
The Next 100 Yards: How to Find Clarity in Your Small Business
Our latest blog is from Katie Coombes, who explains how to find clarity in your small business.
Business isn’t a marathon. It’s more like driving a car at night. The headlights only let you see 100 yards ahead, but that’s enough to keep going. You don’t need to see the whole road, just the next stretch.
The problem is, too many business owners are either trying to sprint to the finish line or panicking because they can’t see what’s beyond the darkness.
That’s how you crash.
Or burn out.
Or get stuck, stranded in the middle of nowhere.
I think running a business is about what’s in those headlights. That’s where the decisions happen. The actions. The clarity. It’s about knowing when to keep driving, when to pull over, and when to take a different road entirely.
- Stop Trying to See 100 Years Ahead
There’s this obsession with the “big picture.” Vision boards. Five-year plans. Exit strategies. Look, it’s good to know where you’re headed and it’s good to have these, but focusing too much on the horizon means you miss the potholes right in front of you.
Small Businesses don’t fail because someone didn’t think 100 years ahead. They fail because no one thought about the next 100 yards. They were too busy fantasising about what’s miles away to notice they’re about to veer off the road.
- Your Headlights Show You Enough
Driving at night is a great analogy for business. You can only see so far ahead, but that’s fine. Those 100 yards are all you need to:
- Emergency stop when there’s a deer (or a market shift) in the road.
- Turn left or right when the path changes.
- Pull over and have a breather when you’re knackered.
- Spot the petrol station when it’s time to refuel.
It’s about dealing with what’s right in front of you—not trying to predict what’s 10 miles down the road.
- Small, Clear Actions Move You Forward
Here’s what you focus on in those 100 yards:
- Make decisions: Stop dithering and just pick a direction. Even a wrong turn is better than standing still. You can always course-correct.
- Prioritise clarity: Focus on the things that actually move the needle. Not the shiny stuff, not the fluff. The real work.
- Take small steps: You don’t have to overhaul your entire business in a day. Fix one thing. Then another. Then another. That’s how progress happens.
Clarity doesn’t come from staring at the horizon. It comes from making sense of what’s in front of you.
- It’s OK to Pull Over
This one’s important. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop. If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or running on empty, you’re no good to anyone. Pull over. Rest. Reassess.
Too many business owners feel like they have to keep going no matter what. Like stopping is failure. It’s not. It’s smart. A well-timed pause can save your business, your sanity, and your energy. And when you’re ready, you get back on the road—with clearer eyes and a full tank.
- Know When to Change Direction
Sometimes, the road ahead isn’t the right one. Maybe the market’s shifted. Maybe your product’s not working. Maybe you’ve just realised you’re heading for a dead end. That’s OK.
What’s not OK is barrelling forward just because you’re scared to admit you took a wrong turn. Stop. Reroute. Find the next 100 yards and start again.
About Katie Coombes:
After a 12 year career in client service in various north west ad agencies. Katie started an experiential events business with her wife.
Starting from scratch with no plan, no money and no idea what they were doing, they scaled the business and eventually sold it on 2017.
Over last 8 years Katie has worked as a coach and helped people start, and grow their business.
The post The Next 100 Yards: How to Find Clarity in Your Small Business appeared first on Creative Resource.