Beyond the hustle: What strategic growth looks like and how to make it work for you
Written by sheroarsinbusiness.com
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.
Strategy isn’t a buzzword.
There’s a myth that strategy is only for big brands or boardrooms — spreadsheets, jargon, and 12-month Gantt charts. Not true. It’s just a map.
At its simplest, strategy just means knowing where you’re going and how you’re getting there. It’s a tool to help you make decisions with more clarity and less second-guessing.
Without it, you’re reacting to the week. With it, you’re designing your path.
What does growth mean to you?
Let’s ditch the cookie-cutter goals like being more profitable; every company wants that. What if scaling didn’t mean more pressure, but more alignment?
Growth could be:
- Charging properly for your time (and taking actual days off )
- Building a waitlist instead of chasing work
- Launching a new product or service that aligns with your values
- Reclaiming time by streamlining the admin vortex
Not all growth is about revenue. Sometimes, it’s about making your business more you.
Get clear!
Before we talk tactics, let’s get rooted in the essentials: Offer → Audience → Message.
- Your offer — What do you want to sell? And does it match where you want to go?
- Your audience — Who are your best-fit clients? Where are they? What do they need most right now?
- Your message — What’s the transformation you’re really offering (not just the service title)?
When these three things are aligned, sales and marketing becomes far easier, a lot less shouty and therefore uncomfortable.
➡️ Mini prompt: What would your business need to feel calmer, stronger, or more sustainable in 6 months?
Marketing plans don’t need to be fancy, just sustainable
You don’t need to be on every platform or dancing on TikTok if that isn’t your thing. Your marketing needs to reach your ideal client where they are. While heavily reliant on social media marketing, consider what other marketing channels may suit your audience.
Instead: Pick 1–2 platforms/channels you actually like. Share 1 core message. Guide people to 1 clear next step.
Keep it simple, doable, and consistent. Your plan should work with your energy, not drain it.
Growth doesn’t have to mean going it alone.
Let’s be real: doing everything yourself is exhausting. Strategy, marketing, pricing, logistics, accounting… It’s a lot.
Every successful founder chooses to get support at some point, not because they can’t figure it out, but because they know their time is better spent leading than firefighting. Those that don’t, usually fail.
Sometimes that support looks like hiring a VA. Sometimes it’s working with people (like us) who can see the bigger picture and help shape it with you.
Growth that’s yours
You don’t have to scale fast. You don’t have to build a team. You don’t need a funnel with 12 steps and 3 webinars.
You just need a business that works for your life.
So let’s start there. Where do you want to go? And what do you need, practically, strategically and emotionally, to get there?
We’d love to help you map that out.
Ready to map it out?
We work with women and LGBTQIA+ led businesses ready to move from surviving to scaling.
If you’re ready to grow, but you’re unsure how, we’re here for you.
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