3 business beliefs that nearly cost me everything

Hey, it’s Arik.

This one’s more personal.

There were a few beliefs I used to hold early on that, looking back, almost wrecked everything I was building.

They sounded smart, they seemed efficient and "next-level," but ended up holding me back more than they helped.

Whether you’re running an agency or growing a brand, these might feel familiar.

Here are 3 beliefs I’ve had to unlearn the hard way, so you don’t have to:


#1: “Everything has to be perfect before you launch or scale.”
This one held me back for longer than I’d like to admit.

Whether it was launching a new offer, pitching a big client, or testing a new internal process, I used to think we had to have every piece airtight. Decks, SOPs, case studies, backend systems… like it all needed to be perfect before we put it out there.

What I didn't realize was that waiting for perfection just means waiting. And the longer you wait, the harder it gets to move at all.

I’ve seen and felt firsthand that chasing “perfect” usually means hiding, avoiding discomfort, avoiding feedback, and avoiding momentum.

Once I got over that, I noticed I was asking better questions, solving problems faster, and getting better at what I do because things were in motion, not in planning mode.


#2: “You should step back and let the team run everything.”
This one’s tricky…

There’s a version of this that is true—delegation matters, and no one scales by doing it all themselves.

But for a while, I leaned too far in that direction. I thought “not being as involved” was a badge of honor, proof that we had systems, people, and trust.

What actually happened? I got disconnected.

Things were happening, but I didn’t fully know why. I couldn’t see what we were missing. And I definitely didn’t feel like I was leading the company I set out to build.

So I leaned back in. Not micromanaging, but being close enough to know what’s working, what’s not, and how to support my team better.

That perspective has changed everything.


#3: “Risk is something you take once you’re ready.”
I used to think risk was something you prepare for. You wait for more cash in the bank, a bigger team, more clarity, more data, etc.

But here’s what I’ve noticed: the biggest moves we’ve made always felt slightly premature.

Every meaningful step forward felt like a bit of a leap.

- Hiring before the pipeline was full.
- Investing in support before we had burnout.
- Turning down a retainer that didn’t align with our vision (even when it would’ve covered a slow month).

None of those moves felt “ready,” but they unlocked headspace, bandwidth, and creative energy we didn’t have before.

The biggest risks are usually the ones that create capacity, not the ones that cost you everything.

And most of the time, the real risk is staying stuck. If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to take a shot, it probably already passed.


It’s wild how many “truths” in business come with asterisks.

What works for one stage breaks the next, and a lot of the advice you hear isn’t wrong; it’s just not right for you, right now.

That’s something I’m still learning, still testing, and still trying to get better at every week.

Bite-Size Takeaways:

• Launch at 80%, learn from 100% feedback
You’ll gain more clarity from imperfect execution than you will from planning in isolation. Action creates insight. Waiting creates doubt.

• Founders still need proximity, not control
You don’t have to do everything. But you do have to know what’s happening. Staying close gives you context, and context gives you better judgment.

• “Safe” is often what keeps you stuck
Growth rarely happens from comfort. Some of the smartest moves we’ve made felt premature at the time, but made space for everything that came after.

• Simplicity makes execution easier (and faster)
You don’t need a 10-step system. You need a system you’ll actually use. Cut tools, cut fluff, cut lag.

• Your edge comes from momentum, not mastery
Most brands and agencies don’t fail because they got something wrong, they fail because they didn’t move at all.

See you next Thursday,
Arik

Tool of the Week:

Lovable

Lovable is a new no-code/low-code AI tool I’ve been playing around with.

It basically lets you prototype and build apps, significantly reducing development time using nothing but plain English.

You just describe what you want, and it generates everything from backend logic to frontend layout, including database setup.

If you’re thinking about launching a tool or revolutionizing your workflow, this might save you 3–6 months of development headaches.