Building a Business is Like Building a Tower: 4 Lessons from Playing with Blocks

When my oldest son was two years old, we spent hours sitting on the floor together, building towers out of blocks. There’s a photo I love of him during one of those moments—fully focused, carefully placing each block, determined to make the tower as tall as possible.

Looking back at that photo, it strikes me just how much that simple game taught me about building a business. Whether you’re stacking blocks or strategies, the fundamentals are surprisingly similar.

Here are four key lessons I’ve learned from those tower-building days that every business owner should keep in mind:

1. Use the Resources You Have Right Now

When my son and I built our towers, we didn’t always have the perfect blocks. Sometimes we had odd shapes or pieces that didn’t seem to fit. But we made it work. We’d search the floor, look for angles, and figure out how to build with what was in front of us.

In business, you’re never going to have all the resources you want from the get-go. Maybe you’re missing the ideal hire, or your budget isn’t as large as you’d like. But the key is to leverage what’s available to you now—your network, your current team, your experience. Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment or situation. Growth comes from learning to make the most out of the present.

2. Lay a Strong (and Attractive) Foundation

We always knew that the base of our tower had to be solid. Without a sturdy foundation, everything would fall apart. But I also encouraged my son to build something that looked interesting, something that wasn’t just stable but also engaging.

Your business foundation works the same way. The core pillars—your business strategy, finances, operations—must be rock solid. But beyond stability, your foundation should also inspire growth. This means having a clear value proposition and a brand that attracts your target audience. A strong, attractive base sets the stage for long-term success.

3. Stack Strategies for Compounded Growth

As we added blocks, we always had to think ahead: “How can this piece support the next one?” The goal wasn’t just to build high, but to make sure each block reinforced the one before it. This idea of stacking can be applied directly to business.

Each strategy you implement should build upon the previous one. Whether it’s marketing, product development, or operations, the key to compounded growth is making sure your strategies fit together seamlessly. Is your social media strategy supporting your lead generation? Are your sales processes aligned with your customer experience goals? Every block must fit.

4. Lead with Confidence

One of the most rewarding parts of those tower-building days was how my son followed my lead. He trusted me because I showed confidence. I had built towers before, and he could see that I knew what I was doing. That made him eager to listen, and together we built something greater than either of us could have done alone.

In business, leadership is everything. Your team looks to you not just for direction, but for confidence. They need to believe that you know where the company is headed, that you’ve been through challenges before, and that you’ll guide them through the obstacles ahead. Strong leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing conviction, competence, and the ability to rally your team.

So, What’s Your Tower?

Running a business is a lot like building that tower with my son—each block matters, every piece must fit, and leadership is the glue that holds it all together.

If you’re feeling like your business tower is wobbly, or you’re not sure how to stack your strategies for maximum growth, let’s talk. I’m offering a free business growth assessment that will help you:

• Identify your current resources and how to leverage them.
• Strengthen your foundation for sustainable growth.
• Stack the right strategies to maximize your results.
• Develop leadership skills that inspire confidence in your team.

?? Ready to build a stronger business? Click here for your free assessment.

Building a business takes vision, patience, and skill. The good news? You don’t have to do it alone.