The Beach Approach: How Taking a Step Back Can Move Your Business Forward
Angus and I at Fiesta Island in San Diego, CA
My heart is in San Diego, California. Of all the places I’ve lived, that’s the city I call “home.” I moved there for a management development program, grew professionally in ways I could never have imagined, and even met my husband there. It holds a special place in my memories as the moment in my life when I branched off from what was expected and went somewhere for me.
I wasn’t alone on that initial move to Southern California. My dog (and best friend), Angus, came with me. Despite growing up in chilly and erratic Midwest weather, Angus took to beach life like he was born for it. My phone is filled with pictures of the two of us exploring together, especially those calm afternoons on Pacific Beach, where the waves echoed off the cliffs and the sea breeze carried in that clean ocean air I still smell in my dreams.
That time wasn’t just a change of scenery. It was a turning point. Professionally, I felt like I was constantly at a crossroads: decisions to make, people to prioritize, tasks to tackle. But on those beach walks with Angus, I found space to stop reacting and start thinking. Not from a place of anxiousness (though trust me, even San Diego beaches can’t cure all of that), but from a place of strategy. How could I take a long-view approach to a problem and solve it for good?
That space to think made me a better operator, a better planner, and honestly, a better version of myself. And it led to professional successes that I’m incredibly proud of.
Now, I know what you might be thinking:
“Jacq, you’re telling me to sit on a beach with a fluffy dog and think—and that’s supposed to solve all my problems?”
Well… yes. That’s exactly what I’m telling you to do.
Not because I think sun and sand are magical (though they kind of are), but because you need space to shift your mindset. Too many small business owners are stuck on repeat: Doing what they’ve always done, grinding every day, and hoping that hustle alone will lead to success. But real progress comes when you pause, take a breath, survey the landscape, and choose a new, smarter path forward.
This mindset shift is especially critical when it comes to your financials. As small business owners, we are CEOs. Maybe we’re not running Apple or Walmart but we are responsible for the direction of our companies. And in my (admittedly biased) view, that starts with your books.
Because here’s the thing: numbers don’t lie. If you understand your books, you understand your business. Period. Yes, that reality check can be tough, especially if it reveals that all your hard work hasn’t yielded the returns you hoped. But that’s okay. All you need is a willingness to change.
And the beautiful part? You can. Unlike your neighbor with the fancy car and the safe, salaried job, you have the freedom to change direction. That’s the risk -- and the reward -- of entrepreneurship. It’s why you do what you do. And it’s why not everyone can do it.
Whenever I begin working with a new client, I start by asking three simple questions. Not to quiz them—but to figure out where we stand, and where we can go from here. If you’re ready to take a CEO mindset to your business, start here:
What key performance indicators (KPIs) are you currently tracking, and how do they align with your overall business goals? Determining what KPIs are important to a small business can be difficult! What your fellow entrepreneur tracks for their business may not be meaningful to your business. By selecting the right KPIs tailored to your industry and goals, you've transformed your data from mere numbers into a powerful driver of success.
What drives you to keep showing up and pushing forward in your business every day? Is this truly a “business question”? No, it isn’t. We all start a business for a reason, but that reason shifts and evolves over time. The “why” behind your daily hustle continually transforms. My “why” is simple: I thrive on helping others realize their dreams of building successful businesses. By understanding what truly drives my clients, I can craft financial conversations that inspire and empower—turning doubts into motivation, not obstacles.
Would you be comfortable teaching a class on finance? It might sound harsh—I know, but here's the thing: we aren't experts in all facets of our small business. Let me tell you a secret: I wouldn't sell my marketing skills to anyone. I'm a beginner at best. As business owners, we sometimes need to accept that we can’t wear all the hats in our business. When we try to do everything, we actually give up the ability to take on one more client or make more products to sell, which is known as the opportunity cost.
If you can answer all three, you’re likely ahead of the game. If not, don’t worry. That’s where the real work begins.
For me, stepping back instead of falling face-first was the biggest lesson I took away from those afternoons with Angus. When I stopped reacting and started looking one month, six months, even a year ahead, I saw where I needed to go. The problems of the day stopped controlling me. And slowly, things just started to fall into place.
Your “beach” doesn’t have to be the Pacific. It might be a coffee shop, a walk around the block, or a quiet hour spent looking over your numbers. But the next time you feel stuck or overwhelmed, try stepping back instead of charging forward.
You might just see the path you’ve been missing.
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