Breaking the Income Plateau: Scaling Tips for Women Leaders
- (Admin) The Thrivology Company
- Mar 20
- 9 min read
Hitting an Income Plateau? It's Not a Full Stop, It's a Comma (and a Chance to Breathe!)
Hey lovely, are you feeling like you're pushing, pushing, pushing in your business, but your income just isn't budging? Like you're stuck on a frustrating treadmill, going nowhere fast? I get it. It's a feeling many of us experience, especially when we're juggling the beautiful chaos of motherhood alongside our entrepreneurial dreams. We're trying to be superwomen – present for the kids' pottery-cup presentations from school, deciphering toddler-speak, all while building an empire, right?
Let's be honest, the initial excitement of launching, the thrill of those first clients, the buzz of finally hitting that first income milestone – it’s incredible! But then, things can plateau. And it's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “Okay, I just need to work HARDER.” More late nights, more hustling, less sleep (as if we weren't already running on fumes, right?).
But darling, I'm here to tell you that's not always the answer. Sometimes, hitting an income plateau isn't a sign you're doing something wrong; it's a signal that it's time to do something DIFFERENT. It's like my six-year-old learning to ride her bike. She’s a Libra, so balance should come naturally, right? But she pushed & pushed, getting frustrated & teary. It was like watching a tiny, determined earth dog trying to conquer a metal mountain! It wasn’t until she hopped on her friend’s bike at school, with a different seat height & a fun, playful atmosphere, that she suddenly got it! The shift wasn't about more effort, it was about a fresh perspective. Just like in business, sometimes a change of approach, a new strategy, a different way of framing your offer – that’s the key. Persistence is key, yes, but smart work beats hard work any day. I remember when I first started Femmeprenista, after leaving the corporate world (where, let's be honest, I often felt like a replaceable cog), I hit a major income plateau. I’d poured my heart & soul (and what felt like every spare penny) into launching, and the initial traction had been promising. But then, silence. The doubt crept in - "Am I really cut out for this? Was leaving that steady paycheck (even if it was ridiculously small compared to the work I was doing) a huge mistake?" The fear was real, but so was my determination to find a better way. It turned out, my messaging was too broad. I was trying to be everything to everyone, which, as my MBA taught me, is a recipe for disaster. Niching down, focusing on my ideal client (the ambitious mum, juggling ALL the things), and refining my offer to speak directly to her needs – that’s what finally broke through that plateau. More on that later!
So, if you're a Scaling Leader (you've got traction, you're making consistent income, but now you’re hitting that income plateau wall), this one’s for you. Let’s dive into how to transform that frustrating income plateau into a launchpad for your next level of growth.
Reframing the Income Plateau: From Panic to Possibility
First things first, let's ditch the drama. An income plateau isn't a failure; it's feedback. It’s a comma, not a full stop. It’s a chance to take a breath, assess, & adjust. Remember what Sue Knight, a renowned NLP expert, says: “There is no failure, only feedback.” This applies as much to business as it does to life. You know, it's like that old Taoist story – “who knows what’s good or what’s bad?”. That initial income plateau with Femmeprenista, while terrifying at the time, actually forced me to refine my messaging, niche down, and ultimately build a stronger foundation. It was a blessing in disguise, really.
Think of it like this: Imagine you're navigating a busy city (London, New York, wherever your hustle takes you). You meticulously plan your route, you set off full of energy, but then you hit unexpected road closures. Do you give up & go home? Or do you reassess, find a detour, & keep moving towards your destination? It's all about adjusting your strategy, not abandoning your journey.
This is where the magic of the Business Flourish Framework comes in, lovely. It's about integrating mindset (Focus), marketing (Flair), systems (Flow), & well-being (Fuel) to create a truly flourishing business – and life. And don't forget how AI (Fusion) can become your strategic partner in all of these areas! Imagine having an AI assistant that helps you streamline your marketing, automate those repetitive tasks, & even personalize your client communications. It's like having a super-efficient, tech-savvy clone (without the drama, thankfully!).
