Why do I need to get uncomfortable to grow my business?

Updated 23 July 2026 by Chanelle Segerius-Bruce

That squirming feeling when you think about reaching out to someone, or putting yourself on camera, or saying something real on social media, is not a warning. It is usually the signal that you are doing something worth doing. This covers why visibility is the thing most people will not do, why perfectionism is self-sabotage wearing a respectable coat, and how to move while the fear is still there.

The uncomfortable feeling is the point

You know the feeling. Scared to reach out to someone. Unsure about being on camera, or in photographs, or opening up online. The fidgety kind of uncomfortable that has you shifting in your seat.

That feeling means you are doing something worthwhile. The nerves are evidence you are moving forward.

Get visible, because most people will not

Hiding is not an option any more. People want to know you, and not the surface version.

The landscape has changed enough that the advantage now goes to whoever will do what others will not. Almost everyone online watches video. Very few make it. If you are willing to do the thing most people will not let themselves do, you are already ahead.

Perfectionism is self-sabotage

You are not going to like this one. Agonising over whether the hat is too much, whether the font is too big, whether the image sits slightly off centre, is self-sabotage.

You want to push yourself to another level. You want to go live. And you expect it to be perfect, which nothing is.

Stop double checking and triple checking. Get out of the idea and into the action, because that is the only thing that has ever worked.

Refine as you go

Make the first video. Start writing every day. Get moving.

Creative people get pigeonholed into one form, photography say, and then want to try something else. The only route is repetition. The more you do it, the better you get.

Move while the fear is still there

Think about what you have been wanting to add to your business and how you want your ideas to reach people. Then practise.

It comes from getting out of your head and moving through fear rather than waiting for it to go. You know the fear is there. You are simply not letting it decide.

That is the part of growing that feels exciting, once you are in it.

Key takeaways

• Discomfort is a sign of growth, not a signal to stop.
• The advantage goes to whoever will do what most people will not.
• Nearly everyone watches video and very few make it. That gap is your opening.
• Perfectionism is self-sabotage in respectable clothing.
• Get out of the idea and into the action, then refine as you go.
• Repetition is the only thing that makes you better at it.
• Act while the fear is present rather than waiting for it to leave.

Frequently asked questions

Why does growing my business feel so uncomfortable?

Because growth asks you to do things you have not done before, usually in public. The fidgety feeling is the sign you are moving rather than a sign something is wrong.

Do I really have to be on video?

It is the clearest example of the principle. Almost everyone online watches video and very few make it, so willingness alone puts you ahead of most people in your market.

Is perfectionism really self-sabotage?

When it stops you publishing, yes. Agonising over the font or the angle is a respectable-looking way of not putting the thing out.

How do I get past the fear of being visible?

Act while it is still there. Waiting for the fear to go is what keeps people waiting for years. Make the first video, then make a better second one.

What if my first attempt is bad?

It will be, and that is the price of the tenth one being good. Refining as you go is the only route anyone has ever taken.