Why Do Entrepreneurs Fail to Scale?
Does scaling your business feel like a pipe dream? If you're like most busy entrepreneurs, you've fallen into traps that keep you stuck.
Watch the video to see if you're stuck in one of three Entrepreneurial Mind Traps...
Hey Suzanne Glover here and if you're an entrepreneur over 40-ish that's built a solid business all by yourself, scaling probably feels like you'll just be adding more work. So, instead... you stay stuck. But it's not your fault that you feel that way. That's because it's not really about adding more work —it’s about falling into traps that keep you stuck thinking you need to do more work to get more business.
Ever since I realized decades ago in one of my coaching businesses, that I was also stuck in that mindset, I've been watching entrepreneurs just like you do the same thing and fall into what I call – entrepreneurial mind traps... So let's see if you fall into one of the three common traps that I've watched entrepreneurs struggle with in my 45 years of business...
Entreprenuerial Mind Trap #1
First, there’s the “work harder” myth. Take Lisa, for example, 40-something making a nice 6-figures a year. She hustles non-stop—speaking at events, qualifying leads handling every sales call herself. Her problem... is her “system” is manual and it can't run without her. If she stops, her business stops. But she's wearing herself out as she races between meetings, barely squeezing in a snack with no time for a nap or self-care. If that sounds familiar to you, that’s not scaling; it’s a treadmill. Hard work alone does not grow your business—it just burns you out.
Entreprenuerial Mind Trap #2
Secondly, there’s the “hire more” trap, which is just the opposite from doing everything yourself. That's where Nate comes in... he thought scaling meant delegating everything. He built a team, but without automation, he was still the bottleneck. And when employees left, he faced endless recruiting and retraining, picking up the slack himself. Plus his vague video pre-education left leads confused, causing high turnover among his closers. Which meant... Nate’s business demanded more of his time, not less..., until a payment processor shut him down and forced him to rethink his model. Hiring without systems creates chaos, not freedom.
Entreprenuerial Mind Trap #3
Finally, there’s the “what worked before – still works” belief. Mark clung to these outdated strategies, grinding away with LinkedIn prospecting that once delivered. But buyers have changed—they research online, expect trust before calls and ghost old-school pitches. In fact, I booked a call with Mark, impressed by his website, only to find he didn't have any pre-qualification process. He wasted time on unqualified leads like me – I wasn't a large corporation with thousands of employees. That's who his target was... – Plus he looked like an alien in the dark with glowing glasses when he showed up on camera. His 1980s tactics cannot scale in today’s market.
So, what's the common thread here? These entrepreneurs relied on manual, outdated practices instead of strategic automation. Scaling isn’t about doing more yourself or hiring an army—it’s about having systems that work without you. Imagine videos that pre-educate leads, funnels that nurture prospects 24/7 and processes that don’t collapse if you take a break.
Here's one thing you can do today: Add a lead-qualifying video that filters prospects before you spend time on the call with them. Sounds simple? Yet, 99% of very savvy people just like you – that I talk to – haven't thought of it. It's only the beginning, but try it with the best video you can produce and see what kind of difference it can make.
Here's your takeaway... Open your mind to newer, more efficient ways of running and scaling your business so you have the freedom you intended to have by starting your own business.
Continue learning...
My book Scale Your Business Smarter With Video is all about using video and automation strategically and reveals my entire Video Influencing SystemTM step-by-step so you can start implementing it right away. Set to launch Fall, 2026.
But you don't have to wait. If you want to implement early, I have a one-time, pre-launch opportunity to work closely with me to create your own Video Influencing System™ now. Curious?
Click the button to learn more...
©2025 Suzanne Glover Enterprises, Inc. – All rights reserved
