What to Do If You’ve Started the Wrong Business
(and the first step before any of the steps: Don’t Panic…)
Starting your own business is a bold and brave move. But what happens when you wake up one day and realise—probably to the sound of a few choice words—that you may have built the wrong one?
It might feel like the end of the world, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, this moment could mark the beginning of something even better. Curious?
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The Wrong Business
I understand where you are.
You’ve had that nagging feeling for a while now. Something feels off. And as the pieces fall into place, you come to a tough realisation: your business no longer lights you up—or, if you’re being really honest with yourself, maybe it never truly did.
On the outside, everything looks great. A steady stream of clients, growing revenue, recognition. But inside? It feels misaligned, draining, and disconnected from who you are and what you want.
It’s like you took a wrong turn somewhere, and now you’re stuck on a merry-go-round of work, in a business that doesn’t feel like yours. It’s like you’ve become the employee and the business your boss.
If you’re quietly wondering, “Did I start the wrong business?”, please take a deep breath.
You’re not alone. I’ve been there too.
Realising that your business no longer feels right isn’t unusual—it’s actually more common than you might think. And most importantly, it’s not the end of your story.
In fact, this could be the beginning of a more aligned, sustainable, and fulfilling path forward.
This could be your next chapter.
In this blog, we’ll walk through exactly what to do if you’ve started the wrong business—and how to pivot with clarity, courage, and confidence.
5 Steps to Take If You’ve Started the Wrong Business
1. Acknowledge the problem, BUT without the shame spiral.
The first step? Get radically honest with yourself. Not harsh. Not judgmental. Just real.
Ask yourself:
Does this business still reflect who I am and what I want?
Am I energised by the work, or constantly drained?
If I had the chance, would I start this same business today?
Realising that your business no longer fits isn’t a sign of failure — it’s a sign of growth. Most of us build our businesses based on who we were or what we needed at the time. But as we evolve, our businesses need to evolve with us.
When that evolution doesn’t happen, misalignment creeps in. That’s when your business starts to feel like it’s no longer yours — like you’ve outgrown it, or like it was never quite the right fit to begin with.
And here’s the most important part: being honest about that doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. Outgrowing something doesn’t mean it was a mistake — it simply means you’re ready for what’s next.
2. Pinpoint What’s Actually Not Working
When things feel off, it’s (very) tempting to burn it all down and fantasise about starting from scratch. But before you grab the matches, take a breath, as not everything is necessarily broken.
The goal here isn’t to scrap everything. It’s to get clear. Clarity gives you options and options give you power.
Start by asking yourself: What exactly feels misaligned? Get as specific as possible. The more precise you are, the more empowered you’ll feel to take action.
Here are a few places to look:
Your niche: Do you genuinely enjoy working with the type of clients you're attracting? Do you have fabulous clients (or the complete opposite)?
Your business model: Does the way you deliver your work still feel sustainable? Or are you working all the hours and constantly overextending yourself?
Your pricing and packages: Do you charge your worth or are you undercharging? Or do your offers leave you feeling resentful or undervalued?
Your schedule and boundaries: Are you constantly battling you to-do list and stuck in hustle mode with no breathing room?
Your services: Do your offerings still reflect your strengths, values, and interests? Or are you offering things just because that’s wht everyone else does?
Sometimes, it’s not the entire business that’s wrong but more that one or two parts that are pulling everything out of sync.
By identifying the specific areas of tension, you can make thoughtful, targeted adjustments instead of throwing away everything you’ve built.
Small tweaks can lead to big shifts. But they start with clarity.
3. Reconnect With Your Bigger Vision
Before making any big decisions, pause and ask yourself a deceptively simple but powerful question:
What do I actually want from this business?
Too often, we get so caught up in the doing- the tasks, the marketing, the deadlines-2 that we lose touch with why we started in the first place. It’s easy to fall into a rhythm of doing what we “should” do instead of what truly feels aligned.
Instead of charging in, take a moment to reflect on what you really want. What do you crave more of?
