What I wish more business owners would give themselves credit for

We check our inbox. We check revenue, engagement, and analytics dashboards.

But when was the last time you checked your own progress without adding “but I still need to…” at the end? 👀

This isn’t another “how to do more” blog. This one’s for the quiet achievers; you know, the ones who’ve been holding their businesses together with spreadsheets, heart, and sheer willpower.

When Progress Gets Measured Wrong

After five years in business, I’ve noticed something about some business owners...we need to be much better at identifying growth that doesn't come with a dollar sign or a new client.

We celebrate the launch, the full calendar, the booked-out waitlist.

But the moments that truly define us rarely trend on Instagram.

Like learning to delegate without guilt.

Setting a boundary without writing a 3-paragraph explanation.

Rebuilding after a burnout, a bad hire, or both.

Choosing peace over pace even when hustle culture is still yelling in your ear.

These don’t look dramatic, but they’re the milestones that matter.

They’re the signs of leadership maturity, the kind that doesn’t show up in metrics but quietly changes everything behind the scenes.

The Small Wins That Deserve a Standing Ovation

For therapists or private practice owners:

• You said no to one more client because you finally saw the cost of overbooking.

• You protected your energy so you could serve better, not more.

For service-based CEOs and OBMs:

• You finally let your team handle something you used to triple-check, that’s growth.

• You traded control for clarity, and that’s how real leadership is built.

For lawyers and consultants:

• You stopped working until midnight to prove your worth, that’s balance.

• You realized boundaries don’t make you less dedicated; they make your work sustainable.

For keynote speakers and thought leaders:

• You started saying no to opportunities that didn’t align with your message, that’s discernment.

• You’re not shrinking your reach; you’re sharpening your impact.

And for anyone building a business from scratch:

• You kept showing up even when no one clapped. You stayed.

• That’s resilience and it counts more than any “milestone” you could post about.

And before you start saying “yeah, but-” nope. 👀

Stop right there. Don’t downplay it! You’ve worked too hard not to own it.

A Perspective Shift Worth Holding On To

When you see your own progress clearly, you stop operating from scarcity and start leading from self-trust.

That’s when business starts to feel lighter, not because it’s easier, but because you finally see yourself as capable of handling it.

Before You Plan What’s Next…

Pause. ✋

Before you write your 2026 goals or your next quarterly plan, give yourself credit for making it here → through the pivots, the long days, and the quiet progress no one saw but you.

You’ve already done the hardest part: you grew through the uncertainty.

You built something real, and something that’s finally starting to support you back.

💌 And if this reminded you of another CEO, therapist, or business friend who needs to hear it, send it their way.

Sometimes, the reminder we need most is the one someone else gives us.

If you only take one thing from this post, let it be this - you’re doing better than you think.

Every system refined, every hire improved, every boundary honored → they’re all proof of your growth.

That’s also what I help business owners protect through my Online Business Management services and Scale & Systems Studio — building businesses that feel as good behind the scenes as they look online.

And if you thought of a fellow therapist or business friend who needs this reminder too, send this their way. I always make sure gratitude (and maybe a little surprise) finds its way back to you. 😉