Now more than ever, when I ask people how they are, the one answer I keep hearing is, “I’m busy.” There’s too much to do, not enough time, and this year is getting away from so many of us. But here’s the thing—not every job or task is created equal. If you’re caught up in busyness that’s not actually moving you forward, you’re on a treadmill. You’re on the hamster wheel.
And today on the Heart-Centred Business Podcast, I’m getting really honest about what it looks like to be stuck on that wheel, how you can tell if you’re doing it, and—most importantly—what you can do about it.
Let’s dive in…
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What Does Being “Busy” Really Mean Anyway?
Let’s talk about all the “busy” work we end up doing as business owners. There are SO many tasks that feel repetitive: thinking time, learning, content creation, tidying up, updating, strategising, making decisions, redoing plans—the list goes on. Progress doesn’t always look pretty, and it rarely happens in a vacuum. It can be genuinely tricky to know if what you’re doing is helping or if you’re just running on the spot.
So, how can you tell if all those busy days and weeks are actually taking you somewhere, or if you’re just spinning your wheels?
For me, it comes down to results—especially income. That doesn’t mean my results or income have to be going up all the time, but I’m always keeping an eye on one big thing: am I getting closer to my vision for the life and business I want? Progress for me isn’t measured by effort or how busy I look. It’s about real results. Are things actually improving? Are my actions making a difference? Or would these results have happened even if I’d done nothing? You’ve got to stop regularly and take stock, not just coast along.
My 2017 Wake-Up Call: The First Hamster Wheel Realisation
In 2017, I got to the end of the year and realised I’d created 36 different ways for people to work with me and spend money with me. But the one that made the most income—my Take Off program—I hadn’t actually launched, or even run a webinar for, in the entire year. It was wild. The thing that had the biggest impact on my results? I hadn’t focused on it at all.
How did I get to the end of the year feeling SO productive and exhausted, but none of my energy went to the thing that really drove my income? Classic hamster wheel. I looked busy, I was creating new programs, making content, releasing podcasts, running events… but the thing that made most of my money? Completely ignored.
Making Sure “Building Foundations” Isn’t Just Spinning Your Wheels
Running on the hamster wheel looks different for everyone. Maybe you’re telling yourself (and me!) that you’re “working on your foundations.” But if you peek at those foundations, ask yourself—are you building anything on them? Or are you just pouring more and more concrete without ever building an actual house?
I see this all the time: people preparing endlessly for future results they’ve never actually achieved. Writing complex client onboarding documents before ever making a single sale. Spending a whole year building a course without ever checking if anyone wants it or will buy it. Then launching and making zero sales.
If you look back at work like that and say you’ve been “productive,” I want to challenge you. At this point, is it really moving you forward? Is it really building a business? We have to admit: all that busywork can be comforting, but it’s not truly progress until you see results.
Why This Isn’t About Making You Feel Guilty
If you’re squirming a little right now, I want you to know—this isn’t about shaming you. I’m not saying you’ve done something wrong or that your work is doomed to fail. We can turn this around. We can create momentum and make it work. But the very first step is being honest about whether this is happening to you.
It’s the end of Q1. I want you to reflect on everything you did in the last quarter. Literally write out every task you did, every post, every update, every email, all of it. Then—how many of those things genuinely contributed to the results you’re seeing today? How many were the right steps at the right time to create both short- and long-term results?
If you’re not sure what your 20% tasks are (the ones that create 80% of your results), or if you’ve neglected them, this is your moment to pause and check. For your business and for the people you’re trying to serve, this is the time for honesty.
Why The World Needs You Focused, Not “Busy”
The world needs us to serve—not to just prepare endlessly.
Your potential clients need you. They don’t need more busywork or more endless preparation. They need you to bring to life what you’ve said you’re going to do. Stop mulling over self-invented reasons why no one’s buying, and start focusing on what actually moves the needle: a clear, simple strategy.
