You’re NOT Doing It Wrong—You Just Haven’t Done It Long Enough.

Starting and running a small business is filled with moments of doubt. You might look at your social media engagement, sales numbers, or website traffic and think, Why isn’t this working? It’s easy to assume you’re doing something wrong when you’re not seeing immediate results. People post in forums constantly things like “I’ve set up my website but I’m not seeing sales what am I doing wrong”- then you find out their website has been up 2 weeks. More and more people seem to be expecting results quicker. They feel like they are doing something wrong.

You’re not doing it wrong. You just haven’t done it long enough. (and or you could be doing some things better)

The Illusion of Overnight Success

It’s tempting to believe that successful businesses got everything right from day one. Social media, especially, makes it seem like some people just “figure it out” instantly. What you don’t see are the years of trial and error, the pivots, the learning curves, and the moments of frustration that came before the success.

Every skill—whether it’s marketing, sales, branding, or even running the day-to-day of a business—requires repetition and refinement. You wouldn’t expect to master a new language in a month, so why expect business success to come instantly?

Consistency is the Missing Piece

Most small business owners don’t fail because they have a bad idea or lack talent—they stop too soon. They post on Instagram for a few months and give up when engagement is low. It’s easy to be consistent when the engagement is high- but you need to do it when engagement is non existent as well. They launch a product, but after a slow first month, they assume no one wants it. They start networking but feel discouraged when it doesn’t immediately lead to clients.

Success isn’t about being perfect; it’s about showing up, adjusting, and keeping at it.

The “Invisible Growth” Phase

In the early days, it often feels like nothing is happening. You’re putting in the effort, but you’re not seeing much in return. This is the hardest phase because it’s where most people quit.

But during this phase:

• People are noticing you, even if they’re not engaging yet.
• Your skills are improving, even if you don’t realise it.
• Your brand is becoming more recognisable, even if sales are slow.

Growth is happening—you just can’t always see it instantly!!

What to Do Instead of Giving Up

If you’re feeling stuck, try this.

Shift your timeline. Instead of expecting results in three months, commit to showing up for a year. Most people quit before they even give themselves a real chance. (Also read this if you are thinking about closing your business).

Focus on small wins. Did one new person engage with your content? Did you learn something new about your audience? Every step forward counts.

Refine as you go. Just because something isn’t working yet doesn’t mean it won’t work. Keep tweaking, learning, and adjusting.

Look at the long game. The people who “figure it out” are the ones who stuck around long enough to do so.

Keep Going

The difference between a struggling business and a successful one isn’t some secret strategy—it’s time.

So, if you’re wondering whether you’re doing it wrong, ask yourself instead Have I done it long enough?

The answer might not be to change what you’re doing. The answer might be to keep going. If you need help contact us.