This week on our Done-With-You Growth Accelerator call, we did something every business owner should make time for — but most don’t.
We stopped.
Looked back 12 months.
And asked three key questions:
What were your biggest business wins?
What was your biggest personal win?
And what’s the “DUMB tax” you paid — the mistake you won’t repeat?
It wasn’t about wallowing.
It was about learning. Owning. Resetting.
And it sparked one of the best group conversations we’ve had all year.
The Wins Were Huge (and Often Hidden)
From solo operators to growing teams, the progress over the past 12 months was clear:
✅ Record revenue years
✅ First proper pay rises and super contributions
✅ Real team growth and smarter delegation
✅ Launching side ventures and new service lines
✅ Personal wins like holidays, health habits, and just feeling human again
And for many, the biggest shift wasn’t external.It was confidence — knowing what’s working and having a repeatable system behind it.
But Let’s Talk About the Dumb Tax…
Because every win comes with a few facepalms.And we had plenty.
Here’s what came up:
Hiring fast, firing faster — without onboarding systems in place
Wasting money on ads without retargeting or tracking
Staying too long in “hope mode” when a provider clearly wasn’t delivering
Making marketing harder than it needed to be
Not acting sooner on things they knew were broken
That’s the “DUMB tax” — the cost of avoidable lessons.
The good news? Everyone on the call paid it… and moved forward anyway.
For the Business Owner Doing It Alone
Running a small business can feel like you’re stuck in the middle seat on a long-haul flight — cramped, restless, and constantly adjusting just to stay afloat. You’re the one clients call. The one who sends the invoices. The one who jumps in when staff drop the ball. And most days, it feels like you’re doing all of this without a co-pilot.
If you’re reading this and thinking “that’s me” — know this:
You’re not lazy.You’re not falling behind.You’re just trying to build a business with too much on your plate and no real support.
Most of the small business owners we work with aren’t short on effort — they’re short on systems, strategy, and someone in their corner.
Here’s what the past 12 months taught our clients (and reminded me too):
You don’t need to do it alone — community matters
Systems don’t have to be complex — just consistent
Progress isn’t about perfect plans — it’s about daily wins
Support beats struggle — every time
What Could Change If You Had the Right Support?
When you're stuck in the weeds, it’s hard to even imagine what “better” looks like. But the moment you pause long enough to step back — and get a fresh pair of eyes on your business — everything shifts. You start seeing options. You start seeing leverage. And most importantly, you realise you don’t have to wear every hat forever.
Imagine having a place to:
Share a win (without feeling like you’re bragging)
Talk through a problem (and get real advice, not fluff)
Build a plan and stick to it — with accountability
Stop spinning your wheels and start seeing real momentum
The right coaching community doesn’t drown you in ideas — it gives you structure, direction, and space to breathe. It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about helping you see what matters, what can wait, and what can be automated or delegated entirely. Because the real shift comes when you stop working harder… and start working smarter — with people in your corner who’ve been there too.
If You’re Ready to Stop Guessing…
Then maybe it’s time we had a quick chat.
No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a real conversation about where you’re at — and whether this kind of support would make a difference.
👉 Grab a free planning call here
Let’s make sure the next 12 months aren’t just busy — but meaningful, focused, and growth-driven.
John Bellamy
Chat To Clients