Episode 96

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Published on:

27th May 2026

Knowing When It's Time To Quit: When You're Consistently Not Getting Results

When the business fog starts rolling in: Reconnecting with your why

Ever feel like you're throwing a lot of effort into your business—social media posts, outreach, endless webinars—and yet, the results are just not adding up? If your calendar is more of a wasteland than a showcase of success, you're not alone. In this episode, we explore why your efforts might be missing the mark, the importance of understanding your true purpose, and how, sometimes, the best move is to pause rather than push.

In this episode:
  • The common pitfalls of misaligned efforts and vanity metrics
  • Why visibility isn’t the only key to business growth
  • The significance of foundational business elements over performance hacks
  • How to reconnect with your original purpose and passion
  • Recognising when it's time to quit or pivot, without guilt
  • Practical ways to measure true progress beyond the obvious
  • The power of external coaching and honest feedback in business clarity
  • Personal stories of perseverance, setbacks, and the seasonality of success
  • The importance of patience and purpose in the slow burn of business growth
FAQs:
Q: Why isn't my business growing despite my efforts?

A: Often, the results lag behind the efforts due to misaligned strategies or focusing on vanity metrics rather than genuine progress.

Q: How can I reconnect with my original purpose?

A: Reflect on your initial motivations and align your current strategies with those core values to reignite your passion.

Q: What are vanity metrics, and why should I avoid them?

A: Vanity metrics are superficial indicators like social media likes that don't necessarily translate to business success. Focus on meaningful indicators that reflect true progress.

Q: When should I consider quitting or pivoting my business strategy?

A: If your efforts consistently yield no results, it might be time to reassess your approach or consider a strategic pivot without guilt.

Q: How important is external feedback in business growth?

A: External feedback and mentorship can provide valuable insights and reveal hidden disconnects in your strategy.

Q: What role does positioning play in business success?

A: Positioning and relevance are crucial as they impact how your audience perceives your value and can significantly influence your success.

Q: How can I measure true progress in my business?

A: Track meaningful, leading indicators that align with your business goals rather than just engagement metrics.

Q: Why is patience important in business growth?

A: Understanding the delayed effect of efforts and giving your strategies enough time to yield results is essential for sustainable growth.

Q: What should I do if I feel overwhelmed by slow progress?

A: Reassess your commitment, focus on actionable strategies, and consider seeking external perspectives to navigate challenges.

Timestamps:

00:00 - The invisible struggle: Why effort doesn't always equal results

00:19 - Overcoming the ceiling: When your achievements feel out of reach

00:47 - The human side of setbacks: My story of doubt and resilience

01:16 - The role of positioning in long-term success

01:54 - Why performance on stage isn’t the root issue

02:19 - Understanding the results lag and patience as a virtue

02:43 - The importance of alignment and purpose in business pursuits

03:11 - How life’s chaos impacts your visibility and progress

03:20 - Debunking motivation myths: The real drivers of growth

03:43 - The truth about storytelling vs. foundational business elements

04:07 - Moving beyond the energy of success to practical mechanics

04:31 - The delayed effect of efforts and why persistence pays off

05:20 - Personal example: Why I keep podcasting despite slow growth

06:17 - The value of sticking with slow-burn projects and community building

07:05 - Personal insights on why I would miss my show’s network

07:28 - Re-evaluating why you continue and making conscious decisions

08:07 - When podcast efforts do produce results, even indirectly

08:36 - Why generic advice isn’t one-size-fits-all in business growth

09:03 - Lessons from experimenting with live streaming

09:30 - The importance of clarity and messaging before ramping higher

09:49 - Why online tactics can backfire if foundational steps are skipped

10:10 - Jumping into high-level activity without solid foundations

10:37 - The pitfalls of mimicking success without adaptation

11:01 - When social media outreach feels sleazy and counterproductive

11:57 - The futility of vanity metrics and passive social media observation

12:20 - The importance of tracking meaningful, leading indicators

12:40 - How passive behaviour on platforms like LinkedIn skews your perception

13:09 - Questioning whether the problem is on your end or systemic

13:33 - The difference between visibility and meaningful results

14:07 - Why downloads aren’t the only success metric

14:33 - Recognising that online inaction isn’t always a reflection of your efforts

