Why Growing Slower Might Be Your Smartest Move
Singing – Big Big things ni mo like yen yen yen (lol)
Hey friend, can we have an honest conversation about growth? Because I’m seeing something happen over and over that breaks my heart.
You know that pressure you feel to scale quickly? That voice telling you bigger is always better and faster is always right? I need you to know something important: that voice is often wrong.
I’ve watched so many amazing organizations—businesses with incredible potential, nonprofits with powerful missions—rush into expansion before they were ready. And you know what happened? They lost what made them special in the first place.
I remember sitting across from a client who had built this incredible Arabian tea parlor (you know me, you know I love Arabian teas and fish) with steady patrons every night. “I thought three new locations in one year was the dream,” He told me, frustrated. “Now I’m drowning in debt, my original outlet is suffering, and I barely recognize my own business anymore.”
Sound familiar? Maybe you’re feeling that same pressure right now.
What Actually Happens When You Rush
When you push for fast growth before you’re ready, here’s what typically follows (and I’m telling you this because I’ve seen it too many times):
- That special culture you built? It gets diluted as you rapidly bring in people who haven’t absorbed what makes you different.
- Your quality starts slipping because systems that worked perfectly when you were smaller just can’t keep up.
- Cash flow becomes a constant nightmare. Growth eats money before it makes money—something those “scale fast” gurus often forget to mention.
- Your best people—including you—burn out trying to handle both current work and expansion at the same time.
I’m not sharing this to discourage you. I’m sharing because I believe in what you’re building, and I want it to last.
The Power of Taking Your Time
The organizations I’ve seen thrive long-term have a different approach, and I think there’s a lot we can learn from them:
- They perfect their operations at each stage before moving to the next (think of it as mastering one level before unlocking the next)
- They’re not afraid to say “no” to opportunities that might distract them from getting the fundamentals right
- They invest deeply in their people and culture, knowing that’s the foundation everything else builds on
- They build financial reserves because having that cushion gives you choices when opportunities or challenges arise
- They listen closely to feedback and fix problems while they’re still small
These businesses aren’t afraid of growth—they just respect it enough to approach it with intention.
Questions to Ask Yourself (Because I Care About Your Success)
Take a moment with these questions. Be honest with yourself:
- If your organization doubled in size tomorrow, what would break first?
- Which parts of your operation still need fine-tuning before you scale them?
- Are you chasing growth because it truly serves your mission, or because you feel like that’s what successful organizations are supposed to do?
- What could you achieve by going deeper rather than wider right now?
No judgment in your answers—just clarity.
You’re building something important. Best give it the strong foundation it deserves.
Let’s Take Action Together
No matter what size you are or what industry you’re in, here are some steps you can take right now:
- Check your foundations: What systems need strengthening before you add more weight?
- Define what “enough” looks like for you: Success doesn’t always mean endless expansion. What’s your “right size”?
- Plan your pace: Create growth milestones based on readiness, not just opportunity
- Be transparent about your approach: Help your team, investors, or board understand why deliberate growth creates more lasting value
Remember the mighty oak tree? It doesn’t rush to reach its full height in a single season. It takes its time building a root system that can support whatever comes—storms, droughts, and yes, eventually, impressive growth.
You deserve to build something that lasts, not just something that grows fast. And I’m here cheering you on every step of that journey. Because the question isn’t whether you’ll grow. It’s whether you’ll grow strong enough to last.
PS: If you’re nodding along but wondering how to actually put these ideas into practice, you’re not alone. The path forward often feels clearest when you have someone walking beside you who’s been there before.
That’s where I come in. I help individuals and organizations just like yours simplify the complex, build resilient cultures, and untangle those messy systems that keep you stuck. Whether you’re a small business owner feeling overwhelmed by growth challenges, a nonprofit leader trying to increase your impact, or a corporate team navigating change – I’ve got tools that can help.
The first step is often the hardest, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Reach out for a conversation about where you are and where you want to go. No pressure, no complicated frameworks – just real talk about real challenges.
Because you deserve to build something that works for you, not against you.
Ready to take that step?
Connect with me at me@mofoyekeomole.com and let’s start clearing the path forward together.
