What Happens When Smart Consultants Stop Playing Small?
You stare at your calendar. Another week. No consults booked.
You stare at your calendar. Another week. No consults booked.
You're busy delivering, thinking, solving. But the growth? It's not showing up. Not like it should.
And maybe, just maybe, you've wondered:
“Is this it?”
You're not alone. It’s likely…
You built an expert business, but you're stuck inside a freelancer model.
You're still waiting to be chosen. You're still adjusting to fit someone else's choices. You're still marketing like someone with something to prove when deep down, you know you've already earned your place at the table.
So let's say it plainly:
The moment you stop identifying as a service provider and start building like a leader, everything changes.
This isn't about ego. It's about integrity. The kind that shows up in pricing, in positioning, and in how you allow your business to treat you.
But above all you have to get honest about why that shift feels so hard to make.
There's a psychological pull to stay where you are even when you know it's not working.
It's the Abilene Paradox in action: when everyone around you is stuck in the same patterns, you stay silent, assuming it's the safest path. Consultants agree to keep playing small because it's what they think they're supposed to do because it's what the others are doing.
And when the discomfort of staying still becomes undeniable, there's the Ostrich Effect - where it feels easier to avoid the uncomfortable data altogether. You delay looking at your calendar, avoid tracking consult conversions, and sidestep the hard truth that your visibility strategy isn't creating traction. Because if you don't look, maybe it's not real.
Then there's the Allais Paradox: you cling to the certainty of what you have, even if it's limited, instead of betting on a better outcome that involves risk, stretch, or change. You say things like “this works for now,” or “I'll revisit this in Q3.”
All of this is normal. Predictable, even.
But none of it will build the business you say you want.
So the moment you step out of that loop the moment you stop asking, "what do I lose if this fails?" and instead ask, "what do I gain if this works?" everything begins to expand.
Let’s Not Pretend: You Know You’ve Been Playing Small
There’s a moment every consultant hits.
You’ve read the books. Joined the webinars. Tried the frameworks.
Some felt too shallow. Some felt too complex. And some? They just collected digital dust.
But here's what no framework can do for you:
Make the decision.
The decision to stop playing it safe. To stop pretending you need more clarity. To admit with radical honesty that what's missing…
…is belief.
I've seen it firsthand.
Three consultants. Same training. Same access. Same week.
One says: “This training isn't simple enough. I need it step by step with daily activities”
The other? “This is too much.There’s pages and pages of instructions”
Neither makes a move.
Then the third?
She steps up. She adapts. She says, “Let's go.”
She doesn't wait for the perfect moment.
She doesn't need the plan to be flawless.
She builds as she goes.
That's the difference between a consultant and a LEADER.
You don't need more information.
You need ignition.
So if you're still:
Questioning if it's the right time
Debating your brand colours
Rewriting your About section for the 14th time
You're not refining. You're stalling.
And you know it.
Playing small isn't a strategy. IT’S A DECISION. So is building something bigger.
You don't need anyone's permission to play at your real level.
But you do need to decide to take the wheel.
Do that and everything you've been circling starts to align.
A Tale of Two Consultants
I'm reminded of a famous letter from The Wall Street Journal, penned by Martin Conroy.
It tells the story of two young men who graduated from the same college, both filled with ambition and dreams. Twenty-five years later, one is a manager of a small department, and the other is the president of the company. The difference? The knowledge they acquired and how they applied it.
This narrative isn't just about corporate ladders; it's about the choices we make and the futures we claim.
I've seen it time and again with my clients.
I often envision a future for them that's grander than they dare to dream. They see the stars; I see the moon FOR THEM.
That's my role in their development. I’m there to illuminate possibilities they haven't considered.
But when I present that vision, and energise it - the question then becomes:
Who is responsible for attaining it?
I can guide, support, and strategise, but I can't take the leap for them. The responsibility lies with them to embrace the vision and take action.
What Playing Bigger Actually Looks Like
Here's the real shift, side by side:
That's not marketing.
That's leadership.
And when you start showing up this way?
You don't beg for space. You own it.
The Invisible Cost of Playing Small
Let's talk numbers.
If your average project is £30K and you're losing 1 client per month to positioning fuzziness, a lack of energy and not being recognised as the LEADER the client is looking for - that's £360K a year gone.
If you're working 50+ hours and still feeling “invisible,” that's your lifestyle leaking opportunity.
If you've invested in systems, copywriters, or LinkedIn coaching that didn't land you already know how expensive misalignment can be.
The cost of staying small?
Massive.
Invisible.
And totally avoidable.
So What Do You Build Instead?
You build clarity.
A business that feels like it was made for you.
A signal that calls in aligned, respectful, high-intent clients.
You build:
Positioning so clear it acts like a filter
A consulting engine that runs each week
Messaging that your best-fit prospects instantly recognise themselves in
It doesn't take years.
It takes alignment + system.
That's what we do.
A Quiet Revolution — A Different Kind of Partner
I’m not here to hustle you into funnels.
I’m not here to turn you into a content influencer.
I work with:
Consultants who want to stop hiding
Founders who want quiet power over loud presence
Experts who are finally ready to lead with their mind, not just their method
Together, we:
Rebuild your positioning from the inside out
Design a client flow that works like clockwork
Anchor your offer around the leader you already are
If You've Been Waiting for Permission, Here It Is
You already know your work has value.
The question is: are you building a business that reflects that?
No more shrinking.
No more wondering what the algorithm wants.
No more letting your fears dictate your potential.
It's time to step into the arena with confidence and clarity.
Because the world doesn't benefit from your hesitation.
It benefits from your leadership.
You now have 3 choices ahead of you:
DECISION #1: Do nothing. Surely you wouldn’t do that if you’ve read this entire post about decisions, actions and leadership?
DECISION #2: Take bold decisive action. If you want personal help to shortcut your time to revenue on the things I discuss in this post then schedule a call with me here. I’ll work out your ‘shoot for the moon’ position and give you some level of clarity on a challenge you are facing or a goal you want to attain. And IF we both think I can help, we can talk about me working with you 1 on 1 to make big shifts in your vision, action orientation, clarity and RESULTS.
DECISION #3: Dip your toe in the water. Sometimes small steps provide momentum. Upgrade to a paid membership ($99 a month) and get instant access to over $1K worth of training courses, a chat app to ask me questions AND the huge value of having me on your team. I’ll undoubtedly see a bigger vision for you than you can do on your own and I’ll make it my mission to get you there.