14:59 - The importance of honest self-assessment and patience in progress

15:07 - Reconnecting with your why to rekindle your motivation

15:34 - The value of genuine purpose versus chasing quick wins

16:26 - Impact, identity, and meaningful contribution as core motivators

17:08 - Why most of us in coaching and speaking care deeply about purpose

17:26 - Your own unique purpose can redefine long-term success

17:44 - When practical life realities call for a pause, not a defeat

18:39 - The story of seasons: Hustle, pause, and come back stronger

19:04 - Recognising that setbacks can be restart signals, not end points

19:54 - Resources matter, but it’s what you do with them that counts

20:19 - The privilege of understanding your unique position and circumstances

20:48 - Knowing when to walk away and accept honest limitations

21:11 - If the moment to quit feels right, do it—without shame

21:45 - The brevity of the gap between effort and results than you imagine

22:05 - Practical advice: Adjust what is adjustable, rest assured your efforts matter

22:52 - The danger of hoping as a strategy—actions must be aligned with results

23:08 - The power of external perspectives and coaching

23:54 - Why an outside view can reveal hidden disconnects

24:07 - Final encouragement: Let’s navigate the fog, with honesty and purpose

Want to contact the show? You can leave us a voicemail. It's free to do, and we might feature you on our next episode. All you need to do is go to https://speakpipe.com/thecoachingclinicpodcast and leave us a message. You can also find our clips and full episodes on the exclusive Coaching Clinic YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@coachingclinicpodcast

You can send us a video or voice message on LinkedIn:

John's LinkedIn Profile or go to PresentInfluence.com for coaching enquiries with John

Angie's LinkedIn Profile or visit AngieSpeaks.com

2023 Present Influence Productions Coaching Clinic: scale your business, acquire high ticket clients & master coaching skills 96

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About the Podcast

Coaching Clinic: scale your business, acquire high ticket clients & master coaching skills
The show for professional coaches who want to scale their business and master their craft
Coaching Clinic is the go-to podcast for new and experienced professional coaches who want to grow a thriving, sustainable business and get better results with clients. Hosted by veteran coaches John Ball and Angela Besignano, this weekly show delivers actionable coaching strategies, business-building insights, and real-world tools to help you attract clients, master your craft, and scale with confidence. From powerful client conversations to group coaching design, sales, mindset, and marketing—this is your backstage pass to what really works in coaching today.

About your hosts

John Ball

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From former flight attendant to international coach and trainer, on to podcaster and persuasion expert, it's been quite the journey for John.
John has been a lead coach and trainer with the Harv Eker organisation for over 10 years and is currently focused on helping his clients develop their personal presentation skills for media and speaking stages through his coaching business brand Present Influence.
He's the author of the upcoming book Podfluence: How To Build Professional Authority With Podcasts, and host of the Podfluence podcast with over 150 episodes and over 15,000 downloads John is now focused on helping business coaches and speakers to build a following and grow your lead flow and charisma.
You can now also listen to John on The Coaching Clinic podcast with his good friend and colleague Angie Besignano where they are helping coaches create sustainable and successful businesses, and the Try To Stand Up podcast where John is on a personal and professional mission to become funnier on the stage and in his communication.

Angie Besignano

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With early beginnings as an entry-level manager in the sales industry, Angie has spent more than 3 decades building her knowledge and expertise to create her master coaching and speaking brand, AngieSpeaks. After climbing the professional ladder, she started her own company and decided to focus her practice on High Performance Coaching. In doing so, she challenges individuals to elevate and grow, no matter what level they are at currently in their personal or professional lives.
Angie has created a strong following through her “tough” but “pragmatic” approach and challenges her clients to find the space that is holding them back the most. In doing so, their outcomes not only compound, but take root, so that results can be permanent. The tools she provides work in the “real” world and show up in their first interaction.
Angie has an unwavering passion toward the journey that fosters a true transformation for those that work with her. She delivers her content and speaking engagements with an authentic enthusiasm and curiosity that creates trust and rapport, allowing for a heightened experience.