The day I launched my first official business, M & E Painting, in March 2005, marked a turning point in my life. Having just been fired from a mortgage banking job, I stood in a parking lot with a banker’s box filled with my belongings. Although fear and anger initially overwhelmed me, these feelings soon transformed into excitement and determination. That day, I made the life-changing decision to fully commit to entrepreneurship, a choice I have never regretted.

Do you remember the first days of starting your business? Those days turn into weeks, months, and then years. They are filled with a mixture of emotions such as fear and doubt, and optimism and positivity. I was excited to be on my own, to make my own decisions, create my own path, and grow my business on my terms. When you started your company, if you were anything like me, you were just happy not to be working for a jerk of a boss at a job you hated!

However, there was one little thing I did not know when I started my business that I wish I knew then. There are different levels and stages to business, and with each one comes new challenges and things you must focus on as an entrepreneur. There will also be things that will try to prevent you from advancing to the next level.

Businesses progress through three distinct levels: GROW, SCALE, and BUILD. This discussion focuses on the GROW stage, the starting point for every small business owner.

GROW stands for Grind, Repeat, Operate, Work. During this stage, business owners often find themselves immersed in every aspect of their operations, working harder than ever before. Growth is centered on the owner, requiring long hours and a focus on improving key areas like marketing, sales, delivery, and collections. At this point, you’re not just the business leader—you’re also its marketer, salesperson, accountant, and operations manager, juggling multiple roles simultaneously.

While all entrepreneurs begin at the GROW stage, many remain stuck, feeling as though there’s no way out. This phase often feels like an endless cycle of work, grinding through long hours, and hustling relentlessly, leaving little room for rest or personal time.

There is a massive problem at this stage, and here is a question to ask yourself to discover if you find yourself stuck here. Can your business run without you?

The obvious answer is, NO! Imagine stepping away from your phone for a few hours, maybe even a few days. What would happen? How fast would the wheels fall off? The double-edged sword of this stage is that due to the fact that you are working so hard with such long hours, you may have lower expenses. “I mean, why hire somebody when I can do it myself,” you say. You may be very profitable here, but the issue is you have no time freedom to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You may be missing breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the family, and may be letting precious moments with your family slip by as you spend time away from them.

So many entrepreneurs get stuck here, and feel there is no way out. They are so inundated with all the tasks they have put on themselves to work in the business, that they have no way to work on the business. They are moving too fast and are too busy to step out of their own way, ask for help, and recruit and develop a team.

The GROW stage can often leave business owners feeling trapped by the very venture they started to achieve independence and freedom.

Are you stuck here? If so, here are a few questions to ask yourself. Once you answer these questions, we can start getting to work to get you to the next level.

• How many hours are you working? What are you doing? Take out your calendar and detail out every 30 minutes of your day. Categorize your tasks into 5 categories. Marketing.  Sales. Delivery. Collection. Administrative. 
• What are you most skilled at and most passionate about out of the above things? What is your zone of passion and genius when it comes to business? If you could do only one thing in the business, what would it be?
• What do you hate most in the business? What do you stink at? What totally kills your passion and excitement in your business, even though the business requires it?
• What is your income per hour? Take your total monthly or annual profit divided by the hours worked over that time.
• Now that you have your income per hour determined, look at your calendar. How many of the tasks that you are completing are below your pay grade and can be delegated? On top of that, how many of those items are not within your zone of passion and genius? These are the things you need to delegate immediately.
• Are you a solopreneur, doing everything by yourself? Do you have team members?
• If you have team members, do they have a clearly defined role, job description, KPIs (key performance indicator) and most importantly autonomy to complete their job?
• Are you a control freak or a micromanager?

Reflect on where you currently stand in your business. If the GROW stage feels overwhelming, recognize that this phase is common and manageable with the right steps.

Every business owner begins in the GROW phase, and there is significant value in this stage. It offers an opportunity to identify your strengths and determine what your business needs to thrive. Working through this phase builds resilience, preparing you to tackle future challenges with greater confidence and efficiency.

Next week, we’ll explore the SCALE stage—its significance, the steps to reach it, and why it poses challenges for many entrepreneurs.

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