Sharpening Your Mindset: Where Are the Bottlenecks?
It all begins with your mindset, lovely. Are you still operating from that "I'm just a mum trying to make it work" mentality? Because, darling, you are so much more than that. You are a CEO, a leader, a visionary. Own that. Remember what Lisa Nichols says: “You are the designer of your destiny. You are the author of your story.” Take control of that narrative, mama!
Take some time for quiet reflection. This could be a five-minute meditation, journaling with a cuppa, or even a quiet walk with the dogs (if they're cooperating, that is!). What beliefs are holding you back? Are you undercharging because you're afraid of losing clients? Are you resisting premium offers because you think you're not "expert" enough? It's really funny, because I remember getting my coaching qualification while pregnant with my third! It took longer than I wanted, juggling nappies & newborns alongside study sessions (with Dora the Explorer often playing in the background – talk about multi-tasking!), but it taught me resilience & the power of embracing my own pace. Honestly, your path might be different, might be slower, but that doesn’t diminish your brilliance. It just makes your story more unique, more powerful.
Next, analyse your current strategies. Where are the income plateau bottlenecks? Is it lead generation, client conversion, or something else entirely? It's time to get curious – clean curiosity, like sales & marketing expert Adrienne Weimer says. “If you ask disempowering questions,” I often tell my clients, “you cannot find empowering answers.” So, instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?”, ask “How can I learn from this and move forward?”. Ask yourself powerful questions. What's working? What's not? What can you streamline? What can you delegate? Maybe it’s time to leverage some smart AI tools to truly automate those repetitive tasks & free up your precious time & energy.
Refining Your Marketing: Are You Speaking to Her Soul?
Now, let's talk marketing, my love. Are you speaking directly to her soul? I mean, REALLY speaking to her deepest desires, her unspoken fears, her secret dreams? Are you entering the conversation already taking place in the customer's mind, like marketing expert Sabri Suby teaches us? Or are you just throwing spaghetti at the wall, hoping something sticks? Remember, "stories are the PDF files of human information,” as Rory Sutherland puts it. Tell her story, and she’ll connect with yours.
For Scaling Leaders, hitting an income plateau is often about refining your existing offers, not creating new ones from scratch.
Are your premium offers truly premium? Or are they just slightly more expensive versions of your basic packages? Think about what Alex Hormozi, business strategist & acquisition expert, says: "make an offer so good, people feel stupid saying no." Does your offer make her feel like that?
Is your messaging specific enough? Or are you trying to appeal to everyone? Honestly, as my MBA taught me, niching down is not about limiting your audience; it’s about amplifying your impact on the right people. It’s like choosing the perfect outfit – the right fit makes all the difference. The more specific you are, the more powerfully you resonate with your ideal client.
Optimizing Your Systems: For a Sustainable Scale
Systems, lovely, systems! Are your processes streamlined, or are you still drowning in admin, juggling a million to-dos, & feeling like you're constantly putting out fires (while simultaneously trying to prevent your toddler from setting actual fires – you know the drill, right?)? This is where efficient workflows and smart automation become your secret weapons. Remember, as my partner (my personal workaholic – bless him!) often says, quoting Alex Hormozi, “The game is won by acquiring skills, then applying them, then repeating.” Building robust systems is a skill, and applying it consistently is the game-changer.
It's time to get organized, mama. Implement efficient systems & embrace the power of automation. Think of it like this: every minute you spend on repetitive tasks is a minute you're not spending on strategic growth, connecting with clients, or (gasp!) having some precious me-time.
Client Onboarding: Could you automate your welcome emails, client questionnaires, or appointment scheduling?
Invoicing & Payments: Are you still manually creating and sending invoices? Explore automated payment systems.
Marketing & Content: Can you schedule your social media posts, automate your email sequences, or leverage AI for content creation?
