Moving Fast? You Might Be Missing the Point.
Photo by Tara Lietzow.
Soft sunset over calm water with a faint rainbow and birds in flight—capturing a quiet moment of reflection and transition.
Lessons from The Setback Cycle:
Why Pausing Can Propel Your Business Forward
School’s almost out up here in the PNW… again. And somehow, this year evaporated… again.
Summer brings more daylight, less structure, and CEO-level logistics: booking camps in January, negotiating grandparent time, and trying to manufacture “relaxed” instead of “overbooked.”
Last year, we sent our daughter to visit her grandparents before day camp season kicked off. It felt like a win. This year? Same chaos, minus Gulliver.
Gulliver, our elderly, beloved, and highly opinionated house bunny, passed away on Mother’s Day. (I wrote a little tribute to him here. He earned it.) He was my excuse to stay close to home and skip spontaneity. His absence this summer is a strange kind of space: part grief, part permission slip. Funny how loss unlocks a dozen new choices you didn’t want.
Transitions rarely ask permission. Sometimes they creep in quietly. Other times, they drag grief and guilt behind them. Either way, they don’t wait for your spreadsheet to catch up. Many times, they don’t even feel like a new beginning. And, whether we are talking about family life or business strategy, we rarely get to plan them neatly.
Which brings me back to a book that’s stuck with me: The Setback Cycle by Amy Shoenthal.
The Setback Cycle: A Survival Guide Disguised as a Business Book
In The Setback Cycle, Amy Shoenthal reframes setbacks not as something to rush past, but as inflection points. Sometimes the pause is the path forward.
She offers a framework for what to do when things fall apart (or just stall out), and how to turn the “what now?” into your next move. This book reminded me that:
Career zigzags are usually where the gold is (even if it doesn’t feel that way).
Waiting isn’t failure. Sometimes it’s strategy in disguise.
The best ideas usually show up late and uninvited.
It hit especially hard because I’ve lived this rhythm before. After nearly two decades in finance and operations for global brands, I’ve seen how easily teams can sprint past clarity in the name of momentum. Now, I help growth-stage founders translate complexity into clarity so they can avoid that trap.
Slowing down isn’t quitting. It’s often the smartest move on the table. You don’t need more to-dos. You need someone who can translate your financials into something useful… like a decision.
Strategic Pause > Constant Hustle
Let’s get something straight. Pausing does not mean giving up. It means pulling over long enough to ask yourself if you are even heading in the right direction… or just really fast towards a wall.
Ask yourself:
Do my numbers help me make decisions, or do they just sit there looking smug?
Is our strategy actually aligned with where we want to go?
Is my team still structured for last year’s goals?
If you are feeling like a “maybe?” or an “ugh, I should know that,” congratulations. That’s the starting line for getting unstuck.
So, Why Does Any of This Matter?
Because most businesses don’t stall from lack of effort.
They stall when the plan stops making sense, and no one pauses long enough to notice.
Summer gives you a window to slow down without losing momentum.
Use it. Take a breath. Look at your numbers. Ask better questions. Make fewer, smarter moves.
This isn’t about taking time off. It’s about taking time seriously.
Final Thoughts
For most adults, summer isn’t a break. It’s a blur of half-working days, snack requests (from kids or your own stressed-out brain), and low-key existential business crises. But it can also be a great time to pause, reflect, and make a smarter plan.
Pause. Look around. Then get back to it with actual clarity.
What’s Next?
⏳ Feeling stuck, stalled, or unsure where your business is actually headed? That’s not a failure. It’s a sign it’s time to pause on purpose. Let’s talk.
📉 Want a second set of eyes on your numbers before you make your next big move? I offer one-off strategy sessions to help you stop guessing and start deciding. See if it’s the right fit here.
📬 Like this kind of no-fluff strategy talk? Sign up for my monthly newsletter to get the latest blog posts, tools, and insights straight to your inbox.
📲 Follow along on Instagram or LinkedIn for more sharp, no-fluff insights about what’s working—and what’s not—when it comes to growth-stage strategy.
📧 Know someone who needs to hear that slowing down isn’t quitting? Send this their way. No extra charge for the existential validation.
About Me
I’m Tara, founder of Alchemy Advising, a consulting practice that helps small and mid-sized businesses grow with clarity, confidence, and a lot less chaos.
This blog is where I share reflections on entrepreneurship, ambition, motherhood, and the magic (and mess) of building something meaningful—one decision at a time.
Curious about working together? Reach out here—I’d love to hear more about your business.