Let me set the scene: I’m sitting on a train somewhere in the middle of the U.S.—sunlight cutting across the window, the gentle sway of the tracks keeping rhythm with the tea in my travel mug. It’s one of those quiet moments when your mind drifts into the good kind of thinking. And in that moment, I realized: trains and tea have something very real to teach us about business growth.
We live in a world obsessed with speed. But some of the most powerful and *successful* businesses I’ve seen didn’t roar out of the station—they pulled out slowly, with intention. And that’s where the magic lies.
Tea, Trains, and the Beauty of Slow Starts
Trains don’t start with a jolt. They build momentum with every wheel rotation. Tea doesn’t burst into flavor. It steeps, slowly drawing out richness over time. So does a strong business.
When I was first launching Held Together Business Strategies, I would often catch myself measuring my “success” by how fast everything was happening—or wasn’t. I would look at others’ numbers, their engagement, their followers, their launches, and quietly wonder if I was behind.
But every time I slowed down enough to sit with a client, to really hear what they needed, and to respond with care and strategy, something shifted. I realized that slow business isn’t a problem. It’s a practice. One that allows you to build something with staying power.
There’s richness in slowness. You notice more. You clarify more. You root deeper.
Insider Tip from Tina: If it feels slow, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Ask yourself if you’re building something that will still serve you—and others—five years from now. That’s the kind of success that sticks.
Staying on Track (Literally and Figuratively)
Trains only go where the tracks are laid. The same goes for your business. You need a clear path. Clarity in your message. In your offers. In who you serve and why.
When a train derails, it’s not because it lacked power. It’s because the structure meant to guide it was compromised.
In business, misalignment works the same way. A beautiful brand with no strategy? Off the rails. A powerful offer but no message to match? Off the rails. A purpose-driven entrepreneur who’s too overwhelmed to speak clearly to her audience? You guessed it—off the rails.
That’s one of the main reasons I created the Bat Signal Blueprint. I kept meeting brilliant business owners who were doing *so much work*, but none of it was guiding their audience anywhere.
I remember a client who had multiple offers, social media accounts, and even a podcast. She was constantly creating content, but none of it led back to her actual services. When we mapped out her messaging and structured it around her goals, everything began to connect. She wasn’t spinning anymore—she was moving forward.
Did you know: When your business messaging is clear, clients *feel* it. They trust you faster. They know you’re the right person because your words match your intention.
Tiny Moments, Big Progress
There’s a temptation to think that success has to be big and fast to matter. But so much of what builds lasting growth happens in tiny, almost invisible moments.
Like the train that makes progress one mile at a time, or tea leaves releasing flavor one second at a time—our work as business owners compounds quietly. The reply you send to a client with extra kindness. The blog post you write even when no one’s asked for it. The way you answer your “About” page to finally sound like yourself.
I’ve had so many moments with clients where all it took was one clear sentence on a homepage or a reworded tagline to shift the way their audience engaged with them.
None of it felt dramatic. But the impact? Measurable. And lasting.
Insider Tip from Tina: Track your “small wins.” When you’re in a slower season, those small moments of clarity and connection will remind you that you’re still growing, even when it’s quiet.
The Middle Matters
We love to talk about beginnings and endings in business—the launch and the success story. But most of business happens in the middle.
It happens between the clients. In the brainstorming sessions. During the tweaks and pivots. The emails that get no replies. The captions that don’t quite hit.
That’s why I love working with small business owners. Because I see the middle. And I believe it’s holy ground.
You’re not behind because you’re in the middle. You’re building muscle. You’re laying track. You’re brewing something rich and long-lasting.
So much of what makes a business successful isn’t visible on the outside. It’s how you show up. How you stay connected to your purpose. How you build relationships, even when it feels like no one’s watching.
What’s Brewing for Your Business?
So here’s a gentle invitation: take a moment this week to reflect on your pace, your clarity, and your momentum. You don’t have to overhaul everything. Just reflect.
Grab your favorite tea and ask:
- What would it feel like to trust the pace of your growth?
- Where might you need to lay new tracks?
- What flavor does your business want to steep into this year?
- Where do you feel most connected to your clients right now?
- Where do you feel most disconnected from your purpose?
These questions don’t have to lead to answers right away. But they *will* lead you somewhere good.
I hope you remember that slow is not stuck.
That alignment is more powerful than acceleration.
And that your version of success can look and feel like peace.
To your success and legacy,
Tina