Back to Basics

Let’s be honest—running a small business can feel like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. One minute you’re chasing a new opportunity, the next you’re fire fighting with something totally unrelated. And somedays, you’re probably wondering: When did I sign up for all this?!

This is what I felt a bit like earlier in the year because I got swept up in the excitement of expansion, new markets, new products, new services—you name it, there’s always something shiny to chase. That’s even without adding the ever big temptation of new tech!

But here’s the thing: sometimes the best move you can make is to take a step back, regroup, and go back to basics.

So that is what I have been doing over the summer, reconnecting with me and the basics of business.?

The basics. The fundamentals. The stuff that made your business what it is today. And trust me, those basics are wildly underrated and overlooked, but once you revisit them they can ground you in a matter of minutes.?

What was simple, worked and still does.

Remember when you started your business? It was probably just you, a big idea, and maybe a bit of caffeine (okay, probably a lot of caffeine). Your setup may have been something similar to mine - a make shift desk in the understairs Harry Potter cupboard.

Life was simple, a head of dreams, a laptop, a notebook and drive!

And it worked! I had clarity of purpose. I knew what I was doing and why I was doing it.

Fast forward to today (nearly 5 years). I’ve been on many wandering paths because they seemed like “the next logical step”? Before I knew it, I was trying to juggle again - the shiny and new, the client's business dreams and my dreams went a little by the wayside.?

While these things may have their place, let’s face it—you can’t do it all. Not without sacrificing the heart of your business. And that heart? It’s in the basics. The foundation you built everything on. And if you run a service-based business, you very much have a lot of passion to see others grow and expand, and at times we put others before ourselves, it’s hard not to because it is how we are built.

But one of the biggest learnings I had this year is that the Myth of ‘More is Better’ isn’t always right for you.

Here’s the truth: just because there are so many opportunities out there doesn’t mean you have to jump on every single one. More isn’t always better—sometimes it’s just… more.?

More stress, more distractions, more ways to lose sight of why you started in the first place.

Every business is tempted by the myth that you need to be everything to everyone. (Spoiler: you don’t.) If you spend too much time following every new trend, you might just lose what makes your business unique. You know that special spark that drew customers to you in the first place? And what got you to where you are today.

Now, when I say ‘back to basics’, I don’t mean ditching your website, scrapping your product range, or cancelling everything. (Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you should trade your computer for a typewriter and start hand-delivering invoices on horseback- although what an impact that would make!)

What I’m saying is I had to refocus on what matters. I’ve stripped back the layers of complexity and rediscovered what makes the business mine.

And it’s something that would suggest you do too, especially if you are feeling a little bit overwhelmed, lack of focus on the next steps or even, dare I say it, bored in your business.

Ask yourself:

• What was your original vision?
• What problem were you solving for people?
• Which parts of your business light you up?
• What did you do well when you were just starting out?

Get back to those things. The things that made you excited to get up in the morning. The things that made your customers say, “Wow, this is exactly what I needed.” And most importantly those things that filled your heart with joy that sent you skipping down the road.

Because you don’t have to do it all. It’s taken me a summer of stopping, a summer of saying no thanks, and a bit of a wild weekend dancing til the early hours in the morning to reconnect and reawaken what really matters.

All our goals are different, but whatever your goal you don’t have to do it all, well not all at once!

It’s okay to say no. In fact, it’s necessary. When you’re running a small business, your energy and focus are your most precious resources. Protect them. If a new opportunity feels like it’s pulling you away from your core strengths, it’s okay to pass. You don’t have to do everything. You just have to do what matters.

Focus on what works, what brings value, and what makes your business special.?

The rest? Let someone else handle it.?

Or, better yet, don’t do it at all.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t try new things. Experimentation is part of growth. But there’s a fine line between experimenting and losing yourself down a labyrinth.

Take a breath. Look at where you’ve come from and where you’re headed. And if things feel too complicated, don’t be afraid to go back to square one.

Returning to your roots isn’t a step backwards—it’s a way to propel your business forward with a clear sense of purpose and a renewed understanding of why you started in the first place.?

Basics are your foundation, and sometimes, all you need is to build on them, one simple block at a time.

Getting back to basics doesn’t mean dumbing down your business—it means getting smart about what matters most.

Simplicity is powerful.?

It’s your business, not a multi-tasking contest.?

Grab a cup of tea (or wine as it’s Friday), take a step back, and let the basics guide you back to what you do best. And who knows? You might just find that the key to your future success is hiding in the simplicity of your past.

Keep it simple, keep it you.