Don't do anything yet.

Seriously. Wait.

An old therapist of mine once told me, “Action is the antidote to despair.”

It’s a quote I’ve held onto because I really resonate with the idea that action and movement is what keeps you unstuck.

But sometimes action isn’t always the answer.

I remember once feeling so desperate for work, I offered someone 100 emails for $1k.

One hundred emails.

That’s $10 an email. Pre-AI. What was I thinking?!

Thankfully, they never gave me the work. I instantly regretted saying it the second it flew out of my mouth.

Sometimes, we just aren’t in the right mindset to make good decisions.

What mindset are you in right now?

If any of the following is hitting too close to home, take a step back before you take any more action.

Here are the worst times to make a business decision:

When you’re broke or desperate

I know. I know. This one is the hardest.

This is when you say yes to everything.

The client with red flags? Sure, I’ll take them. The project that’s way outside your wheelhouse? Why not. The rate that makes you cringe? Fine, I need the money.

Desperation makes you abandon your standards. You take work you shouldn’t. You price yourself into a hole. You say things like “100 emails for $1k” and immediately want to disappear.

The worst part? Desperate decisions usually lead to more desperation. The bad client drains you. The low rate sets a precedent. The wrong project takes time away from finding the right one.

If you’re in panic mode, do NOT make big decisions. Do small things instead. Send a few follow-ups. Reach out to past clients. Take a walk. Let the panic pass before you commit to anything.

When you’re emotional after a bad client

You just got burned. The client was a nightmare. They ghosted on payment, they were impossible to please, they made your life hell.

And now you want to burn it all down.

“I’m never taking another client in that industry.”

“I’m raising my rates to $10K minimum so I never deal with this again.”

“I’m pivoting my entire business.”

Stop.

One bad client is not a pattern. It’s one bad client.

Wait 48 hours before making any decisions. Let the emotion settle. Talk to someone who isn’t in your head. Then decide if you actually need to change something, or if you just need to vent.

When you’re comparing yourself to someone else

You just saw someone on LinkedIn announce a $50K month. Or launch a course. Or land a massive client.

And suddenly your entire strategy feels wrong.

“Maybe I should do what they’re doing.”

“Maybe I need to pivot.”

“Maybe I’m behind.”

Comparison is a terrible business advisor.

You’re seeing their highlight reel, not their reality. You don’t know their expenses, their stress, their backstory. You don’t know if that big win is even real.

Making decisions based on what someone else is doing is a recipe for chasing the wrong thing. Their path isn’t your path.

Close the tab. Unfollow if you need to. Get back to YOUR strategy.

When you’re exhausted

Everything looks worse when you’re tired.

The small problem feels massive. The minor setback feels like a sign. The business you’ve built feels like it’s crumbling.

It’s not. You’re just exhausted.

I’ve almost quit things at 6pm that I was grateful for by 9am. Tired brains lie to you. They tell you everything is urgent, everything is broken, everything needs to change right now.

It doesn’t.

Sleep on it. Literally. Make the decision tomorrow when you’ve rested. If it still feels like the right call, then act. But don’t blow up your business because you’re running on four hours of sleep.

When you just had a big win

This one’s sneaky.

You just landed a huge client. Or had your best month ever. Or hit a milestone you’ve been chasing.

And now you want to celebrate by spending.

New software. New courses. New team member. New office. New everything.

Slow down.

One good month doesn’t mean every month will be good. One big client doesn’t mean the pipeline is full forever. The high of a win can make you overconfident and overspend.

Celebrate. You earned it. But wait before you make any big financial decisions. Let the dust settle. Make sure the win is sustainable before you build on top of it.

How to know if you’re in a bad state

Ask yourself:

Am I reacting or responding?

Would I give this advice to a friend?

Have I slept? Eaten? Talked to someone who isn’t me?

If you’re rushing to decide, that’s usually a sign you shouldn’t. Good decisions don’t require urgency. They require clarity.

Know when to pause

Action is powerful. But not all action is equal.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing. Wait. Breathe. Let the moment pass.

The decision will still be there tomorrow. And tomorrow-you will probably make a better one.

All my best,

Anjeanette

Copywriting Tip of the Week:

Cut your first draft by 20%. Seriously. Go back and delete every sentence that doesn’t earn its place. Tighter copy is stronger copy. If it doesn’t add, it subtracts.

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