You’re putting in the hours, doing all the right things. But some days, growing your consultancy still feels painfully slow, like watching paint dry.

If you've ever caught yourself thinking, "Is this actually working?", I hear you. It's a stage nearly every consultancy founder faces. Recognising it is your first step toward breaking through.

Understanding the ‘Invisible Growth’ problem

The early days of consultancy growth happens largely out of sight. It's like planting seeds: initially, you water, nurture, and wait. For weeks, you see nothing but bare soil. Yet beneath the surface, growth is happening - roots forming, spreading, and strengthening.

Then suddenly, green shoots appear. Momentum builds. Results become visible.

Feeling impatient is natural, especially for ambitious founders who crave quick wins. But consultancy is built on relationships, trust, and credibility, things that take consistent effort and time. You can’t rush growth, but you can manage your mindset to stay the course.

Common pitfalls when progress feels slow

When results aren't obvious, these common pitfalls can drag you further into frustration:

• Chasing shiny objects: Switching tactics constantly for quick hits, losing sight of your strategic goals.
  
  

• Overcomplicating processes: Thinking complexity equals progress, adding unnecessary layers to your work.
  
  

• Stopping short of breakthroughs: Impatience causes you to abandon solid strategies just before they yield results.

Six practical strategies to stay motivated and consistent

These actionable tips will help you stay on track, even when growth feels slow:

1. Anchor yourself in your defining goal
Have a crystal-clear defining goal, and revisit it regularly. Keeping your main goal front-and-centre maintains your motivation, even during slower periods.

2. Celebrate input, not just output
Identify the key actions that lead to your desired outcomes. Celebrate these consistent actions, not just outcomes. Showing up consistently is progress itself.

3. Set yourself up for small wins
Big goals take time. Create smaller wins along the way to maintain momentum. Offer smaller products or quick services to generate revenue and motivation, keeping you energised as you pursue larger objectives.

4. Simplify your weekly priorities
Apply the RESET framework from my previous newsletter: choose only three clear weekly priorities. Keep tasks lean and achievable, preventing overwhelm.

5. Visually track meaningful progress
Find a simple visual method to track and celebrate small wins, but be careful not to fall into the trap of ticking boxes for a quick dopamine hit. Make sure every small win meaningfully moves your consultancy forward.

6. Lean into peer support
Regularly discuss progress with fellow consultancy owners. Many founders underestimate their own progress, focusing instead on what's left to achieve. Peer discussions help you see clearly how far you've already come.

Real-world example: Finding real progress beneath the frustration

Just as I was drafting this newsletter, a client called, expressing frustration. He’d consistently invested in marketing for nearly three years without a single enquiry from his website.

Then suddenly, he received a LinkedIn message from the finance leader of one of the world’s largest tech companies, completely out of the blue. This executive had been quietly following my client’s content for months, saving multiple articles as key resources. He reached out proactively and was keen to explore collaboration on a critical transformation initiative.

In that moment, my client realised the invisible groundwork he'd been laying. Credibility and trust had quietly grown beneath the surface.

Remember, real consultancy growth often happens invisibly, until suddenly, it clicks into place. If you feel stuck, remember your breakthrough is often much closer than you think.

Mindset shift: Embracing the marathon

Sustainable consultancy growth isn’t a sprint. It's a steady marathon built on consistent, strategic action.

Your market demands trust and reliability, qualities developed over time. Ignore overnight success hype and fear of missing out. Instead, clearly identify the strategic actions you must take, and consistently execute them.

Keep stepping forward, even when progress feels slow. That consistent effort builds resilience, character, and ultimately, sustainable success.

Checklist: Staying motivated and consistent

✅ Anchor and revisit your defining goal

✅ Celebrate consistent input and actions

✅ Set yourself up for small, motivating wins

✅ Keep your weekly priorities lean (maximum of three)

✅ Visually track meaningful progress

✅ Regularly engage with supportive peers

Let’s talk about it

Feeling stuck or impatient about your consultancy's progress? Did one of these strategies particularly resonate with you? Message me on LinkedIn with what's working for you.