Think about your client onboarding process, your scheduling, your invoicing, your marketing – can any of these be automated or delegated? Perhaps investing in a virtual assistant, exploring project management software, or leveraging AI for content scheduling could be game-changers. As financial freedom advocate Cody Sanchez says, "the goal isn't to be famous, it's to be rich. And rich is just having more passive income than expenses," and a streamlined system is exactly how you achieve that, isn't it?
If you're feeling completely overwhelmed by the tech side of things (because honestly, who has the time to become a tech whiz when you're also a mum, a CEO, a chef, a chauffeur, & a chief negotiator for bedtime stories?), remember that you don’t have to do it all alone. Our Launch Programme can help you implement those essential foundational business systems, launch with confidence, & secure your first clients.
Fuelling Your Fire: Wellbeing Isn't a Luxury, It’s a Necessity
Finally, let's talk about prioritizing your well-being, my love. Because honestly, you can't pour from an empty cup. Are you prioritizing your wellbeing, or are you running on empty, surviving on caffeine & sheer willpower? "Your job is to fill your own cup, so it overflows," transformational speaker Lisa Nichols wisely reminds us. This isn’t selfish; it’s essential for sustainable success. Remember Michelle Obama’s wise words: "We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list."
This might mean scheduling in some non-negotiable self-care, setting boundaries around work hours (yes, even when the emails are piling up & the kids are finally asleep), or simply taking five minutes to breathe deeply & reconnect with yourself amidst the chaos. You know, my personal workaholic partner & I discovered that attending university together, sharing the same classes, has been such a gift – a chance to learn & grow together. It’s a reminder that prioritizing shared experiences & continuous learning, even within busy lives, is incredibly fulfilling.
Ready to Transform Your Comma into an Exclamation Point?
Lovely, hitting an income plateau is not the end of the world; it's an opportunity. It's a chance to breathe, reassess, & refine. It’s a comma, waiting to be transformed into an exclamation point!
So, what’s one small, smart step you can take TODAY to shift your mindset, refine your offer, optimize your systems, or prioritize your wellbeing? Let's get specific!
Step 1: Identify Your Income Plateau Bottleneck: What's the ONE area that's holding you back the most right now? Is it inconsistent leads? A clunky sales process? Overwhelm from too many tasks? Get crystal clear on where the friction is. Imagine you’re a detective, searching for clues. Where’s the weak link in your income-generating chain?
Step 2: Refine Your Offer (Speak to Her Soul): How can you make your offer even more irresistible to your ideal client? Can you add a high-value bonus, refine your messaging to speak directly to her deepest desires, or create a premium package that solves her biggest problems? Think about what Adrienne Weimer says: "make an offer so good, people feel stupid saying no." How can you make your offer that irresistible?
Step 3: Optimize ONE System (Just One!): Choose one area of your business – client onboarding, email marketing, social media scheduling – and find ONE way to streamline it. This could be automating a task, delegating it, or simply creating a checklist. Remember, small changes, consistently applied, create big results.
Step 4: Prioritize Self-Care (Even 5 Minutes Counts!): Schedule in even just five minutes of dedicated self-care today. A quick meditation, a walk in nature, a cup of tea in silence – whatever recharges you. This small act can have a big impact on your energy and clarity. Remember Lisa Nichols’ wisdom: "Your job is to fill your own cup, so it overflows."
Share your chosen step below! Let's turn these income plateaus into powerful launchpads, together.
If you're ready to break through your income plateau & strategically scale your business with personalized support & a powerful community of like-minded women, my Momentum Coaching program is designed specifically for Scaling Leaders like you. It’s about refining your offers, building smart systems, & mastering the mindset for sustainable growth, all while prioritizing your well-being. You can discover more and apply Momentum Coaching Page
Carlene Nisbett
Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista (Coach, Mentor, Speaker)
Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift
P.S. This workbook is just the beginning!
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