“Bad economy. Bad equipment. Bad employees. Bad customers.”
That’s what I hear from almost every owner I talk to.
We’re quick to blame everything and everyone else when things go sideways.
Way too slow to look in the mirror.
But here’s the truth: as the owner, you’re responsible for everything.
The people. The pricing. The systems.
Every outcome in your business traces back to a decision you made—or didn’t.
No one else is coming to fix it.
It’s all on you.
Like Homer Simpson once said:
“Trying is the first step toward failure.”
But let’s be real. Trying is also the first step toward learning, growing, and succeeding.
Failure isn’t something to fear. It’s part of the job.
Whether it’s an underperforming employee, an unprofitable customer, or a month where the numbers don’t add up—face it head-on.
Have the hard conversation.
Retrain or replace.
Adjust pricing.
Let go of the bad accounts.
Do what needs to be done. Even when it sucks.
There’s no one-size-fits-all playbook.
Every business is different. Every market throws its curveballs.
What matters is staying optimistic, realistic, and relentlessly improving.
One decision. One adjustment. One small step at a time.
Roll up your sleeves.
Get busy.
Get dirty.
Fix what’s broken.
And if the current path isn’t working? Fix it.
If that doesn’t work, take what did work, burn the rest, and build it back better.
Sure, it might hurt.
But that’s the price of ownership.
It’s not failure.
It’s ownership.
Accountability.
Adaptability.
Forward motion.
That’s how real progress gets made.
That’s what it means to lead.
That’s the real job.
What’s the hardest call you’ve had to make lately?
What lesson did it leave behind?
Share the painful lessons.
Share the small wins.
Hell, share the epic screw-ups if you’re up for it.
I’d love to hear what you’ve been fighting through—drop a message.