Everyone talks about the beginning—the courage it takes to start.

And the end—the excitement of hitting your big goals.

But what about the in-between?

The part where you’re not a beginner anymore, but you’re nowhere near where you want to be?

You’re doing the work. You’re showing up. But it feels like you’re standing still.

That’s the messy middle. And if you’re here right now, you’re not alone.

What the Messy Middle Really Feels Like

It’s not that things are failing. It’s that they’re not clicking.

You might feel:

• Stretched thin — You’re doing a little bit of everything, but nothing feels complete

• Second-guessing yourself — You wonder if you picked the wrong offer, platform, or business model

• Mentally fried — You’re tired, not from the workload—but from the uncertainty of it all

• Embarrassed to ask for help — Because from the outside, it looks like you’ve “made it”

This is the most frustrating stage in business.

And ironically, it’s the most common.

Why the Middle Feels So Hard

Because you’re building and maintaining at the same time.

In the early days, you’re experimenting. No one expects much. You’re in motion.

In the late stages, you have traction, data, and support. You have options.

But in the middle?

You’re running a real business… without the full support systems in place.

You’re juggling sales, marketing, fulfillment, client communication, admin, finances—all of it.

And there’s no “finish line” in sight.

What to Do Instead of Giving Up

You don’t need to burn it down.

You need to tighten your focus and streamline your inputs.

Here’s how:

1. Simplify Your Offer

Ask yourself: What’s the one thing I do best that gets my clients the best results?

Double down on that.

Cut the extra packages, the underpriced custom work, or the things you’re only doing out of obligation.

Clarity breeds momentum.

2. Create a Feedback Loop

You need clean data, not just feelings.

Look at:

• Where are your leads coming from?

• What content actually converts?

• What tasks are you repeating weekly that could be automated or delegated?

Not sure? Start by tracking time, tasks, and questions for one week. The bottlenecks will reveal themselves.

3. Add One System at a Time

Don’t try to overhaul your business in a weekend.

Start with:

• Lead capture

• Client onboarding

• Weekly content batching

• Monthly admin checklists

Build one system. Run it. Tweak it. Then move to the next.

Progress is momentum.

4. Get in the Right Room

You don’t need another freebie. You need to be around people who get it.

Conversations with other entrepreneurs will normalize where you are—and help you see the forest for the trees.

Inside The Action Lab, that’s what we’re built for.

Weekly challenges, mastermind-style calls, and a community of women all navigating the same in-between.

It’s where stuck turns into strategy.

Your Reminder If You’re in the Thick of It

This phase doesn’t mean you’re failing.

It means you’re in the messy middle of building something real.

Every successful entrepreneur has been here.

The difference? They didn’t quit. They simplified, systemized, and got support.

You can too.

Need Help Making It Through?

Take the Resilience Quiz — Find out how well you’re wired to handle hard seasons—and get tailored action steps to level up.

Explore The Action Lab — Whether you need coaching, accountability, or systems support, we’ve got you.

Hire LADR — From strategic VAs to done-for-you playbooks, we help you build the structure that gets you unstuck.