Jim Connolly Marketing

  • Home
  • About
    • About Jim Connolly
    • Jim’s small business marketing newsletter
    • Top Marketing Tips for 2026
    • Privacy Policy
    • How I use cookies
    • Contact
    • Disclosure
  • Let’s Grow Your Business

What’s the most common mistake I see small business owners make?

Updated June 2015

By Jim Connolly | February 19, 2011

Yesterday, someone asked me what was the most common mistake I saw small business owners making.

I was able to answer immediately, as I see examples of this literally every working day of my life!

The single biggest mistake I see people make, is that they believe they can carry on, with the same mindset, taking the same kind of actions and avoiding the same core disciplines, and that things will “just get better” somehow.

Jim Rohn used to say that our future holds one of two possible outcomes; namely the inevitable rewards or unavoidable regrets of our past actions.  He was absolutely right.

The need for action

It’s great to want things to improve, but without the determination to do what’s required, we are deluding ourselves.  Bob may sincerely want to get fitter and have more energy, but if he continues to eat junk and refuses to exercise, nothing will improve.  Similarly, if he wants his business to significantly increase it’s revenues and profits, he needs to significantly improve how he develops his business.

If you would like some help with this, I have a great, downloadable audio program, which gives you almost 2 hours worth of my most powerful ideas on motivation and getting the results you need.

Learn the lessons, take the actions and look to the future with excitement, rather than apprehension.

IMPORTANT: If you want to make more sales, boost your profits and grow an amazing business, this will help you!

Creative Marketing Tips

Get my best ideas delivered direct to your inbox. Just add your email below.

You can unsubscribe at any time. I respect your privacy.

Jim Connolly

Hi! I'm Jim Connolly and I use creative marketing to help small business owners increase sales, boost profits and build amazing businesses. Read more here.

Featured by

marketing advice, marketing help

Categories

  • AI (7)
  • Blogging (407)
  • Business development (493)
  • Copywriting (307)
  • Creative Marketing (1,668)
  • Email marketing & mail shots (187)
  • Professional development (545)
  • Social media marketing (358)

Hosting provider

20i hosting

Search

Recent posts

  • Sign your work. Grow your business August 17, 2026
  • Get creative: Let others market your business for free! August 7, 2026
  • Traditional marketing is dead July 27, 2026
  • The stupid game July 13, 2026
  • Hey! Not so fast! July 6, 2026
  • How to get your fees right June 23, 2026
  • A 3 shot espresso for your business June 17, 2026
  • Unproductive? You’re probably just bored June 12, 2026
  • Make AI grow your business June 8, 2026
  • It motivates people to take action, now June 4, 2026
  • Is your business one of the 50% that prospects now avoid? Probably! May 30, 2026
  • Give your best ideas away for free. Here’s why May 12, 2026
  • AI is wiping out your competitors. Now take their market share May 5, 2026
  • Powerful words for your marketing toolbox. Part 2 April 29, 2026
  • Your social media is sending an important message April 27, 2026
  • When was the last time? April 23, 2026
  • Jim, why are my sales numbers down? April 20, 2026
  • The secret sauce you were looking for, is here April 15, 2026
  • A few things worth learning, from the top small businesses April 9, 2026
  • Be optimistic. Because all this is true April 2, 2026

Creative Thinking?

My Creative Thinking Website
  • Home
  • About
  • Let’s Grow Your Business

Copyright © 2026 Jim Connolly