Freedom — to work on your own terms, in your own time?
Impact — to feel like your work genuinely matters and helps people?
Creativity — more space to innovate, experiment, and enjoy your work?
Simplicity and ease — less hustle, more balance?
Your business is not the end goal but the the vehicle that helps you create the life you want. But if that vehicle isn’t taking you in the right direction, you don’t have to abandon the journey altogether. You just need to change your route.
This is where visioning comes in. Reconnecting with your why and getting clear on what success actually looks like for you (not what Instagram says it should look like) is key.
Here’s a powerful journal prompt to help you get started:
“If I could start fresh today, what would I build — and why?”
Let that question sit with you. Write freely. Don’t edit yourself. Often, the real answers come when we stop trying to force clarity and start listening to ourselves honestly.
This kind of reflection can reignite your spark, clarify your direction, and remind you of what matters most so that you can build something that feels like you, not just something that looks good on paper.
4. Give Yourself Permission to Pivot
Let’s talk about the “P” word… Pivoting.
Sadly, so many entrepreneurs stay stuck in businesses they’ve clearly outgrown because they’re afraid of what a pivot might look like. They’re afraid that it means they’re inconsistent. Or flaky. Or (the worst fear of all) that they’ve somehow failed.
But here’s the truth: Pivoting isn’t giving up — it’s levelling up.
Pivoting means you're listening to yourself. It means you’re paying attention to the signs of misalignment instead of pushing through and pretending everything’s fine. It means you’re choosing long-term fulfilment over short-term appearances.
That takes courage, self-awareness, and a whole lot of honesty.
Whether your pivot is a small shift — like narrowing your niche, changing up your services, or redefining your ideal client — or a complete reinvention of your brand and business model, it’s all valid. You’re allowed to evolve. In fact, you should.
Because guess what? You’re not the same person who started this business. You’ve learned, grown, and gained clarity. Of course, your business will shift as a result.
There’s no badge of honour for sticking with something that no longer serves you. And there’s no shame in changing direction when your heart is pulling you somewhere new.
The smartest, most successful entrepreneurs aren’t the ones who get it perfect on the first try but are the ones who keep adapting, refining, and realigning as they go.
So if the idea of pivoting feels scary, that’s okay. But don’t let fear keep you stuck. Let it be a sign that something meaningful is trying to get your attention.
You don’t need permission from anyone else. But just in case you need to hear it, let me say it:
You’re allowed to change. You’re allowed to grow. You’re allowed to build something new.
5. Start Small — Micro-Steps Toward Alignment
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to tear everything down and start from scratch.
In fact, the most meaningful and sustainable shifts often begin with small, intentional actions. Realignment doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to be honest.
Think of it like adjusting your course by a few degrees. Over time, those tiny shifts will take you somewhere completely different, and to a place where you want to go.
Here are a few micro-steps you can take to begin moving in the right direction:
Update your services page to reflect what you actually want to be offering. Not what you think you "should" offer.
Reach out to potential dream clients in the space you want to move into. Start conversations, learn more about their needs, and build real relationships.
Create content that reflects your evolving voice, values, and direction. It’s okay if your message shifts. Remember your audience will shift with you. Episode 3 of the Quietly Disruptive Podcast: The Power of Authenticity in Business is a great one to listen to when it comes to being you in business.
Hire a coach or mentor to help you gain clarity, navigate uncertainty, and build a plan that feels doable (and exciting).
Even if you’re not ready to make a big leap just yet, these small steps are powerful as they get the wheels turning, and reconnect you to your vision. And most importantly, they prove to yourself that you can and are moving forward.
Tiny actions = momentum and momentum = change.
And always remember that…
You didn’t mess up. You didn’t fail. You simply grew.
Knowing that you started the wrong business means that you can readjust to the one you really want. The one that gets to grow with you.
Starting the wrong business doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It’s the complete opposite. It means you were brave enough to try something, and now, you’re even braver to tell the truth about what you really want.
And to go and get it.
