I want to share a theory about mindset for business owners. It’s been bubbling up for a while, and it feels like there’s a bigger picture we’re not seeing these days—especially when it comes to how mindset work fits into the business journey.
Let’s talk about why working with mindset practitioners used to be a no-brainer, why it isn’t as mainstream now, and what that means for new and established business owners.
Let’s jump in…
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How It All Started: The “Must-Have” Mindset Work of the Early Days
When I started my business in 2013, it felt like everyone who was serious about business had a mindset practitioner. Especially if you were in the early, scrappy, trying-to-get-it-to-work stages, mindset work wasn’t just a nice-to-have, it was essential. Back then, business strategy was simpler. Fewer tech options, fewer platforms. If you wanted to run a webinar, you pretty much only had GoToWebinar—and that platform cost $197 USD every single month. In other words, you really needed at least one paying client just to cover your tech bill.
With so few options, it was crystal clear if something wasn’t working—either you hadn’t nailed the basics, or you had a mindset block. If you weren’t doing that handful of core actions, it was probably a mindset issue. Results were consistent, too. People talked about the 3% conversion rule: get 100 people on your webinar, and you’d likely get three clients if your offer was solid and under $1,000.
There was this sharp focus, and because of that, if you weren’t taking action or seeing results, mindset was the obvious place to look.
Simplicity to Complexity: Why Everything Feels Murky Now
Fast forward a few years, and everything has changed. These days, you can run a business for almost zero dollars a month if you hustle hard and spread yourself across tons of platforms and strategies—hello, overwhelm. There are hundreds of tech tools, all these free platforms, and a zillion strategies getting thrown at you. It’s so much harder to tell: is the issue a broken strategy, a fuzzy message, or a mindset block?
Now, instead of everyone learning the fundamentals and quickly spotting their sticking points, it’s common to jump from strategy to strategy, thinking the next course or challenge or funnel tweak will be “the thing.” The old clarity—“I didn’t do X, so it must be mindset”—just isn’t there.
People used to be disciplined: “I need 100 webinar signups. Got 32? Run it again.” Today, it’s: “Only 32 people? Maybe I should run a 5-day challenge. Or create a $29 course. Or… something else!” When you’ve got endless options, it’s easy to keep switching things up instead of working on the real issue.
Too Many Strategies, Not Enough Mindset
The other thing I noticed—and this is a biggie—is that back in the day, if someone started with lots of money, they had more choices and often took longer to get traction. Having limited strategic options meant you actually figured things out faster. Strategic simplicity made it easier to see where mindset was holding you back and made it way more likely you’d get the right support.
I honestly believe one of the reasons mindset work is so hard to access now is because we’ve made business strategy so complex.
From Mainstream to “Snake Oil”: How Mindset Work Lost Its Shine
Here’s where it gets tricky. Early on, mindset practitioners felt trustworthy. They weren’t promising wild overnight results. But then the internet exploded, and with it, loads of mindset practitioners started popping up promising bigger and bigger financial outcomes. The messaging shifted: “Get ten clients in ten days!” “Tap for $50K in a week!” Money mindset and health practitioners began to compete over “who can make you the most.”
I vividly remember the “EFT wars” of 2013–2014. There was Brad Yates’ “Tapping for $50,000” video, then Jess and Nick Ortner’s “Tapping for a Six-Figure Breakthrough.” Soon, everyone was tapping for more and more money. It all escalated, but the more outlandish the promises, the less grounded it felt.
That same thing happened again during COVID—this time on TikTok and Instagram. Shorter content, louder claims, less substance. Mindset work started to sound like snake oil. Eventually, the work itself got oversimplified. “Just feel abundant.” “Just twerk with your money and you’ll manifest millions.” It became a punchline.
Even with all these wild methods, sometimes people really were making more money during those years. But, context matters: during COVID, way more potential customers were online. So yes, more people were making money, but it wasn’t just about the mindset hacks. The market circumstances mattered—a lot.
