but this year’s been slow. Probably the economy.”
“It’s gotta be the government, right?”

Listen, maybe things have slowed down. Maybe the economy did shift.
But here’s the truth:
👉 You can’t control the economy.
👉 You can’t control the government.
👉 You can control your actions.

My first sales trainer told me something years ago that stuck with me:
Control the controllables.

When I started my lighting business in 2008—right before the housing crash—things went from good to terrifying fast.
At first, I made excuses too. “It’s the economy,” I told myself.

But here’s what I learned:
Excuses don’t pay bills.
So I started controlling what I could—and that lesson has never stopped being true.

The Real Reason You’re Not Gaining Traction

If you feel like you should be further along by now...
If you’re working hard but not seeing results...

It usually comes down to one thing: a constraint.

Every business has one.

• Time

• Money

• Labor

• Skill

• Knowledge

• Belief

Your job is to identify your biggest constraint and give it almost all your attention until it’s solved.

Most business owners spread themselves too thin.
They’re doing a hundred busy tasks that feel productive—but don’t actually move the needle.

You don’t need to do more things.
You need to do the right thing.

Here’s Your Challenge

Take 30 minutes this week to figure out your #1 constraint.

Is it money?
Stop “being busy” and spend the next day solving your sales or pricing problem.

Is it time?
Buy back hours—hire someone, delegate, or automate.

Is it labor?
Go all-in on recruiting.

Whatever your constraint is, focus on it until it’s fixed.

Because when you solve your biggest constraint, you unlock momentum.
And with momentum comes freedom.

Final Thought

Stop reacting.
Start creating.
Control the controllables.
And keep moving forward.

— Ryan Lee

# business growth, entrepreneurship, mindset, proactive leadership, overcoming challenges, productivity, business strategy, Ryan Lee, control the controllables, business momentum #