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

In praise of the slow win

Updated June 2015

By Jim Connolly | October 18, 2012

Why do so many small business owners look for shortcuts to success?

I have a theory. I don’t believe, as some do, that the typical small business owner is a fool. In my experience, the opposite is true and I think it’s insulting to suggest otherwise.

So, what gives? Why do we see intelligent people investing their time and money on improbable shortcuts?

Here’s how I see it

From the outside, a lot of business success seems to happen overnight. Seemingly out of nowhere, a brand, company, product or service is suddenly everywhere. Of course, we seldom see all the hard work, time, commitment, creativity, testing and measuring that went into making that overnight success happen. We don’t see the ‘failures’, rejections or risks either. We just see the success.

Having had the privilege of working with thousands of small business owners, many of whom have achieved commercial success at a life changing level, I can say I have never once seen one who got there using a trick or shortcut. I can, however, point you to countless examples of people who have focused their time trying to get rich quick, yet are still broke years later – sometimes broken too.

The slow win

In my experience, the slowest way to get from where you are, to where you want to be, is to keep looking for the shortcuts. Go for the slow win. It’s what the winners in business do.

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