Episode 5 | Top 3 Mistakes That Hurt Your Business Growth
Your hustle isn’t broken. Your focus is.
If your business feels like it’s running in circles, there’s a good chance you’re making one of these three mistakes (I’ve made them too—no shame).
In this week’s podcast episode, I’m calling out the sneaky ways we think we’re growing our business… but we’re really just stalling. Tune in to hear:
The lie perfectionism tells you
Why being busy ≠ productive
How to sell without feeling sleazy
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Thanks for listening—remember to stay empowered, and let’s RISE together!
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Free Guide: The Anti-Burnout Business Blueprint (Free Checklist)
Book Mentioned: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries –Amazon Link
Research: According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, and 65% fail by year 10—often due to poor strategy, not poor effort. Source
Follow Chelsea on Instagram:@RISEmpowerment
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EP5: "Top 3 Mistakes That Hurt Your Business Growth"
Host: Chelsea Klender, Founder of RISEmpowerment
CHELSEA:
Hey hey, welcome back to Unpopular Opinion—the podcast where we ditch the fluff, get real about growth, and dismantle the well-meaning lies holding you back in life and business.I’m your host, Chelsea Klender, certified life coach, founder of RISEmpowerment, and today, I’ve got a hot take that might ruffle a few feathers—especially if you pride yourself on being a “hard-working entrepreneur.”
So here’s the unpopular opinion of the day:
“Your hustle isn’t broken. Your focus is.”
Let’s be honest—most of us aren’t suffering from a lack of effort. We’re suffering from working too hard on things that don’t actually grow our business.
Today I’m walking you through the top three mistakes I see over and over again—the ones that quietly sabotage your business growth, even though they feel like the right moves. And yes, I’ve been guilty of all three. Multiple times. So, consider this your permission slip to get honest with yourself and make a shift.
Let’s jump in.
Mistake #1: Perfecting Before Selling
CHELSEA:
Let me tell you a quick story—
When I first launched RISEmpowerment, I delayed offering one of my coaching packages for nearly two months because I was agonizing over the visuals. I was editing the PDF deliverables, reworking the title, rewriting the descriptions like they were going to be submitted to the New York Times.Meanwhile—no sales. No money. No momentum.
Then one day, I said “screw it,” put up a messy landing page, dropped a link in a Facebook group, and boom—a client booked within 24 hours.
Here’s the lesson:
“You don’t need perfect. You need proof of concept.”
We hide behind perfect because it feels safer than rejection. But perfection is a moving target—and it’s often just a distraction from the real work: getting in front of people and making offers.
If you’re sitting on an offer, waiting to get the branding just right or the website just perfect, I’m calling you out with love—you’re delaying growth.
→ Try this: Launch the B- version. Get it out there. Tweak based on real feedback, not your own perfectionist brain.
Let your audience co-create your offer with you instead of building in isolation.
Mistake #2: Being Busy, But Not Productive
CHELSEA:
Oh man, this one cuts deep. I used to wear “busy” like a badge of honor.You ever have those days where you check off 19 things from your to-do list, but at the end of the day you’re like… “What exactly did I do?”
That was me—answering emails, updating Canva graphics, organizing folders, tweaking my homepage copy for the hundredth time.
But here’s what I wasn’t doing: actively generating revenue.
Unpopular truth?
“A full calendar doesn’t mean a full bank account.”One of my clients came to me last year saying she was working 50+ hours a week but making less than $2K/month. When we audited her schedule, we realized 80% of her time was going to admin tasks and low-value busywork.
After 30 days of refocusing on revenue-generating activities—sales calls, client delivery, visibility—she made more in one month than the previous three combined.
→ Homework for you: Audit your week. What percentage of your time is actually moving your business forward? What can be automated, delegated, or deleted?
Remember, your time is either being invested—or wasted.
Mistake #3: Avoiding Sales Because It Feels “Pushy”
CHELSEA:
Whew. This one used to hit me right in the gut.Selling made me feel awkward. I didn’t want to be “that person.” I wanted people to magically find me and just know how awesome my offer was. Spoiler alert: They didn’t.
And look, if that’s you? You’re not alone. This mindset shows up even with my high-level clients. One told me, “I feel weird selling because I don’t want to seem desperate.”
But here’s the reframe I gave her:
“You’re not selling. You’re solving a problem.”
If someone is struggling in an area where you have expertise—and you don’t offer to help? That’s not humility. That’s withholding.
You don’t have to be sleazy or use weird pressure tactics. But you do need to communicate the value of what you offer. Repeatedly. Clearly. And confidently.
→ Coaching moment: Ask yourself, What belief am I holding about sales that’s keeping me broke?
What if selling was actually the most powerful form of service you could offer?
[WRAP-UP & REFLECTION]
CHELSEA:
Alright, let’s recap the top three mistakes keeping you stuck in slow-growth purgatory:Perfecting before selling – Stop waiting. Put it out there.
Being busy instead of productive – Don’t confuse motion with momentum.
Avoiding sales – Selling isn’t pushy when you’re passionate about helping.
Now, I want you to pick one. Just one. Which of these mistakes have you been making—and what’s the next right action to shift out of it?
If this episode sparked a lightbulb moment, I’d love to hear about it. DM me or tag me in your stories. And hey—if you want help identifying the patterns that are holding your business back, go to RISEmpowerment.com and grab my free checklist: “The Anti-Burnout Business Blueprint.”
And don’t forget—if you’re loving this podcast, leave a review, share it with your biz bestie, and keep coming back for the truth bombs.
Thanks for listening, remember to stay empowered, and let’s RISE together.
Feel like you're running on fumes? Most entrepreneurs unknowingly sabotage their own growth by falling into patterns that lead straight to burnout. In this actionable and empowering free guide, you'll uncover the top 3 mistakes entrepreneurs make—and learn simple, strategic steps to break the cycle.
Inside the Anti-Burnout Business Blueprint, you'll:
Identify hidden productivity drains that keep you busy but unproductive.
Discover smart ways to streamline systems and automate tasks, freeing up valuable time.
Create essential, non-negotiable practices to ensure you regularly recharge and stay motivated.
Say goodbye to overwhelm and reclaim the joy in building your business. Download your blueprint today and start growing your business without sacrificing your sanity.
Inspired by the Unpopular Opinion Podcast episode: "Top 3 Mistakes That Hurt Your Business Growth."
