Earlier this week, I had a call with a small business owner — someone sharp, experienced, and clearly committed to growing their business.
But midway through the chat, they said something I’ve heard many times before:
“Yeah, I’ve tried that before. Didn’t work.”
“To be honest, I already know most of this stuff.”
And just like that, the brakes went on.
I shared this moment with my Growth Accelerator coaching clients during our call this morning — and it was a quiet reminder of just how powerful our thoughts really are.
The words we say to ourselves — even the throwaway lines — often shape how we show up, what we try (or don’t), and whether we stay stuck or move forward in business.
The Danger of “I Already Know This”
As business owners, we spend a lot of time chasing the next idea, the next client, the next breakthrough.
But the truth is, most of what moves the needle isn’t new — it’s stuff we already know but aren’t doing.
Following up.
Booking that call.
Sending the invoice.
Building the system.
It’s the “dumb and boring” stuff — the unsexy fundamentals — that make the biggest difference.
But our brains love shortcuts. And one of the easiest shortcuts is convincing ourselves that we’ve tried it all.
So instead of fixing the follow-up…
- We tweak the logo.
- Or launch another campaign.
- Or just stay busy and burnt out.
Self-Talk Is Strategy
Here’s something I’ve learned (the hard way):The words we say to ourselves matter more than the strategy we’re trying to follow.
If your inner voice is saying “this won’t work,”then even the best CRM, campaign, or coach won’t change your results.
But if your inner voice says:
- “Let’s test this again.”
- “What would this look like if it did work?”
- “What’s the simplest next step I can take?”
…then you’ll stay in motion. And momentum creates results.
Catch the Thought. Change the Outcome.
It’s easy to notice limiting beliefs in others. Harder to catch them in ourselves.
That’s why I still do daily check-ins.
If I find myself saying:
“I’ve already done this before,”…I now ask:
“Have I done it properly, consistently, and recently?”
That one question has saved me from throwing away strategies that actually work — I just hadn’t stuck with them long enough to see it.
Real Growth Is Repetition
If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed right now, take this as a nudge.
Maybe the answer isn’t something new.
Maybe it’s doing the basics again — consistently, with better self-talk, and without the old baggage of “I’ve tried that before.”
Because let’s be honest:
Most business problems aren’t strategy problems. They’re consistency problems.
And consistency starts with mindset.
What’s one thought you’ve had recently that might be holding you back?