Beyond the hustle: When passion isn’t enough – beyond year 2
Written by sheroarsinbusiness.com
You started your side hustle with a whole lot of heart, a large splash of improv. Maybe it grew from your kitchen table, an Instagram post that got more attention than expected, or was it late nights filling orders while juggling a day job? Whatever your origin story, one thing’s clear: you’ve got what the people want.
But at some point, maybe 2/3 years in, things seem a little like wading through treacle. You’re no longer wondering if you can make this work, but how to keep going and actually grow without burning out.
Sound familiar?
Welcome to the “grow” phase, where DIY gives way to direction, and vision becomes strategy.
When you are running on fumes — Now What?
In the early stages, enthusiasm does a lot of heavy lifting. You’re saying yes to everything, chasing every opportunity, posting in every online group. But growth — real, sustainable growth — requires more than late-night Google searches and caffeine. It needs systems, strategy, and space to breathe.
This is the point where many founders find themselves stuck in a loop: enough income to just about stay afloat, not enough clarity to scale.
Groups most impacted by this precarious situation are those juggling multiple roles outside the business and those without a network of like-minded business owners or mentors to speak with.
Women and LGBTQIA+ business owners are often more heavily represented in these categories.
Growing pains? You’re ready!
Here’s a radical thought: feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you’ve outgrown where you were.
- You’re not a beginner anymore, but you don’t feel like an “established” business either.
- You know your offer works, but your marketing feels inconsistent or ad hoc.
- You’re getting referrals, but you’re not sure how to turn that into predictable revenue.
- You’re wearing every hat and wondering which ones are actually worth your time.
If that sounds familiar, then congratulations: you’re officially in the growth phase. And this stage is where a good strategy changes everything.
You don’t have to do everything alone.
This is the part where many founders realise: just because I can do everything doesn’t mean I should.
Whether it’s clarifying your offer, identifying your ideal clients, pricing with purpose, or developing a marketing plan, you can actually stick to. Growth isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing the right things with intention.
And sometimes, that means getting outside help. (No shame. No corporate speak. Just grounded, practical support from people who get it and get you.)
So… what does growth look like?
That’s the real question. It is different for every business and everyone. For some, it’s about doubling revenue. For others, it’s taking weekends off without guilt or finally outsourcing that task you secretly dread. There’s no single formula, only what’s right for your version of success.
If you’re nodding along and thinking “yes, that’s exactly where I’m at,” stay tuned, our next post will unpack what strategic growth looks like in practice and how to shape your marketing and business plans around what matters most to you.
Or if you’re ready to dig into it now, we’d love to help. Let’s talk.
Ready to embrace your growth?
We work with women and LGBTQIA+ led businesses ready to move from surviving to scaling. If you’re in year 2 or 3 of trading and know your business can succeed, but you’re not sure how to take it further, we’re here for the next chapter.
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Beyond the hustle: What strategic growth looks like and how to make it work for you
So we have established, you have a business with customers, great! And yet… it still feels messy.
You’re busy but not always productive. Marketing gets squeezed out of your week. You want growth, but you’re not sure what kind or how to get there without burning everything down.
This isn’t failure. This is the growth phase. It’s where things get exciting.
