Are You Behind, Or Are You Leveling Up?

Contributed by SBOC Member:

Pat Miller

Founder of the Small Business Owners Community

This content was first released in the new Small Business Summary Newsletter. Subscribe below to get insights like this straight to your inbox!

If you're struggling—if you feel behind—I want to share a shift in perspective that might help.

Because you know what? I’ve made this shift myself, and it’s making a difference.

Like many of you, I’ve had moments where I felt completely overwhelmed.

When those moments hit, I now ask myself:

Is it me, or is it my situation?

Now, let’s be honest—if you’re not putting in the work, if you’re not handling your responsibilities, then yes, it’s you. If you’re spending too much time scrolling Instagram instead of executing on your business, then of course you’ll fall behind.

But if your head is down, you’re grinding, you’re showing up every day—and you still feel behind? Maybe it’s not you.

Maybe it’s your situation.

A Different Way to See It

Here’s what hit me today. As I sat down, overwhelmed, knowing my weekly email needed to go out in 90 minutes—and it wasn’t written—I had that sinking feeling of being behind.

But then I stopped and asked, Why are you behind?

Well…

I just launched an event with Seth Godin that took two weeks to put together.
I’m about to release Small Business GPT, my own AI tool for small business owners.
Members from my community are flying in from Australia to be part of an event in town.

I’m not behind because I’m failing. I’m behind because I’m growing.

What if you’re not falling behind—what if you’re simply leveling up?

You’re Not Behind—You’re Just at a New Level

As I sat here, thinking, Why can’t I get everything done? I realized:

It’s not that I can’t get it all done. It’s that I’m tackling bigger, better, new challenges.

So let me ask you: When you feel behind, is it because your behaviors are off track? Or are you simply being challenged by new opportunities?

It’s a different way to think about it. And even if it’s just a mindset shift, it’s the one I’m choosing.

Because yes, I feel behind—but maybe that’s just part of leveling up.

Think about that next time you feel overwhelmed: Are you behind, or have you just stepped onto a bigger playing field?

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Contributed by

Pat Miller

Founder of the Small Business Owners Community

Pat spent two decades in broadcasting management and hosting. After leaving the radio industry, he spent time consulting small businesses and realized the support system for entrepreneurs was broken. Where could you find help for improving small businesses and building real connections with other like-minded people. In June of 2020, the Idea Collective Small Business Community was born.