You know what? We spend a lot of time talking about the things you should do to grow your business. But today, I’m flipping the script. Let’s talk about the things I desperately need you to stop doing. Because here’s the truth: just because something sounds like a good idea—or just because everyone else is doing it—doesn’t mean it’s right for your six-figure business. Even if these things seem harmless at face value, in my experience working with entrepreneurs trying to scale, they’ll get you into trouble fast.
Stop Taking Clients That Require You and You Alone
If you have room for this client, go for it. But most of you listening are trying to scale your business. You’re trying to get away from working with more clients and move into the big-picture stuff—the actual management of your business.
I just talked to a client about this exact situation. Someone wanted to work with her and was willing to pay serious money. But she would have to do all the work herself. And it didn’t line up with the vision and goals she has for her business.
Look, I’m never going to be the coach who says “don’t do this” without context. But I am going to bring you back to what you told me you want. For most of my clients, it’s time freedom and money freedom. That money freedom can really get in the way sometimes because you’re thinking, “Well… money.”
Yeah, babe. Money. But we can always make more money. We can’t duplicate our time.
Unless you have a clear plan to offboard that client quickly to a team member, don’t take on work where you have to be the one doing it. If your goal is scaling without working more, this isn’t the path.
Stop Customizing Your Packages
This comes back to money again. A client wants to work with you, but they want this feature changed and that feature added. They asked if you could do this extra thing, and you know you can do it, so you’re thinking, “Yeah, I’ll just add it in.”
Don’t do it.
And it’s not because you’re not capable. It’s not even because you don’t have the time. It’s because if your goal is building a simple six-figure business where you don’t have to work constantly, you can’t easily create systems around multiple customized services.
It’s almost never just one person who has a customization. If you’re offering one service but customizing it for everybody, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve got these base services, but then you kind of tweak them for each client.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. You don’t owe anybody that customization. You’re allowed to say, “I’m sorry, we can’t offer that to you.”
Most business owners understand that you have to offer services that fit within your system—services that your team members can support. Customizing is a really good way to stunt your growth.
Stop Creating a Course Thinking It’ll Be Passive Income
I know this one’s going to ruffle some feathers. I have a course. A lot of my clients create courses. But I’m going to de-influence you on creating a course if the goal is passive income or making money easier.
Here’s what you need to understand: you still have to market just as much, if not more, to sell a course. And unless this is a $5,000 course—and most likely it’s a couple hundred dollars—the volume you need to make a continual profit is going to be massive. And it’s not even recurring revenue. It’s one and done.
You absolutely 100% can sell a course. But not without adequate warmup. Not without an audience. Not without the right price point. And not without marketing all the time.
One of my clients just sold 30 courses in her launch. Exciting, right? But she built a warm audience. She’s super consistent with her marketing and building visibility and authority. She priced it right. And she has a funnel for another course that’s the perfect next step.
There’s strategy around this. But she has never said to me, “I’m creating a course to make things easier.” Because it doesn’t make things easier. You’re picking how you want to make money, and you have to work toward it.
Stop Breaking Your Boundaries
Breaking your boundaries for particular clients—the ones you love, the ones paying big money—is a bad idea. Every single time.
It’s your business. You can do what you want. But don’t think for a second it’s not going to catch up to you. When you bend a rule, when you say “just this once,” when you say “for you, yeah no problem”—they’re going to expect it again. And word gets out.
When we’re talking about boundaries, we’re talking about respect for yourself. Respect your own time. Respect your own boundaries. Respect what you need.
Don’t take on the project you’ll have to cram in over the weekend. Don’t answer emails on the weekend. Say no when you want to say no. Don’t say yes when they ask if you can do something just because they’re asking.
You’re allowed to have policies and procedures in your business. And you don’t have to change them depending on the client or who pushes back or who you like more. Your boundaries are your boundaries. Your policies, procedures, and systems are there to protect your time and protect your money so you can continue to grow your business.
Stop folding when it comes to your own boundaries.
Stop Falling for the Faceless Account BS
If I see one more post about “I grew my account without showing my face,” I’m going to lose it.
If you’re offering any sort of service where you have to talk to the client at any point and trust needs to be there, you can’t just not show your face. I get the allure of it. I do. That might feel easier. But don’t fall for this stuff.
And this goes beyond faceless accounts. Don’t fall for anything promising you easy, quick results. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
When someone tells you something’s possible that feels hard to believe, make sure you understand the process. I will tell you that you can make six figures every single year working part-time. But you will never hear me say you can do that in six months. I don’t even put a timeframe on it because it’s so nuanced and different for everybody.
The only thing I can promise you is that it’s possible, and I have a system and a framework that can help you get there. But there’s a lot that’s still up to you.
Stop falling for the silver bullet. Stop wasting time trying to figure out the hack. There’s no hack. You are the hack. Your work is the hack. Your dedication and discipline is the hack.
Stop Creating Freebies Without a Clear Purpose
We’re creators. We like to create. I could create something today, put it out there, and people would eat it up. But does it serve a purpose? Does it lead them to the destination I want them to go?
There are so many freebies out there that barely see the light of day.
That’s a waste of your time and resources. A lot goes into a freebie—the lead magnet itself, the nurture sequence or sales sequence on the backend. And that has to lead someone somewhere.
Don’t create another lead magnet until you’re positive that it’s leading your ideal client to where you want them to go next. It needs to be clear and straightforward. No guessing.
If they wanted a content calendar, they can get one anywhere. That doesn’t make them pumped to open your emails. It’s a dead lead.
Stop Using a Business Name Instead of Your Name
This one’s controversial, but it’s been a topic for several clients lately. Should you use your personal name or a business name?
If you’re offering anything where you work with the client—you’re the service provider, the coach, the mentor, the consultant—use your name. Not a business name.
It doesn’t mean you can’t change it later. But most people I work with want the ability to scale in multiple directions. They want to create a brand for themselves. And people buy from people.
When I’m searching for someone I met at a networking event—let’s say Laura—I’m not going to remember her business name. I’m going to remember her name. That’s who I’m searching for on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok.
It’s fun to create cool business names sometimes. But a lot of times they actually end up hurting you. If you’re on the fence, go with your name. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it will always grow with you.
The Bottom Line
Nothing’s set in stone here. That’s something I remind my clients all the time. You can always change things. But if you’re trying to build a simple, scalable, six-figure business without working yourself to death, these are the pitfalls I need you to avoid.
Stop doing the things that everyone says you “should” do and start building something sustainable. Join the Grow Business and Marketing Membership and get access to the frameworks, systems, and support you need to scale smart—not hard.
