Don’t Just Wait for Work — Work for It

How active are you really in your own business?

Are you the kind of business owner who unlocks the door at 9:00 AM because that’s what your sign says…

Puts out your little flag,

Walks back inside,

And sits behind the counter…

Waiting?

And then when no one comes in, you think,

“Maybe Tuesdays just aren’t good days for business.”

So you repeat the same pattern on Wednesday. And when that doesn’t work, you tweak your hours — maybe open at 10:00 instead of 9:00 so you can have more time in the morning. But that’s just rearranging deck chairs.

Activity ≠ Growth

Here’s the truth: being present in your business doesn’t mean you’re growing your business.

It’s very easy to feel “active” while doing nothing that actually moves the needle. You might be behind the desk, but are you building relationships? Creating visibility? Engaging with customers?

Because sitting and waiting isn’t marketing. It isn’t outreach. It isn’t momentum.

Busy Seasons Lie to You

Many businesses ride seasonal waves. You’re packed in spring. You’re slammed in the holidays. It feels great. But then… the phone stops ringing. The calendar thins out.

And suddenly, you realize you’ve got nothing coming in.

At that moment, it’s already too late to start marketing. Why? Because marketing takes time. Trust takes time. Relationships take time.

I once heard, “The best time to market your business is when you’re already busy.”

And I couldn’t agree more. If you only promote yourself during the slow seasons, you’ll keep riding the same boom-and-bust cycle. And that’s exhausting.

Growth Requires Intention

If you’re sitting behind a desk with no customers, the real question is: What are you doing to get them in the door?

You don’t have to wait for them. You can:

• Hand out flyers or put up signs in your neighborhood.
  
• Ask happy customers to leave you a review.
  
• Offer a limited-time special and announce it on local social media groups.
  
• Send thank-you cards with a coupon inside.
  
• Print your hours clearly on receipts, your website, and Google profile.
  
• Ask every customer to refer a friend.
  

These aren’t huge actions. But they stack. Every one is a brick in the path that leads people to your door.

Stop Tweaking Hours, Start Tweaking Strategy

Changing your hours might make a small difference — but rethinking your approach will make a big one.

If you’re a coffee shop trying to build an evening crowd, don’t just open late and hope. Think creatively:

• Serve iced lemonade at 7 PM in the summer.
  
• Host board game nights or poetry readings.
  
• Offer hot cocoa specials in the winter.
  

The key? Make people a reason to come in.

Because visibility isn’t passive. Growth isn’t passive. Nothing about success is passive.

Your Business Won’t Build Itself

Every moment you spend wishing for new customers could be a moment spent working for new customers. The difference between waiting and working is the difference between staying open and shutting down.

Put in the effort when it’s quiet. Plant the seeds before you need the harvest.

And most of all, remember: you don’t have to wait for business—go out and build it.