What Feels Like Progress Isn’t Always Progress
Whatever got you here won’t get you to where you want to go next. So, if you know you’re on the hamster wheel—or just suspect it—here’s my advice, loud and clear:
Embrace “Strategic Simplicity” and Ruthless Focus
For almost every business owner I’ve worked with, the first big shift is getting truly clear on their key strategy—and dropping everything else. It’s always such a relief when people realise they can STOP doing a load of stuff that’s keeping them busy but not making a difference.
Strategic simplicity means you get ruthless, you get discerning, and most importantly, you look at your strategies with clear eyes. Check the data. Is this strategy really working? Is it bringing in income? Or are you giving yourself gold stars for things like “more followers” instead of “more clients”?
Reading the Right Results (Hint: It’s Not Just About Your Followers)
We can’t just measure progress by more followers or new “assets.” If your strategies bring in more eyeballs but not more income, it’s time for a reality check. Even if you’re earning from your actions—could you be earning more if you focused on something simpler?
When I’m deciding what activities, ideas, or strategies to pursue, these are my go-to questions:
- Is this the simplest and most sustainable path to income?
- Is it maximising my income for the time I put in?
Strategic simplicity is about constantly setting better benchmarks for the return you get on your time.
Stop Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall
Let’s be honest—there are people who’ve been in the “try everything and see what sticks” stage for years. It’s time to stop. What if, for just one quarter, you picked ONE strategy to find new people, ONE strategy to nurture real relationships, ONE way to invite leads, and ONE way to sell your service? Spend all quarter focusing on making that one service hit your monthly income goal (whether that’s $2k, $5k, $10k or more). Stay disciplined, streamline, and stick with it.
If you’re working hard but not moving measurably closer to your goals, you are on the hamster wheel. The way out? Simplify—focus on what works, and do nothing else until it’s done.
Hard Truths: If Nothing’s Changing, You’re the Problem
I know this is tough to hear, but if you know what you should be doing—like following up with hot leads—but end up making Instagram reels instead, you are the problem. If you keep creating new services to avoid not leaving anyone out, but haven’t actually helped any clients recently, you are the problem. If you’re jumping constantly from one platform or business name to the next, but have no meaningful progress, you are the problem.
It’s not about beating yourself up. It’s about seeing the amazing potential in you and wanting you to finally get out of your own way!
Imagine What Would Happen If You Got Focused
With a little more focus and resourcing, you could finally get off the hamster wheel. Get a good night’s sleep. Take care of yourself and your loved ones without living on adrenaline. If you’re ready to actually make the money you want to make, now’s the time to get real and get clear on your exact strategy.
Pick Your Strategy… and See It Through
Instead of flip-flopping between endless doubts, decide on one strategy and get obsessed with making it work. Any decent strategy will work if you see it through long enough—implement, review, refine, then double-down before you throw it away and pick up another new idea. Don’t get to the end of next quarter twice as burnt out with nothing to show for it.
Over the next month, I’m putting out short videos on why business owners stay stuck on the hamster wheel—and what to do about it. These are all available for free online, but if you want early access to all of them, head to tashcorbin.com/gap to register.
We Can’t Let Complexity and Burnout Win
Yes, world events are making me angry. Injustice, inequality, all of it. But there’s still something powerful we can do: get you the wealth and results you deserve, so you can go out and change lives with your business.
You know your business can help people—change their lives, help them hit their goals, make things better. But I can’t jump into your business and do it for you. All I can do is shine a big, glaring light on what I see, and beg you: stop running on the hamster wheel. Stop believing you always need more complexity, more funnels, more busywork.
Instead, stop. Simplify your strategy. Get clear on your next five most powerful actions, and just do those.
And if you hit a wall—if the excuses start up—get the free videos, watch them, and deal with the roadblocks.
Go to tashcorbin.com/gap, watch the videos, and make it happen.
I sound fired up because I am. But that’s because I care. I want to see you shine, because when you do, that’s what gives me hope that things can change. Please—don’t make me wait any longer. Shine brighter, brighter, brighter.
No more hamster wheel. Deal?
Until next time, I cannot WAIT to see you SHINE.
