I get it, but don’t at the same time. People are being inundated with the media glamorization of entrepreneurship, making it easy to believe that success can be achieved simply by the snap of your fingers. Or if you desire it enough, it will happen for you.
What’s not being shared frequently enough is entrepreneurial success isn't a highlight reel. It’s not a rapid ascent to wealth after launching a website or announcing your business on social media. It’s a journey of growth, repetition, and refinement; more like a slow-cooked meal, not a microwave dinner. And if there’s one thing I’ve been reminding new and seasoned entrepreneurs alike lately, it’s this:
Give yourself time to cook.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had conversations with several partners who’ve expressed frustration. They’re showing up. They’re doing the work. They’re tracking key performance indicators, scheduling calls, hosting Zooms, making presentations, and asking for referrals. And yet, the results feel out of reach.
Here’s what I’ve shared with them.
Activity May Not Be the Problem. Time and Stacks Are
If you're doing the activity - getting in front of people, inviting prospects, attending trainings - then you’re on the right path. The frustration usually comes from an unrealistic expectation: that effort today should yield immediate, massive success tomorrow.
But success, particularly in business, compounds over time. It’s not just about what you’re doing this week. It’s about what you’ve done consistently for months and years before. It’s about the competencies, relationship capital, credibility, and reputation you’ve built brick by brick, or what I call your stacks.
These stacks include:
Skill Stacks – communication, persuasion, follow-up
Leadership Stacks – mentoring, managing, coaching
Experience Stacks – handling objections, navigating setbacks
Knowledge Stacks – understanding your value prop, your market, and your customer
Consider this. If you’re six months into your entrepreneurial journey, it’s tantamount to being a 6 month old as an entrepreneur. You’re still in your infancy.
The 20-Year Overnight Success
People see my results, or those who are far more successful than I am, and assume it’s magic. But I’ve been in the entrepreneurial game for over 20 years across multiple industries. When I reach out to someone and they make an affirmative buying decision in less than 24 to 48 hours, it's not because I’m lucky. It’s because I’ve been planting seeds, showing up, and serving for years.
Case in point: a woman recently attended one of our luncheons. She told me she’s been following my social media posts and has been subscribed to one of my newsletters for almost eight years. Scheduling a follow-up lunch wasn’t hard. Why? Because I’m a known commodity. I’ve earned her attention and trust over time.
You can’t microwave that kind of credibility. You have to cook it.
Resist the Urge to Compare
Comparison is a thief. Comparing your six-month business to someone’s 6-year journey is unfair to you. You don’t rise to your level of passion or desire; you rise to your level of training, discipline, and consistency.
You also can’t skip steps. Many entrepreneurs chase shortcuts, avoid coaching, or try to reinvent what already works. And that’s a mistake. High-functioning organizations provide scripts, mentorship, Zoom trainings, live events, and everything in between, not to control you, but to accelerate your learning curve.
Being Lazy In Language Will Cost You
Another lesson I keep repeating: don’t be lazy in language.
There’s a science to communication. If you’re inviting a business owner to attend a meeting, view marketing artifacts, or commit time to any endeavor, dictating terms or blurting out a date and time when you need something accomplished is typically not a good strategy.
Understanding the psychology of your potential clients is paramount. A great way to secure a business owner's time or attention, and communicate that you respect their time and agency is to offer choices.
Use language that reflects professionalism and emotional intelligence: “Would Wednesday at 1 PM or Thursday at 6 PM work better for you?”
This small shift gives them ownership (a sense of control) and helps you close more appointments.
Model What Works
This is a BIG one. If someone’s making six or seven figures in your industry, study them. Don’t just listen to what they say, but watch how they move. Observe their tone, their language, and their posture. Success leaves clues, and when I see someone winning, I adopt their methods.
My own pitch is an evolution of mentors and high performers, coupled with my own lived experiences. Their voices are in my stack because I’ve studied and internalized what works.
Don’t Skip the Reps Or the Losses
Even the most skilled among us lose. I’ve done presentations where everyone said no. And others where everyone said yes. Sometimes you connect, sometimes you don’t.
But here’s the deal: volume beats perfection. If you’re making 10 exposures a week, you’ll grow slower than someone doing 30, regardless of talent. A higher volume of activity can compensate for a lack of skill in the early stages.
It's like swimming or shooting free throws. The more you do it, the better you get. And with mentorship, coaching, and repetition, you start closing the gap.
Don’t Fly Solo, If You Don’t Have To
If you're still learning how to present, use three-way calls and third-party tools. Partner with experienced teammates. Listen to how objections are handled. Watch and listen to how the successful navigate rejection. These calls are your classroom.
Some of you are losing because you’re trying (choosing) to win in isolation. Building in the absence of the presence of support is one thing. Sometimes, you have to do what you have to do. However, if you do have resources available to you, that’s unnecessary and inefficient.
Final Thought: You Don’t Need to Get 100% Better Overnight
You just need to get 1% better today. And then do it again tomorrow. Compounded over time, that’s a 365% improvement in a year. Or commit to getting 1% better a week. That’s real, sustainable growth. Imagine being a better parent by 52%. A better speaker. A better leader, delegator, money manager, or planner.
So, give yourself time to develop your stacks. Lean on leadership. Lean on mentorship. Study the exampleship. And remember this:
Entrepreneurship is a process. And a meal worth savoring takes time to cook.
I celebrate your growth in advance.
Until next time—
Keep showing up. Keep stacking. Keep cooking.
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