"I'm fine." "It's under control."

My story

A doctor once turned down my strategy with a smile, insisting everything was fine. I woke up at 3am thinking: why is she lying? Then it hit me. I had told myself the exact same lies for years.

What it costs you

Every "it's under control" buys you time and costs you options. By the time you admit the truth, the problem is bigger and the solutions are fewer.

Get your peace back

• Write down the three sentences you repeat most about your business. Check each one against your numbers.
• Find one person who's allowed to tell you the truth, and actually listen.
• This week, replace "it's fine" with "here's what's not working" in one conversation.