Ever felt stuck in your business — like the ideas are there, but the clarity just… isn’t? 😫 You’re staring at the problem, willing a solution to appear, but nothing’s shifting. It’s frustrating, exhausting, and makes you question whether you’re missing something obvious.
You’re not alone. And no, you’re not doing it wrong. You just might need to stop staring. 👀
Let me show you a better way.
You’ve built a service-based business with clients, a team, and growth goals. 📈 But somewhere in the mix of doing all the things, things have slowed. Progress feels like treacle. You’ve got a vision — but the steps to get there feel blurred.
It’s not that you’re doing anything wrong. It’s that you’re too close to it.
When everything’s relying on you, it’s hard to see the real solution. You’re buried in decisions. Caught in the weeds. 🌱 And it’s not your fault — it’s just where many business owners end up.
So here’s a thought: what if the solution comes not from doing more… but from doing something else entirely?
🧠 Back in 2010, during my NLP practitioner training, I first learned about the Zeigarnik Effect – not that I knew then that it had a name. At the time, we were discussing mindset, manifestation, and how the subconscious brain works. I remember someone in our group saying they often asked themselves a question — then simply went off and did something else. They trusted their mind to work on it in the background.
That stuck with me. Because actually, I realised I already did this — and still do.
I work with multiple clients, across multiple industries. And sometimes I’ll be mulling over something for one client… then while doing a completely different task, the solution pops into my head. 💡
Sudoku puzzles are a good analogy. You stare at the grid, feel stuck, then come back later and immediately see where a number goes that alluded you before. That’s the Zeigarnik Effect. Your brain remembers the unfinished task — and keeps working on it while you’re doing other things.
You can use this, too. 🙌
You don’t need a full day to “solve the problem.” You just need to start it.
That might be scribbling some notes, asking yourself a big question, or talking it through with your OBM. Then… step away. 🫣 Leave it. Let your mind do what it’s built to do.
You’re not procrastinating. You’re giving your brain space to process.
And if you’re always rushing from one task to the next, you never get that processing time. That’s why things feel murky. That’s why you can’t decide. 😵💫
Here’s a better way forward:
✅ Pick one small challenge. Something that’s been nagging at you.
❓ Pose the question. Literally say it aloud or write it down.
🗂️ Gather the info. Do some quick due diligence.
🚶♀️ Then step away. Go outside. Make a cuppa. Open a fresh tab.
🔄 Return later. See what’s shifted.
And when you do come back with fresh clarity — that’s your signal to act.
This is where decision-making happens with more ease, where things move again. 🏁
When I work with clients, this is part of what I bring to the table. Not just the hours you pay for, but the thinking time — the space I create so your business can breathe. Because you don’t have to figure it all out in one go. You just have to start. 🛠️
And if you’re still stuck in the loop, unsure where to begin — that’s what a Business Operations Review is for. It’s where we take a step back together, look at what’s working (and what’s not), and pinpoint the changes that will make the biggest difference.
📍 Book your Business Operations Review:
👉 https://www.strive4.co.uk/business-operations-review/
This is how progress happens.
Not through hustle, but through clarity. 🧘♀️
And sometimes, the smartest thing you can do… is step away.
🧠 TL;DR
Feeling stuck? Your brain might already be solving the problem — if you let it. The Zeigarnik Effect shows us that starting something (even imperfectly) creates mental momentum. That’s where clarity lives. Start, step away, let your brain do its thing — and return ready to act. Need help knowing where to begin? Let’s talk.