You’re putting in the work. You’re showing up. You’ve even hit consistent 5K or 10K months…
But for some reason, your business growth feels stuck.
You know you’re capable of more, so why isn’t the next level happening?
The truth might surprise you; it’s not your strategy.
It’s not your audience size.
It’s not even your niche.
It’s your ego.
As entrepreneurs, we often think of ego as something external. But inside the day-to-day of running a business, ego is often the silent killer of momentum. And if you want to scale beyond six figures, you’ve got to learn how to recognize the ego traps that are secretly keeping you small.
In Episode 287 of the Fail to Win podcast, I walk you through 4 specific ego traps that show up on the path to your first million, and how to break through each one.
1. Fear of Failure = Perfectionism + Procrastination
This is probably the most common and sneakiest form of ego in business. You tell yourself you’re just “waiting until it’s perfect,” but deep down, you’re scared of failing.
Sound familiar?
- You delay launching because the sales page doesn’t “feel ready.”
- You avoid recording that Reel because the lighting isn’t perfect.
- You tell yourself you’re planning, but you’re actually just avoiding.
Perfectionism feels like preparation, but it’s actually fear in disguise.
“For me, fear of failure shows up as procrastination and perfectionism: not posting, not breathing while recording, being scared it’s not good enough.”
The fix?
Take messy action. Done is better than perfect.
And remember, the only way to get better… is by doing.
2. Getting Cocky After a Big Win
This one hits right after a launch goes well. You’ve got momentum, you’re making sales, and you start to assume your success will continue on autopilot.
I’ve been there. After making my first €2 million online, I got comfortable. I thought everything would just keep scaling. But business doesn’t work like that.
Markets shift. Audiences change. Your competitors get sharper. What worked last time might not work again, unless you intentionally evolve.
Assuming the win without warming up your audience is not a strategy. I learned that the hard way.
Staying humble, hungry, and strategic is the key to consistent growth.
3. Refusing to Be a Beginner Again
This ego trap is sneaky. You’ve built a reputation, you’re good at what you do. And now, trying something new feels too vulnerable.
- You avoid new platforms like YouTube or TikTok.
- You avoid switching offers, even if they’d scale better.
- You don’t invest in new coaching or mentorship, because you feel like you should already know it all.
But the truth is: growth requires discomfort.
We stop trying new things because we don’t want to feel like a beginner again. But being a beginner is where all growth starts.
Let yourself suck at something. That’s where the gold lives.
4. Doing 100K Tasks Instead of Million-Dollar Tasks
This one is especially dangerous if you're stuck between 100K and 250K/year.
At this level, many entrepreneurs are still wearing all the hats: coach, creator, customer support, admin, tech, marketing…
You don’t let go of tasks because you think:
- “No one can do this better than me.”
- “It’s just faster if I do it.”
- “I can’t afford to outsource yet.”
But that’s how you stay stuck.
If you want to scale from 100K to 1 million, you need to stop doing 100K tasks. You are the bottleneck of your business.
Instead of clinging to control, it’s time to step into your CEO role.
Focus on revenue-driving, million-euro tasks:
- Building systems
- Coaching your team
- Optimizing launches
- Creating strategic partnerships
- Refining offers that scale
The Bottom Line: To Scale, You Must Evolve
Your next level of income requires a new level of identity.
If you want to hit €500K or €1M, you can’t keep doing the same things that got you to 100K.
You need to shift from:
- Perfectionism → Action
- Comfort → Growth
- Control → Delegation
- Knowing → Learning
These mindset shifts are what separate stuck solopreneurs from self-made millionaires.
Want Help Identifying What’s Holding You Back?
I created a free Bottleneck Guide that outlines:
- The 100K tasks that are keeping you stuck
- The million-euro actions you should be focused on instead
- Specific examples for different types of entrepreneurs
You can download the guide in both English and Dutch: https://www.fastforwardamy.com/bottleneck
It’s short, practical, and I promise it’ll give you at least one powerful aha-moment.
Are You Ready for Even More Growth?
If you’re currently making multiple six figures and you're serious about scaling to seven…
I’d love to invite you to apply for my Self-Made Millionaire Mastermind.
This is for ambitious business owners who want to grow sustainably with strategy, not stress.
DM me the word selfmade on Instagram @fastforwardamy and I’ll send you the application link.
🎧 And of course, listen to the full podcast episode now to go deeper:
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