Are You Actually Behind in Business? 6 Signs You’re Winning (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)

If you’re a small business owner, I already know one thing about you: You’re probably way too hard on yourself.

🚫 You tell yourself you should be further ahead.
🚫  You see other entrepreneurs hitting big milestones and think, Why is it happening for them but not for me?
 🚫  You keep pushing forward, but you never feel like it’s enough.

But here’s the truth: You’re likely winning in ways you’re not even recognizing.

After working with dozens of small business owners, I’ve noticed a pattern—most of them don’t give themselves credit until they’ve hit some massive milestone. But some of the biggest business wins aren’t about money, a big team, or some perfect work-life balance.

👉 The real wins are the small shifts that make your business more sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable.

And I bet you’ve had more of them than you think.

Here are 6 signs you’re already winning in business (even if it doesn’t feel like it).

1. You’re Making Moves That Terrified You a Year Ago

Think back a year.

What felt huge back then?

📌 Raising your prices?
📌 Hiring your first team member?
📌 Saying no to a bad-fit client?
📌 Delegating something you thought only you could do?

Guess what? You did it.

But instead of acknowledging how far you’ve come, you’re already worrying about the next milestone.

Pause for a second. Look back at what once felt impossible—because that is proof you’re winning.

2. You’re Saying No to the Wrong Things (Instead of Just Saying Yes to Everything)

Early in business, it’s all about saying yes to every opportunity.

But real growth? That happens when you start saying NO.

❌ No to undercharging for work that drains you.
❌ No to clients who don’t respect your boundaries.
❌ No to business ideas that don’t align with your long-term goals.

The ability to say NO is a massive win.

It means you’re in control—not just taking whatever comes your way.

(And spoiler: The businesses that grow the fastest? They’re the ones that get REALLY good at saying no to the wrong things.)

3. Your Business Doesn’t Fall Apart Without You (Even Just for a Day)

🚨 Here’s a big one: If you can step away at all without everything catching fire, you’ve built something sustainable.

✅ You took a weekend off without stressing.
✅ You delegated something that used to be only your responsibility.
✅ You have systems in place so things run without you checking every detail.

Even if your business still feels a little chaotic, this is a sign you’re on the right track.

Most business owners never get here because they refuse to let go. If you’re moving toward a business that can run without you? You’re already winning.

This doesn’t mean you’ve completely stepped away from the business—it just means you’re building something sustainable.

One of my coaching clients used to check her emails every 30 minutes while on vacation, convinced that if she didn’t, her business would fall apart. Now? She has systems in place, a well-trained team, and automations that handle things for her.

She recently told me:
👉 “I just took a full weekend off for the first time in years, and I didn’t get a single ‘urgent’ call or email. That NEVER would have happened before.”

That’s a win!!

 4. You’re Not Operating in Constant Chaos Anymore

Think back to when everything felt like an emergency.

📌 Clients needed you right now.
📌 Your inbox was overflowing.
📌 You were working until midnight just to keep up.

And now? You might not be perfectly organized, but…
💡 You’re not putting out fires every day.
💡 You’ve created systems (even if they’re not perfect yet).
💡 You’re getting better at prioritizing what actually matters.

That’s not small. That’s business maturity.

(And guess what? That business owner you follow on Instagram? They’re probably still running around in chaos behind the scenes.)

5. You’re Running a Business That Supports Your Life (Not the Other Way Around)

At some point, business owners realize that the goal was never to just "grow" for the sake of it.

The real goal? Freedom.

✅ Having time for your family (without guilt)
✅ Not feeling attached to your phone 24/7
✅ Actually liking your work instead of feeling trapped in it

If your business is starting to give you even a little bit of that freedom—you’ve already won.

And yet… I know what you’re thinking.

“Yeah, but… I’m still not where I want to be.”

🔥 Want to create more time in your business? Grab my free [5-Day Time Freedom Challenge]

6. Stop Moving the Goal Post.

If you’re constantly thinking, I should be further ahead by now…

Ask yourself this:

❓ Where was I a year ago?
❓ What used to feel impossible that now feels normal?
❓ What have I built that past me would have killed to have?

Comparison will steal your confidence every time.

Social media makes it so easy to believe that everyone else is doing better, growing faster, and hitting bigger milestones. But the truth?

🚨 You’re only seeing the curated version of their success. 🚨

What you don’t see?
❌ The months (or years) of struggle before their breakthrough.
❌ The launches that flopped before the one that finally took off.
❌ The burnout, second-guessing, and behind-the-scenes chaos.

So before you stress about where you “should” be—take a second.

🎉 You’re winning in ways you haven’t even acknowledged yet.

How to Start Celebrating Your Own Wins

If you struggle with feeling behind, here’s what I tell my clients:

✅ Create a “Wins” List – Every Friday, write down at least three things you accomplished that week (big or small).
✅ Unfollow triggers – If certain business accounts make you feel less than, mute them. Your focus should be on YOUR business.
✅ Set “enough” goals – Instead of chasing arbitrary success, define what’s actually enough for you (income, time, flexibility).

And most importantly… give yourself credit.

Because you’re doing way better than you think.

📢 What’s a “small” win you’ve had lately that actually deserves a round of applause? Drop a comment or hit reply—I’d love to celebrate with you!

Bonus Win: You’re Making Smarter Decisions (Instead of Just Working Harder)

Remember when your strategy for getting ahead was just working more hours?

📌 Waking up earlier
📌 Staying up late
📌 Doing everything yourself

At some point, you realized that’s not sustainable.

Instead of hustling harder, you started:
✅ Pricing your offers for profitability instead of just trying to book more clients
✅ Investing in tools & systems that save you time
✅ Delegating tasks that don’t need YOU so you can focus on high-level strategy

One of my clients told me this was her biggest shift:
👉 “I used to think success meant constantly being busy. Now I realize it’s about working smarter.  Why did it take me so long to figure this out?”

Changing this mindset is everything!  If you’ve made this shift, you’re already ahead of so many business owners still stuck in the ‘grind’ mindset.