Running a business right now? You’re not imagining it - it’s tough out there.

I try to be relentlessly positive about business, and will put that spin on this where I can!

Costs keep creeping, sales feel slower, and everyone - suppliers, clients, even your own team - seems a bit… stretched.

I speak to so many business owners, and they are feeling it!

It’s a huge benefit of having a Co-Founder, we get to share the load, and when I am inevitably stressed, Josh can help reduce it.

The truth is, it’s tough out there right now for almost everyone.

But (and there’s always a but), as I like to say, the good times don’t last, but the good news is, neither do the bad times!

So this blog is all about finding your footing again - I am going to share some personal thoughts on it all, and what I’ve found on this journey so far.

1. Don’t believe everything you see on social media!

This might be classic and boring advice, but talking with a few accounting friends last week, we need to cut through the noise of what people put out there.

Just remember, it’s easier to talk about things and make sweeping generalisations for clicks on social media, but it’s not reality!

Ignore the noise, find some trusted people to chat to, you’ll feel much better about things!

2. You don’t have to know it all.

New business owners often feel like they need to know it all - tax, marketing, SEO, IT, the lot.

You’ll be surprised by how accessible good advice is. I find people like to go for social proof. They want to only listen to someone who’s done it before. But the reality is that your experiences could be completely different from those who’ve done it, and controversially, someone who did what you are doing now 10 years ago might be completely out of touch with what it might take to succeed now. 

I like to share a lot and give honest assessments of things. Layers has grown amazingly quickly, and we’ve been fortunate to work with amazing clients, but our personal situations have allowed us to take some risks that others might not have been able to. It doesn’t take away from it, but you can’t judge yourself against others.

3. You’ll question yourself - a lot!

Good ole imposter syndrome, need I say anymore?

That moment when you send an invoice and wonder if it’s too high. Or when you post something online and worry that it looks unprofessional.

Every business owner feels it. Even the ones who look like they’ve got it all figured out.

Some advice, I should definitely take, but I don’t - focus on progress, not perfection.

4. Working on the business will always be interrupted by working in it in the early days.

It’s easy to get lost chasing every opportunity or juggling every app in your tech stack.

Strip it back. Focus on what’s actually driving results - the clients, products, or services that pay the bills, and feel aligned with your direction.

I try to ask myself regularly if I were starting again, would I keep X service, would I offer Y?

Cutting clutter - financial or mental - is one of the kindest things you can do for your future self. I have come to realise that having everything mapped out in the business isn’t going to happen overnight, and we will get there one day.

5. Don’t be afraid to talk about it!

This one’s not financial, but it’s critical.

Running a business can be isolating, and when times are uncertain, we tend to go quiet. The irony? Most other owners are feeling exactly the same.

Pick up the phone. Talk to your accountant, a friend, or a fellow business owner. Half the time, you’ll end up helping each other - and the other half, you’ll realise you’re not alone.

It’s not about pretending you’re fine - it’s about finding a rhythm that works even when the world doesn’t. That might mean:

• Saying no to work that drains you
• Re-negotiating contracts that no longer make sense
• Building breathing space into your diary

The strongest businesses aren’t the busiest.

Notice how we didn’t talk about a simple tax tip or getting your bookkeeping done?

Because what’s the point of running a business if you don’t enjoy the ride?

Layers Recommends 🌟

💭 Revisit your “why”: Remind yourself what made you start - not the spreadsheet version, the human one, and keep that front and centre!

📱 Digital declutter: Mute the group chats, you don’t have to feel guilty for not replying and being involved all the time.

📚 Book of the month: Look, I’m going to admit - I exclusively listen to audiobooks - buttttt, here’s my suggestion this month - Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares. I started with the EOS system, but in reality, it’s all grounded in traction.

🚗 Enjoy your journey: No one writes books about the view from the top of Everest, it’s all about how you got there.

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