You're Not Lazy... So Why Are You Still Putting Things Off in Your Business?
- Fran Ash
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
There are certain conversations that come up time and time again when I'm mentoring business owners, and this is definitely one of them.
"I know exactly what I need to do, but I just can't seem to get started."
It doesn't matter whether someone's been in business for six months or six years. At some point, almost every business owner finds themselves staring at a task they've been avoiding for days, sometimes even weeks. The frustrating part is that they know it needs doing, yet somehow it keeps slipping further down the list.
The first thing I always say is this... it isn't because you're lazy.
There's Usually More Going On Than the Task Itself
On the surface, the job often looks really straightforward. It might be following up a quote, picking up the phone to a potential client, posting on social media or finally looking at the business finances.
But when we start talking about it properly, it quickly becomes clear that the task isn't actually the problem.
Sometimes it's the fear of hearing the word "no". Sometimes it's worrying that what you're about to put out into the world won't be good enough. Other times it's simply the pressure of making yet another decision when you've already spent the whole week making hundreds of them.
When you run a business, you're constantly carrying responsibility, and that mental load can make even small jobs feel much bigger than they really are.
Waiting to Feel Motivated Rarely Works
I think we've all convinced ourselves at some point that tomorrow will be the day we suddenly feel more productive. We'll wake up full of energy, fly through the to-do list and wonder why we ever found it difficult in the first place.
The reality is usually very different.
Motivation comes and goes. Some mornings you'll feel unstoppable, while on others you'll wonder whether you're making any progress at all. That's completely normal, and it's why relying on motivation alone can leave you feeling stuck.
More often than not, confidence comes after you've taken the first step, not before.
Small Steps Have a Funny Way of Changing Everything
One of the things I love seeing with clients is how quickly momentum starts to build once they stop focusing on the whole mountain and simply take the next step. That next step might only be replying to one email, making one phone call or sending one proposal. None of those things feel particularly life-changing on their own, but they all move the business forward.
Business growth is rarely about one huge breakthrough. It's usually lots of small decisions, repeated consistently over time, that make the biggest difference.
Sometimes We All Need Someone in Our Corner
One thing mentoring has taught me is that people rarely come to me because they don't know what to do. More often, they already have the answers.
What they're looking for is someone who'll help them untangle the noise, remind them what really matters and gently encourage them to keep moving when self-doubt starts creeping in.
Sometimes knowing that somebody is going to ask how you got on this week is enough to stop procrastination turning into another month of standing still.
It's never about judgement. It's about having someone who believes in your goals just as much as you do.
Be Kinder to Yourself
If you've been putting something off recently, I'd encourage you to pause before labelling yourself as lazy or unmotivated. Instead, ask yourself what's really sitting underneath it.
Are you overwhelmed? Are you worried about getting it wrong? Have you simply been trying to carry too much on your own?
The answer is often far more compassionate than the story we've been telling ourselves.
Final Thoughts
Running a business asks an enormous amount of you, and there will always be weeks where things feel harder than they should.
If this blog has reminded you of yourself, I hope it also reminds you that you're not failing. You're human.
Sometimes all it takes is a little support, a bit of accountability and someone to help you keep moving forward. Not because you aren't capable of doing it yourself, but because even the most successful business owners don't build their businesses completely alone.
