Course Corrections - Chapter 5 - Flipping the Narrative
- John Ekman
- Aug 19
- 3 min read
When business gets offtrack, a small shift can change everything. Course Corrections delivers sharp insights, strategic advice, and real-world stories from the frontlines of business — helping owners navigate with clarity, confidence, and control.
Chapter Five
Flipping the Narrative
Yes, It’s Hard. But That’s Not the Whole Story.
Rewriting the way we talk about running a business. |
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Lately, I’ve noticed something — and maybe you have too.
There’s a lot of noise out there about how hard it is to run a business.
The long hours.
The pressure.
The paperwork.
The stress.
And honestly it’s not wrong.
Some days, being in business for yourself can feel like trying to juggle knives while blindfolded.
But if we only talk about the tough stuff, we miss the whole point of why we started in the first place.
Because business isn’t just hard.
It’s also freeing.
It’s creative.
It gives you options.
It puts you in the driver’s seat
And while that comes with responsibility, it also gives you space to make choices that matter.
Owning a business is a paradox |
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One day it keeps you up at night.
The next, it lets you knock off early to see your kid in the school play.
No one needs to approve your leave form.
It can wear you down — but it can also lift you up.
It can drain you — but when it works well, it energises you.
It’s not one or the other.
It’s both.
But if we design it right, the good outweighs the grind by a great distance!
That’s the real goal to build a business that works with you, not against you.
Some context for balance |
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We’re often told that most small businesses fail.
We’re warned about burnout, about how it’s “all too hard,” about how you’ll never switch off.
But what doesn’t get shared enough is that:
Over 2.6 million small businesses operate in Australia today.
Most survive their first year — and a lot go well beyond that.
Microbusinesses with less than 5 staff? Over 70% are still running after five years.
In places like Bundaberg, business start-ups increased by 178% in a single year.
Small businesses employ millions and pump over $500 billion into the economy.
It’s not all doom and gloom.
People aren’t just hanging on — they’re doing good work and building businesses that last.
You ARE the business and that matters |
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Here’s something that doesn’t get said enough in the right way:
If you own a business, you are the one steering the ship.
You set the pace.
You make the decisions.
You shape the tone.
It’s not always easy — but it is do'able.
You don’t have to wait for approval to fix what’s not working.
You don’t need to ask permission to do something better.
That kind of accountability isn’t a problem — it’s a strength.
What we actually do at Lost Digits |
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At Lost Digits, we work with people who want their business to run better — not just grow bigger.
We use systems, processes, information and critical thinking.
That might mean:
Cleaning up your back-end processes
Tightening up how your team works
Helping you make better decisions using the numbers you already have
Freeing up your time so you’re not buried in admin every night
We help you step out of the weeds and get some breathing space.
So here’s the shift we’re making
We're not leaning on fear anymore.
No more "you're broken, let us fix you."
We're here for people who want to lead their business.
If you’re building something solid and want it to run smoother, with less stress and more direction, we’re here for that.
We’ll bring the strategy, the structure, and the straight-talking transparency to make it happen.
Reach out for a free 20-minute consult - let's get the ball rolling - let's see how we can help.
📞 0417 448 998
Till next time, cheers!
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