Show notes
Busy doesn't equal profitable. We got a lot of great feedback from our last episode, in which we talked about how many business owners still cling to outdated methods that used to work, but don’t work anymore.
We addressed the hard truth that more of the wrong activity won’t fix a broken approach.
We looked at the reasons typical performers feel stuck, waiting things out, hoping for a turnaround that may never come…
And we pointed out how smart, focused professionals adapt and move forward now, in a way that differentiates them from less-profitable, average businesses.
Today, I’d like to pick up that conversation by talking about one of the biggest sources of frustration that I hear from business owners and salespeople across the board:
Why am I working so hard and still not making enough money?
If you're grinding all day, doing "everything you're supposed to do," but still not seeing results, you’re not lazy, and you’re not crazy.
But it’s likely you got caught in a trap that drains your time, energy, and income.
I’m talking about…
The Effort Trap: Busy ≠ Profitable
At one time or another, we’ve probably all bought into the idea that if we just work harder, the results will come.
More hours, calls, emails, and outreach.
In some cases, it works. But not always.
More effort does not automatically equal more income. Sometimes it just means more exhaustion.
You can do all the things you think you need to do: chase leads, follow up, create quotes, juggle accounts and still feel stuck.
Because it’s not always about how much you’re doing.
It can also be about how well you do those things, and how well you communicate your value.
Effort alone doesn’t create income.
So it’s not just actions that create value in the eyes of your clients, and revenue for your business. Only aligned actions can do that.
When that alignment is missing? You can work 24/7 doing everything you think you need to do, and still come up short in the money department.
The Illusion of Progress: Mistaking Motion for Momentum
And that leads into the second trap—the illusion of progress.
This is where the to-do list becomes a badge of honor, and the packed calendar provides a false sense of security.
It feels productive, but at the end of the month, you still might not have enough in the bank.
Because movement alone is not progress.
It’s like the rocking chair, or the hamster wheel. It may keep you moving, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.
Same thing with being busy. It doesn’t guarantee forward momentum.
And that can be extremely demoralizing.
You’re checking all the boxes, showing up, doing the work… and you may still feel stuck in the same place.
That’s where burnout sets in, doubts creep in, and even really good people can start to wonder whether all of it is worthwhile.
Because even when you do great work, you still might not get paid based on your worth.
Value vs. Revenue: When Great Work Goes Unrecognized
Let’s say you’re someone who’s not just spinning your wheels.
You’re producing results, making your clients happy, and solving real problems for them.
If your income still isn’t where you feel it needs to be, it’s one of the most frustrating disconnects in business:
Doing valuable work… but not being paid in proportion to that value.
There’s a reason this happens.
It’s because the market doesn’t reward effort. And it doesn’t always reward value.
In fact, it’s more likely to reward perceived value and perceived results.
Meaning, that If your clients don’t understand the value you provide, and the results you create for them, then your revenue can still fall short of your value.
It’s not a reflection of your talent or the work you do. It’s a reflection of how your prospects and clients perceive that value.
And much of that is about your communication.
The Strategic Shift: Replace Hustle with Alignment
That’s why the highest earners in our industry are not always the hardest workers.
But they are very often the most intentional workers, and the most intentional communicators.
They know what to do.
They know what to stop doing.
And they know how to make sure their actions and their communication supports their goals.
This allows them to shift from constant activity to purpose and clarity.
So if you’re stuck in the loop of overworking and under-earning, the solution is not to double down on your effort.
It’s to trade in your hustle for alignment.
If you’re still unclear on how to make that shift, go to TopSecrets.com/shift
Download our free PDF that outlines how smart, focused business owners build better systems, attract more desirable and profitable clients, and create exceptional results.
You don’t have to keep working harder for less.
You don’t have to settle for feeling overextended and undercompensated.
And you definitely don’t have to keep running on that hamster wheel hoping it will eventually break loose and take you somewhere.
You just need a better system that aligns your time, value, and communication with the results your clients are happy to pay for.
So if you’re ready to make that shift, download the PDF now at TopSecrets.com/shift.
Download the PDF
You deserve to be paid in proportion to the value you bring to the table
And the sooner you begin to align your efforts with your value in both your actions and your communication, the sooner that happens.
In our next episode, we’ll take this conversation a step further and examine why so many business owners underprice themselves even when they’re delivering amazing value, and what you can do to shift from being seen as a commodity to being recognized, and paid, as a premium provider. Talk to you soon.
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