You can read the latest post below, or check it out on my website here: https://secondstagegrowth.com/growing-small-business-solving-puzzle-with-no-picture/

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After 20 years of helping small businesses grow, I've learned that every entrepreneur starts with the same hope: there must be a roadmap somewhere. A clear step-by-step process that, if followed, guarantees success. But here's what I've discovered working with hundreds of business owners...

The Illusion of the Formula

As business owners, we crave clarity. A formula. A roadmap.

Something like: X + Y + Z = Success.

That’s how my math major mind likes to think about growth - when you have the right inputs, and in the right order, the outcome follows. Simple, right?

That’s how I used to approach parenting as well. If I say or do this particular thing, then my child will react in this particular way. I am guessing that any of you who have children are now laughing hysterically at my naïve notion that I could actually have some semblance of control over my life or theirs, regardless of the age of said kids. I learned that lesson pretty fast!

The same lesson holds true for a business. We like the idea of some kind of formula or framework, but it doesn’t exactly work according to plan most of the time.

Structure Helps—But It’s Not Everything

Books like Fix This Next by Mike Michalowicz offer helpful frameworks. He lays out a business hierarchy, kind of like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, but for companies, to guide you in fixing what matters most for your business first.

The base of the Fix This Next pyramid is Sales - if you don’t have sales revenue, then that should be your number one priority. Following that is Profit – a focus on profit margin, cash reserves, lowering debt, etc. And then Order - as you grow, you need to create some structure and processes, followed by Impact and finally Legacy. So you determine which need is the lowest in the pyramid and address that need first. And then work your way up the pyramid as you grow your business.

Who doesn’t love a good pyramid or flow chart to help you gain some sense of control over the chaos that is growing a small business? And honestly, this concept can be super helpful. Similarly, the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) from Geno Wickman’s book Tractionalso provides a nice structure to help manage a growing business.

But here’s the thing…

Reality Is Messier Than Any Framework

In real life, growing and scaling a business isn’t linear. It’s not a clear-cut formula. It’s more like trying to put together a 1,000-piece puzzle - without the picture on the box. And, to make it trickier, some of the pieces don’t seem to fit, and others may be missing altogether.

We rarely have complete information. We can’t always see the full path ahead. And we can’t always control the factors that impact our business (tariffs anyone?) And unlike a math formula or a fun geometry proof, we aren’t solving a solvable problem. And this isn’t just theory or homework, it’s our reality. The success of your business, the jobs for your employees, your own personal success, are all dependent on you constantly working to put this unknown puzzle together.

So how do you move forward when none of the pieces seem to fit?

The Power of Peer Perspective

One of the most effective tools I’ve seen is this: don’t go it alone.

The puzzle pieces you're missing aren't always about strategy or marketing. Sometimes the missing piece is confidence in your decision-making. Sometimes it's perspective from someone who's solved a similar puzzle. I've watched business owners struggle for months with a challenge, only to solve it in 20 minutes after talking with another business owner who faced the same thing.

Having a consistent, trusted group of fellow business owners to think with, troubleshoot problems alongside, and offer feedback rooted in experience, can be like spreading all those puzzle pieces out on a big table and working on the solution with a team. Sometimes you can make progress on your own, but why force the pieces together when you can work with someone who has already made progress?

That’s exactly why I created Intentional Growth Circles - facilitated peer groups for second-stage business owners who want smart strategy and real accountability. These are not casual networking groups. They’re confidential, structured conversations led by a business strategist who ensures every session delivers value.

After spending years doing market research for small business owners, I realized that they didn’t always have the bandwidth to apply that new information to their existing challenges. What I discovered is that market research can show you what pieces exist, but it can't tell you how they fit together for YOUR specific puzzle. That requires combining data with intuition, strategy with experience, and sometimes just hearing how someone else approached a similar challenge.

The Time Constraint Challenge

Some puzzle solvers want to work through their own challenges without help, and there’s nothing wrong with that either. But consider some kind of accountability group to make sure you are actually working on solving the puzzle that is your business growth, and not just focusing on two specific pieces that make up your current day-to-day concerns.

How can an accountability group help you? Typically these groups involve some goal setting (shared out loud with others), along with regular check-ins, progress reports, and updates. If you tell someone you’re going to work on that hard thing, then you are more compelled to actually work on it if you have to report back to them.

Programs like this are built for business owners like you - practical, busy, committed to long-term growth but tired of navigating it solo. This is why I created Your ROI Club - for online accountability from your peers, supplemented with some ongoing time management tips.

You Don’t Have to Build Alone

Accountability and peer support can be the greatest gift you give yourself and your business. It can be such a relief to realize that other business owners share your struggles, and to learn from them rather than all of us having to go through the same challenges. Take advantage of the structure of a group of your peers meeting intentionally and consistently to re-focus your energy on growth and strategy, rather than just making through each day (aka the RISE over the RUN!). And maybe you’ll discover that the puzzle pieces come together just a bit easier than they did before.

What's the most challenging 'puzzle piece' you're trying to fit right now? I'd love to hear about it - sometimes just articulating the challenge helps clarify the solution.

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Want to make a difference with your puzzle?

If you're feeling like you're constantly guessing - or just craving structure and support without adding hours to your week - there’s a better way forward.

👉 Learn more about Intentional Growth Circles: https://secondstagegrowth.com/peer-groups/
👉 Explore Your ROI Club: https://secondstagegrowth.com/your-roi-club/

Let’s stop pretending the puzzle should be easy - and start putting the pieces together, together.