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It’s easy to feel buried under a mountain of things you should be doing. The noise is everywhere, and alarms (disguised as notifications) are blaring, warning us about the economy, AI, pricing pressures…impending doom at every turn. And as a business owner, that pressure piles on top of everything you were already managing.
But what if some worries simply weren’t worth your time? What if part of staying sane and successful this year is knowing what not to do?
Here are four things that I believe you can safely remove from today’s worry list.
Recession
Yes, you’re hearing the word everywhere right now. Markets jump, then drop. Inflation is up, then it’s slowing. It’s natural to feel uneasy. But here’s the truth: you cannot control the economy. You are not going to move the S&P 500, no matter how talented, skilled, or clever you are, or how successful your Q3 is
What you can do is shift your focus towards things you can control in your own economic world. Instead of bracing for a recession that may or may not come, ask yourself: Which clients seem less engaged right now? Where are things taking longer than they used to? Which of my referral partners or marketing channels have gotten quiet?
That’s where your attention will matter. Worrying about the broader market doesn’t impact your cash flow. Staying close to the people who pay you does.
Tariffs
Unless you import goods, manufacture overseas, or rely on materials subject to tariffs, this isn’t your battle. Let those directly impacted and the trade organizations do their work – because they are doing great work. Check out the contributions of my fellow Small Business Council members like Adam and Amy Fazackerly of LayNGo, Hrag Kalebjian of Henry’s House of Coffee, and Traci Tapani of Wyoming Machine, who are sharing their stories publicly and as well as furthering the dedicated efforts of the US Chamber of Commerce. If you are not on the front lines of this, though, don’t lose sleep over global policy.
If your costs are rising “due to tariffs,” then it’s time to have some clear conversations with your vendors. Ask what’s driving the increases, and see if there is room to renegotiate. Do not assume everyone is passing on costs equally. Some suppliers have more room to absorb than others, and it may be time to consider different vendors as your secondary (or even primary) supplier.
Bottom line: If tariffs are hitting your business, deal with it directly. If it’s not, don’t let this issue live rent-free in your head.
How Fast Others are Moving
This one is sneaky. You may have been feeling this even before social media told you that you need to move faster. It shows up as low-grade anxiety: Am I missing something? Is it too late? It’s everywhere. Especially when the conversation turns to the speed of change and (more recently) AI.
Yes, things are moving fast, and technologies are changing literally every day. But no, you haven’t missed the boat. You are not the only one still figuring out what is actually worth exploring and how to integrate these new capabilities. Most people are dabbling, watching others, and wondering if they, too, are behind.
Before you decide to overhaul your business completely, ask yourself, “What problem am I actually trying to solve that requires me to move faster?”
If there’s no clear answer, you’re probably reacting to noise, not responding to reality. And if you are unable to identify a real problem that speed could solve, it’s time to take “go faster” off your to-do list. Don’t give this worry any more energy until there is an actual problem to solve.
Whether someone thinks you used AI to write that post
There’s a lot of outrage around “real” vs. “AI-generated” content. Here’s how I think about it: if you’re creating honest, useful content that reflects your values and speaks to your people, you’re doing it right.
Whether you use a tool to help you shape a headline or outline a paragraph doesn’t matter one iota if the end result helps the people that you want to serve. After all, famous authors used to handwrite their work instead of using a computer, and despite its ubiquity, the internet has only been available for a few decades.
True, someone will not like your method, but if it works, it honestly reflects your thoughts, and it helps you connect with potential customers or partners? Keep going.
You don’t need everyone’s approval. You need the attention of the right people.
The next time the three AM fears and worries start taking over, ask yourself this:
Is this something I can take action on today?
If not, it probably belongs on the “do not waste energy on this” list.
If something becomes a real issue with actual implications for your business, you’ll address it.
Have faith in yourself.
In the meantime, free up the energy, the creativity, and the headspace to focus on what is real and what you can positively influence.
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