You’re the first one in. The last one out.
You’re the fixer. The driver. The one who makes it all work.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
You might also be the one slowing it all down.

It’s hard to admit, especially when you care so deeply. But if you’re feeling frustrated that nothing moves without you, it might be time to ask the tough question:

“Am I the bottleneck in my own business?”

Here are five dead giveaways that it’s a yes and what to do about it.

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1. Every Decision Still Runs Through You

Pricing. Proposals. Purchases. Even social media captions.

You’ve built a system where nothing moves forward without your say-so. That may keep things perfect, but it also keeps things slow.

✅ Fix it: Empower your team with clear frameworks and decision guidelines. Perfection kills momentum. Progress builds freedom.

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2. You Can’t Take a Week Off Without Chaos

Let’s be honest. If you disappear for 7 days, does your business fall apart?

If the answer is yes, you don’t have a business. You have a dependency.

✅ Fix it: Start documenting your systems. Even the messy ones. Clarity creates autonomy.

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3. You’re Always in “Catch Up” Mode

Your calendar’s packed. Your inbox is overflowing. You’re working in the business so hard that you’ve stopped working on it.

This isn’t a productivity issue. It’s a structural one.

✅ Fix it: Block 90 minutes a week for strategy — non-negotiable. Review, plan, delegate. Build the habit of leading, not reacting.

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4. You Don’t Trust Anyone to Deliver Like You Can

Here’s the kicker — you might be right.

But holding onto everything because no one can do it like you? That’s ego dressed up as excellence.

✅ Fix it: Hire slow. Train well. Let people grow into roles. Stop expecting version 10 results from someone on day 1.

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5. Your Growth Has Plateaued and You Can’t Explain Why

You’ve hit a ceiling. Clients aren’t the problem. The market isn’t the problem. Your product isn’t the problem.

You’re just at capacity.

✅ Fix it: Redesign your business model. Simplify your offers. Raise prices. Create leverage, or stay stuck.

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You Can’t Scale Chaos

If you want a business that grows, it can’t depend on your personal bandwidth.

The good news? Bottlenecks are fixable.
And it starts with a choice:

👉 Stop trying to be everywhere. Start building systems so you don’t have to be.

This is exactly the shift I help my clients make, so they can go from scattered operator to strategic owner.