I had a bit of a realisation while I was away last week, my business has officially become my third child.
Now, I know that might sound a bit dramatic, but I’ve come to accept that I just can’t go too long without checking in on how things are going. Much like I do with my two boys, even when I’m away for a day, I still find myself wondering: are they okay? Do they need me?
It’s the same with the business. I’ve nurtured it from the very beginning, poured my heart (and a fair bit of money, time and brainpower) into it. I’ve taught it things, and it’s taught me just as much in return. And just like with actual kids, sometimes you get the joy and the milestones… and sometimes, you get the tantrums.
And the more I thought about it, the more I realised, running a business is a lot like raising kids. It goes through stages, it tests you in different ways at different times, and just when you think you’ve figured it out… it changes again.
So I thought I’d share what those stages have looked like for me, from the newborn days to the full-on toddler tantrums and then starting to let go when they go to school (in business terms, this means outsourcing). Maybe you’ll see how this relates to your business too… and feel reassured that it’s okay if your business feels like your extra child.
The Newborn Phase: When Your Business Needs You Constantly
Oh, the newborn stage. Whether it’s your first baby or your first business, everything feels brand new and a bit overwhelming.
In those early baby days, you barely have a minute to yourself. Well, running a brand-new business feels just like that. You’re learning as you go, googling everything at 2am, whether it’s “how to get the baby to sleep” or “what’s the difference between a domain and hosting?”
Everything is new. Everything feels urgent. And you’re in it 24/7. You might not even be sure what you’re doing half the time, you’re just trying to keep things alive!
It might look like not much is happening on the outside, but behind the scenes, you’re building the foundations. You’re learning how to market yourself, creating offers, testing tools and maybe even building your first website. It’s exhausting, but it’s also exciting.
Then suddenly, there’s a leap, your business does something new. You get your first subscriber, post your first reel, or book your first paying client. Just like a baby clapping for the first time, it gives you that “This is amazing!” feeling that makes all the late nights worth it.
Every day is a rollercoaster. One minute you’re celebrating your first sale or five followers, and the next you’re hitting a tech glitch that has you questioning everything.
But remember you’re doing it all yourself. Some days, you’re just running on caffeine (Diet Coke for me!) and pure love for your business. But just like those newborn days with your baby, it won’t always feel this intense, I promise.
The Teething Stage: Trying Everything, Hoping Something Works
Then comes the teething phase, and this bit can really test you. You’re trying all the things you’ve been told to do. You’re showing up on socials, but engagement is flat. You’ve created a lead magnet, but no one’s signing up. You’re ticking all the boxes, doing everything “right”, but the growth and sales just aren’t coming.
It’s frustrating because you know your business is capable of more. you can see the teeth are there, sitting just under the gums, but they just won’t come through.
Some people breeze through this phase. One day they have no subscribers, the next day they’ve got five signups and a new client. But for others, this part drags. You try everything, and still feel like you’re getting nowhere. You’re up at night tweaking things to see if that will make a difference and ease the pain.
But trust me, the teeth do come. The freebies start converting, the audience begins to grow, and one day, you’ll look back and realise that teething is behind you, just a distant memory.
The Toddler Stage: Loving It One Day, Doubting It the Next
Then you get through the newborn stage, you survive the teething, and you start to find a bit of rhythm. You’re in a bit of a routine. Things feel almost settled.
And then… the terrible twos hit.
Your business is technically up and running, but you never quite know what you’re going to get each day.
Some days it’s full of joy, growth and excitement. You’ve figured out what works, you’re in a rhythm, and loving it. Your socials have some traction, you’ve launched your website, maybe you’re getting sales and new clients, and it feels like, finally, things are starting to move.
But then, out of nowhere meltdown.
Your tech breaks, your latest offer flops, or you spend hours creating a reel that barely gets a view. The service that was working so well just fizzles out. Your energy dips, a platform changes its algorithm or a long-term client suddenly ends things, and you have no idea what caused it.
And just like a toddler tantrum, it might blow over in 30 seconds, or it might throw off your entire week. Sometimes a surprise client swoops in and makes it all better. Other times, you’re left wondering what on earth just happened and if you’re even cut out for this.
It can be exhausting. One minute you’re on a high, the next you’re questioning everything. But this phase is all about testing, refining, and building confidence in your own voice and direction. You’re finding your feet, so your business can start running.
The School Years: Letting Go and Letting Others Help
Eventually, your business grows up a bit. It’s ready to start school or in business terms, it’s time to bring in help.
Maybe you’ve been working up to this, sending your business to “preschool” in the form of a VA doing a few hours a week. They take on the background tasks, a gentle introduction to handing some things over. You’re no longer doing everything, and that feels like a huge milestone.
Your business has grown up a bit. You’ve got the basics down. It’s not clinging to you every second of the day. You can step away for a bit without everything falling apart.
Your business still needs you, of course. You’re still in charge of the big stuff, creating content, working with clients, shaping your offers. And let’s be honest, that’s often the bit you want to do. But now you’ve created enough structure to bring others in, giving you the headspace to grow without doing every tiny thing yourself.
And by now you’ve surrounded yourself with people who just get it, creating your little friendship outside of your immediate family. People who are going through the same thing as you every day. But instead of going to school and meeting classmates, we are joining memberships and communities, hiring mentors, and learning from others who’ve walked the path before. Because, just like with school, your business grows better with good teachers, solid routines, and a bit of support behind the scenes.
This isn’t about handing over your business and taking a back seat. You’re still involved in every part of your business, but you don’t need to oversee every little thing. Then you can focus more on the bits you love and do best.
What Stage Is This Mum Loves Tech In?
Right now, I’m somewhere between the toddler and school phase, which describes both my life and my business.
My youngest is a full-on toddler, unpredictable, energetic, and always two snacks away from a meltdown. My eldest is at school and currently loves telling me everything about his day, but I’m not there to witness it first-hand.
And my business? Some days it feels like nothing gets done or is working. But other days the emails go out on time, a client messages to say something I shared helped them, and it’s like getting a glowing school report and a big gold star.
I’ve started to build a bit of a support team now too. I’ve got a lovely VA who helps keep the membership emails on track and stops my inbox from turning into a disaster zone. I’ve got an accountant, because numbers are not my favourite subject. And I’m part of a couple of memberships because just like our kids need teachers, so do we. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Whether you’re in that sleepless newborn stage or you’re building a bit more independence, remember: you don’t have to do it alone. And if the stage you’re in is hard, just remember it is a phase, and you’ll be moving onto the next one soon.
Need a quick win to help you through the next phase?
Sometimes the stage of business (and life) we’re in means we simply don’t have time for an hour-long tutorial.
That’s exactly why I created my Two-Minute Tech Tips.
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