Buyers are holding back and the mood feels heavy. A five-minute daily reset for business owners who need to think clearly again.
Last Friday I posted about something I’ve been noticing: it feels sticky out there right now.
Particularly with events. People say they want to come, they’re interested, enthusiastic even, and then they don’t commit.
The response to that post told me I’m far from alone. Business owners, consultants, coaches and event hosts all said the same thing. Buyers are holding back. Businesses are waiting to see where to invest before they spend.
From a commercial point of view, that makes complete sense. Uncertainty makes people cautious, but the mood in those comments, combined with a week of content tearing down the coaching industry, felt heavy. And I think a lot of us are carrying more of that weight than we realise.
Why your state affects your results
I’ve worked in marketing for 32 years. I’ve seen recessions, boom times, the arrival of the internet, social media, and now AI. Markets shift – that’s a constant.
What separates the businesses that come through a sticky patch well isn’t clever tactics. It’s the ability to stay steady enough to think clearly.
When you’re running on stress, decisions narrow. You discount when you shouldn’t; you go quiet when you should be visible. Or you throw everything at the wall. Your marketing starts to sound anxious, and your audience picks up on that, even if they can’t name it.
Marketing starts with the business owner. So before strategy, let’s look after the strategist.
A five-minute reset you can do at your desk
Try this now. It takes about five minutes. (Keep your eyes open if you prefer, and stop if anything feels uncomfortable. You’re in charge.)
1. Feel your feet. Both feet flat on the floor. Notice the ground holding you up.
2. Lengthen the out-breath. Breathe in normally, then breathe out slowly, a little longer than the in-breath. Three or four times. You’re signalling to your body that it can soften.
3. Look around. Let your eyes move slowly around the room. Notice a colour, the light, an object you like. This is orienting, a simple way to tell your nervous system you’re safe right now.
4. Check in. Ask yourself: What do I need to feel safe right now? Water, a walk, a break from the screen? Whatever comes up is valid.
5. Find three glimmers. Glimmers are the opposite of triggers: small moments of calm, safety or joy. A good coffee, a kind client email. Name three from the last few days.
That’s it. Five minutes, and you’ll be making your next decision from a much steadier place.
Balancing the scales
This isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s a genuinely tough market for many of us right now, and it’s OK to say so.
But our brains are wired to scan for threat, so when things feel heavy, the heavy is all we see. Deliberately noticing what’s working, who’s engaging, what’s quietly going right, balances that out. And from there, the next step becomes clearer.
Markets never stay the same. This phase won’t either. The job is to keep moving forward, steadily, with yourself intact.
Build it into your day
I’ve created a free resource, The Daily Reset Checklist, to help you make this a habit rather than something you only reach for in a crisis.
When you need more than five minutes
If the pressure has been building for a while and it’s affecting how you sell, show up or feel about your business, let’s talk. Alongside 32 years as a marketing professional, I’m a certified trauma-informed coach, and I work with business owners on both the inner work and the marketing strategy built on top of it.
Send me a DM or book a conversation here: https://calendly.com/inspiredmarketingmedia/30min
I’d love to hear from you: are you seeing the same hesitation in your market? And what’s one glimmer from your week? Share in the comments.