What Happens When the Hype Fades?
Now we’re on the other side of that boom. The “twerk with your money” people and the hyped-up instant-manifestation crowd have gone quiet or moved on. Some have even pivoted to teaching passive income through investments.
Meanwhile, the really skilled and qualified mindset practitioners often step back, repositioning themselves as business strategists or specialists in specific types of inner work. Their content shrank away—they wanted to distance themselves from the hype and the grifters.
These days, it’s just not as common to hear people say, “Oh, I’m working with my mindset coach on this,” especially in the startup phase. It’s not normalised. We’re also seeing fewer people getting certified in these modalities because, well, everyone thinks you can start a business for free as a content creator.
Why Business Owners Are Stuck (and Why It’s So Hard to Spot a Mindset Issue)
Here’s what worries me: when you’ve got 485,000 strategies to choose from, it’s easy to convince yourself the solution is always a better strategy. “Facebook page didn’t work? Start a group. Still not working? Try ads. Still nothing? Convert your profile to a creator page and friend request everyone.” Not once do we stop to ask if maybe we’re not following through because of a mindset block, not a missing trick.
Strategic simplicity is gone, working with mindset practitioners isn’t normalised, and even the signs that you’re stuck because of mindset are lost in the shuffle. Now, the “default block” isn’t chasing one more qualification, it’s chasing “just one more strategy.” (Ask yourself, how many strategies have you tried this year?)
What Actually Works: My Simple, Repeatable Approach
Honestly? You need to embrace strategic simplicity. If I were starting again, I’d pick one platform—probably Facebook. One type of feature content—say, a podcast. I’d run a monthly webinar. Most importantly, I’d offer lots of sessions one-on-one (free or super affordable) so I could really learn about my niche and generate leads. Everything else is a bonus or can wait.
If you’re further along, your version of strategic simplicity will look different. But for most people, if you aren’t moving forward, if you aren’t showing up, if you’re obsessing over new offers or constantly switching strategies, that’s a mindset issue.
Simplify your strategy. Set a specific results goal—maybe $5,000 months. Find your fastest path there. If you feel wobbly after a few weeks and start questioning everything (“Should I do YouTube? Should I add Instagram?”), that’s a mindset issue. If you start adding more and more strategies, you probably don’t believe simple will work for you, and that’s where mindset work comes in.
How to Spot a Mindset Block
It’s simple. If you committed to a strategy but haven’t given it a proper go, or you keep complicating things, ask yourself if you actually trust it’ll work for you.
If you aren’t following through because it feels scary, that’s a mindset block—visibility, money, whatever. The information is there when you strip back the noise.
These days, the biggest sign of mindset stuff is telling yourself you need “one more marketing tactic” or “one more platform.” You already know enough. If you’re not moving forward, it’s not because you need another course.
How to Find the Right Mindset Support
If you’re ready to work on mindset, find a one-on-one practitioner who is obsessed with their process. Ignore the ones promising wild results or only spotlighting client wins. Look for people who love talking about how mindset work actually works—how they spot a limiting belief, how they shift it, how you can build real resilience.
If you’re a mindset practitioner, please, show up more online and share your process. Speak to a specific type of client about the tangible things they’re struggling with, and how your approach shifts those blocks. People need to hear about the real, meaningful work, not just the big flashy results.
Where We Go From Here
Business does not have to be this complicated. You don’t need every strategy ever invented. What you do need is a simple, clear approach and the willingness to actually do the work. If you’re getting stuck, look at your mindset.
This is the conversation I’m going to be leading from now on in the Heart-Centred Business Podcast—breaking down the mindset/strategy puzzle from all angles, for business owners at every stage. If you want to go deeper, check out my Biz Boost event. I’ll be banging the mindset for business owners drum there as well.
Find out more at: tashcorbin.com/bizboost
Remember: strategic simplicity and mindset first. That’s the magic combo that will move you forward, no matter what’s happening in the online space.
Until next time, I cannot WAIT to see you SHINE.
