When you’re stuck
When you’re stuck
You don’t need a new plan. You need a better question.
That voice in your head? The one that tells you to blow everything up when you feel stuck?
That’s not strategy talking. That’s fog. And fog doesn’t need a new roadmap. It requires a yellow flashlight.
Stuck moments don’t necessarily come from bad plans — they come from foggy thinking.
You’re not broken. What you’re building isn’t doomed. You’re just asking the wrong question.
The quality of your question determines the quality of your next move.
Don’t look outward for a new idea when stuck, exhausted, unclear, or spinning in circles.
Start inward — with a better question.
The right question interrupts noise, zooms out perspective, and reactivates clarity. It reminds you that you still know what matters—you just needed a nudge.
Let me share three practical, disruptive, and direct coaching questions you can ask yourself when encountering brain fog.
💬 01: “What decision am I avoiding?”
We are great at building momentum, but we are not always great at making the difficult call when it’s due. So we delay, distract, and hide behind “still thinking about it.”
But when we’re stuck, there’s usually a decision under the surface that we already know needs to happen. Sometimes it’s:
A hire that’s not working
A product that’s not resonating
A partnership that looks good on paper but drains our energy
A strategy we outgrew but can’t let go of
So, ask yourself: “What decision am I avoiding?” Answer it, name it, and give it a deadline.
Clarity isn’t always about answers. Sometimes, it’s just about stopping the delay.
💬 02: “If I’m not afraid of the outcome, what would I do next?”
Fear has range. It shows up as overthinking, people-pleasing, chasing growth for the wrong reasons, and holding onto what feels safe, even if it’s not working.
“If I’m not afraid, what would I do?” bypasses the ego and speaks to the core of what we already know. You might say:
“I’d simplify the offer.”
“I’d rather have that uncomfortable conversation.”
“I’d take a break.”
“I’d raise my prices.”
The question doesn’t fix the fear — it just makes it visible. And visibility can be powerful. It helps us see where fear resides. And that gives us courage.
💬 03: “What would make this feel lighter?”
This is as soft of a question as it is strategic.
When something in your business feels heavy, slow, or joyless, there’s usually a misalignment underneath.
Maybe you’re doing too much.
Maybe you’re trying to be impressive instead of effective.
Maybe you’ve outgrown the way you work but haven’t upgraded the rhythm yet.
This question brings you back to how you want to build, not just what you’re building. You might want to consider:
Cutting back on complexity
Rebuilding a team based on trust, not trends
Reclaiming 10+ hours per week just by changing how you book (or not) meetings
Realigning your offer to match your actual strengths, not market pressure
Light doesn’t mean easy. It means true to you.
And when something feels true, your business flows differently, decisions get sharper, and progress feels grounded.
So,
Don’t sprint to the next strategy if you’re stuck right now. Not just yet.
Don’t chase new shiny things.
Confusion does not mean failure.
Sometimes, you only need a pause, a deep breath, and a better question.
Here are your three:
What decision are you avoiding?
What would you do next if you weren’t afraid of the outcome?
What would make this feel lighter?