Money Blocks in the Survival Stage of Business

You've got a business that works. It's simple, probably just you, and your main goal right now is survival.

Stage 2 is what I call the Survival stage. You've moved past the terror of starting, you have some clients, and you're starting to get a little traction. But traction comes with its own set of money blocks, and they're sneakier than the ones at Stage 1.

Here's what tends to come up, and how to handle it.

Fear of visibility

In Stage 1, not many people were watching. Now they are, and that changes things.

You start to feel exposed. You worry about being criticized, about getting it wrong publicly, about what people will think. The fear of visibility is a money block because it stops you showing up consistently, which is the exact thing that builds your business.

The antidote is to keep going anyway. The fear usually shrinks with exposure, not with preparation.

Pricing pain

You probably set your initial prices in Stage 1 without much confidence, and you likely set them too low. Now you're feeling it.

You're working a lot. You're resenting clients you were thrilled to have six months ago. You're giving more than the arrangement was ever meant to include.

This is the stage to raise your prices. It feels uncomfortable and it's completely necessary. Your prices in Stage 1 were a starting point, not a permanent decision.

Boundary problems

Remember when you gave everyone your number and said "contact me any time"? They are.

Over-delivering is one of the most common money blocks I see in entrepreneurs. It feels like generosity but it's actually a pattern rooted in not feeling like your time and work are worth proper payment. The fix is to start setting limits, even small ones, and to notice how uncomfortable that feels. That discomfort is the block.

Friend weirdness

As you start getting traction, some people in your life get uncomfortable with it.

"You've changed." "You're always working." "You think you're too good for us now."

It's painful and it's very common. This is also when finding a community of entrepreneurs stops being a nice idea and starts being genuinely necessary. You need people around you who understand what you're building and who aren't threatened by it.

Fear of haters

At Stage 2, you fear haters but you don't really have them yet. Not enough people know who you are.

But this fear is often what stops people moving from Stage 2 to Stage 3. They hold back from showing up, from making bigger claims, from putting themselves out there more, because they're scared of what could happen.

Name it for what it is: a block, not a prediction. The fear of criticism is almost always worse than the reality.

Passive income curiosity

You've started hearing about passive income products. You want some of that. You're just not sure where to start.

That's fine. Let the curiosity sit. Start thinking about what a lower-touch version of your work might look like. The implementation comes at Stage 3.

The money blocks at Stage 2 are mostly about permission: permission to charge more, to set limits, to take up space, to keep going even when people get weird about it.

If you want to understand the specific money blocks that might be holding you back right now, grab my free training: The 7 Most Common Money Blocks and How to Clear Them.

Watch it free at denisedt.com/blocks

Read next in the series: Money Blocks in Stage 3: Success

Or go back to the full guide: Money Blocks at Every Stage of Business

It's your time, and you're ready for the next step.

xx Denise