Day 20: Why “One-Size-Fits-All” Business Advice Doesn’t Work — and What to Do Instead

kbives9
Jul 18
3 min read

If you’ve tried every tip and still feel stuck, here’s why — and how to fix it.

🗓️ This post is part of a 90-day blog series created for solopreneurs and micro-business owners who want to grow sustainable, profitable businesses without burnout or confusion.

Ever tried a popular business strategy that everyone swears by — and then watched it flop in your business?

You’re not alone.

In fact, one of the biggest sources of frustration for small business owners is trying to implement advice that doesn’t actually fit their situation.

You might be following someone with:

A full-time team
A big ad budget
A totally different industry
Or a business model that’s just not yours

And when their “simple 5-step system” doesn’t work for you, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing something wrong.

But the truth is: It’s not you. It’s the advice.

🚧 The Problem with Copy-Paste Strategies

Most business advice is built around assumptions that don’t apply to solopreneurs or micro-businesses. For example:

“Outsource everything” assumes you have the budget to hire help
“Niche down and dominate” assumes you already know your ideal audience
“Scale fast” assumes you’ve nailed your systems (or even want to scale)

When you’re juggling everything yourself — sales, fulfillment, customer service, bookkeeping — a strategy that works for a big team can bury you.

🧭 What You Actually Need: A Diagnostic Approach

Before you apply a new strategy or tool, ask:What’s the real problem I’m trying to solve?

In Taking Care of Business – Together, we use a tool called the Business Priority Diagnostic, which helps pinpoint exactly where your business is struggling most — sales, finances, or operations.

This makes it easier to:

Focus your limited time on what will move the needle
Say no to advice that’s not relevant
Avoid wasting money on shiny objects or the wrong software

You can take a version of that tool for free here: tcob.fixthisnext.com

💡 How to Know If a Strategy Is Right for You

Ask these questions before implementing any new advice:

Does this solve a current bottleneck in my business?If not, it’s a distraction.
Do I have the time, energy, and resources to implement it?If not, it’s not the right time.
Can I do a small test before going all in?Smart business owners experiment before investing heavily.