Why Staying Small in Your Business Might Be Holding You Back (And What to Do About It)

As a business owner, it's easy to get comfortable. You reach a point where things are "good enough"—you're making decent money, you have a steady stream of clients, and the stress is manageable. But here's the truth: staying small in your business might actually be limiting your potential.

I’ve been there myself. At one point, I was content with coasting along and keeping things small, thinking it meant fewer headaches. But looking back, I realize how short-sighted that mindset was.

Recently, we had Tommy Mello, the founder of A1 Garage Doors, come in for a training session inside Landscape Lighting Secrets. Tommy’s business is on track to hit $240 million in revenue this year. But he didn’t start there. His success didn’t come overnight—it was built over time. His journey and the lessons he shared made something clear to me: scaling your business, even just to a million or two in revenue, can make everything easier.

Momentum and Opportunities

Scaling your business means creating momentum. Once you gain traction, everything seems to fall into place more easily. You unlock new opportunities—for yourself and your team. With growth, you can step away from the day-to-day without the business falling apart.

When you stay small, though, you're often just self-employed. You’re writing your own paycheck, but at what cost? You’re taking on all the risks of being a business owner without fully experiencing the rewards. It's like being on a treadmill, constantly running but never getting anywhere.

Recruiting and Retaining Talent

Think about recruiting. If you were to hire someone today, would they see a future with your company? Do they see potential for growth, or are they just doing repetitive tasks without room to develop?

One of the greatest benefits of scaling is that you can create a career ladder for your team, making it easier to recruit and retain top talent. Employees want more than just a paycheck—they want to see a path forward. By growing your business, you provide them with that opportunity.

Your Freedom

Another important factor to consider is your own freedom. Could you take a month-long vacation, or step away from the business for a while, without everything falling apart? If not, your business is still too reliant on you.

Scaling your business is about building systems and teams so that you’re not the bottleneck. It’s about creating a business that works for you, rather than you working for it.

The Power of Delegation: Executive Assistants

One lesson I took away from Tommy's training was the importance of having an Executive Assistant (EA). Whether virtual or in person, an EA can free up your time to focus on high-level tasks that generate the most revenue and joy. As a business owner, it's crucial to delegate the tasks that don’t require your specific attention, allowing you to focus on growing and innovating.

Setting a “Dead-By” Date

Scaling doesn’t mean you have to build a $240 million business. But it does mean setting a plan for growth, creating opportunities, and delegating responsibilities. This transformation can change not only your business but your life.

A powerful strategy is identifying a “dead-by” date—set a goal for three, four, or five years from now when your business no longer depends solely on you. Once you’ve set that date, reverse engineer the steps to get there. Whether you plan to sell, step back, or simply focus on the parts of the business you love, you’ll have options.

Why You Should Grow

You owe it to yourself, your family, and your team to grow. Build a business that serves you, rather than the other way around. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, now is the time to assess your next steps. It’s not just about money—it’s about creating the life and business you truly want.

You’ve got this.

Ready to Scale Your Business?
If you're looking to scale and want some guidance, let's talk about what’s next for you. Reach out today and let's create a plan to take your business to the next level!

-Ryan Lee

# business growth, scaling a business, Tommy Mello, executive assistant, business freedom, business mindset, business opportunities, business strategy, leadership, entrepreneur growth #