What You Think Is Holding You Back vs. What’s Actually Keeping You from Reaching Your Goals
- Cheri Tracy
- Oct 20, 2024
- 4 min read
Uncovering the Deeper Reasons Behind Why You’re Not Achieving Your Business Goals
As a handmade seller, you’re no stranger to juggling multiple projects, ideas, and tasks all at once. Maybe you’ve felt like you’re not making the progress you want, or worse, you feel stuck. You tell yourself the reasons why—not enough time, too many ideas, lack of focus—but is that really the problem?
The truth is, what you think is keeping you from reaching your goals often isn’t the real issue. Let’s dive deeper and figure out what’s truly holding you back, so you can break through and start making the progress you deserve.
Lately, I’ve been facing some struggles with my new business—coaching—that has really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I thought it might be helpful to share these experiences with fellow handmade sellers, especially because I know how easy it is to feel overwhelmed when you’re growing something new.
As someone who juggles a lot of creative ideas and projects, I’ve found myself falling into a familiar trap: too many things in motion and not enough focus to finish them. Sound familiar? I’ve realized that my real issue isn’t about time management or discipline—it’s something deeper.
Honestly, it comes down to perfectionism and self-doubt. Sometimes, I get stuck because I’m worried that what I’m working on won’t be good enough or that I won’t live up to my own high expectations. And let me tell you, admitting that has been hard.
But I’m learning. I’m learning to let go of the need for perfection and focus on progress instead. I’m reminding myself that done is better than perfect. I’m starting to concentrate on what really matters, rather than getting lost in the details.
I wanted to share this because I know a lot of us struggle with the same things. If you’ve been feeling stuck or uncertain, you’re not alone. Hopefully, by sharing my journey, I can encourage you to push through your own challenges, embrace progress, and remember—it’s okay if it’s not perfect. This is how I break down my current struggles. If I can do it, so can you. You’ve got this.
What You Think Is the Problem:
Not Enough Time You might say, “If I just had more hours in the day, I could get everything done.” Feeling like time is your enemy is a common thought when juggling a handmade business. You believe time management is your problem.
Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Focus You have an incredible number of ideas, but there’s always a new shiny project to chase. You think the reason you’re not finishing anything is simply distraction or a lack of focus.
Perfectionism You want everything you put out to be flawless. You find yourself stuck in a cycle of tweaking and reworking projects, convinced that perfectionism is holding you back.
Overwhelm There are so many tasks on your to-do list that you don’t even know where to start. You feel overwhelmed and believe it’s the main reason you aren’t moving forward.
The Real, Deeper Problem:
The reality is that these surface-level reasons are just the symptoms. What’s truly holding you back often goes much deeper and is rooted in mindset and fear.
Fear of Failure (or Success) You might be afraid of putting yourself out there because what if it doesn’t work out? Or, on the other hand, you might be fearful of success—what if your business grows too fast, and you can’t keep up? This fear often manifests as procrastination or an inability to finish projects.
Unclear Priorities You may not have enough clarity on what truly matters. You’re spreading yourself too thin and focusing on tasks that don’t align with your biggest goals. This keeps you stuck in busywork rather than progress.
Self-Doubt Deep down, you may doubt whether you’re good enough or capable of reaching the level of success you desire. This lack of confidence can cause you to hesitate or sabotage your progress, even if you have all the right tools.
Avoiding Discomfort Taking big steps toward growth often means stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s easier to avoid discomfort by focusing on smaller tasks rather than the hard, impactful ones that drive real progress.
How to Break Through and Reach Your Goals:
Now that we know the deeper issues, here are ways to tackle them head-on and start seeing progress:
Recognize the Fear Acknowledge your fear of failure or success. Ask yourself, what’s the worst that could happen? Often, the answer isn’t nearly as scary as we think. Start by taking small actions that push you out of your comfort zone.
Clarify Your Priorities Get clear on what really matters. What are the top 1-2 goals that, if accomplished, would move your business forward the most? Focus on those. Use time-blocking or batching techniques to prioritize them.
Challenge Your Self-Doubt Whenever you find yourself doubting your abilities, challenge those thoughts. What evidence do you have that you’re not capable? Surround yourself with a supportive community that reminds you of your strengths.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection Remember that done is better than perfect. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s making consistent progress. Each small step you take gets you closer to where you want to be.
Set Clear Deadlines & Get Accountability Deadlines provide structure, and accountability keeps you motivated. Whether it’s through a business coach, mastermind group, or a trusted friend, share your goals and have someone check in on your progress.
Final Thoughts:
What you think is holding you back might just be a surface-level excuse. It’s time to dig deeper and face the real issues—whether it’s fear, self-doubt, or lack of clarity. Once you address these mindset blocks, you’ll find that progress becomes easier, goals become achievable, and success becomes inevitable.
Comments