The DIY Chokehold

The DIY Chokehold: Why Trying to Do It All Is Slowly Strangling Your Business

I could feel it before he said a word.

Tight shoulders. Tired eyes. A quiet panic behind the smile.

We were on a coaching call, and as he started to open up, it was clear...he was overwhelmed. Drowning in responsibilities, wearing all the hats, trying to hold it all together with sheer willpower.

He said, “I just feel like I’m suffocating.”

That’s the moment I recognized it, the same thing I’ve seen time and time again with business owners trying to scale without support.

He was stuck in what I call the DIY Chokehold.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth I’ve learned—sometimes the pressure we feel as entrepreneurs isn’t from the business itself. It’s from the belief that we have to be everything to everyone. That if we let go of any piece of the puzzle, it means we’re failing.

But here’s the real failure: suffocating your business (and yourself) by refusing to let go.

And perfectionism? Let’s call that what it really is: waiting for something that doesn't really exist = procrastination dressed up in a prettier outfit.

I’ve seen this play out with so many clients: they hold their business in a vice grip, terrified that if they loosen their hold, it’ll all fall apart.

But in reality? That chokehold is exactly what’s stopping their growth.

Let me say this loud and clear:

You are not your business. You are its leader.

And leaders don’t do it all—they build the right team, the right systems, and the right support to help it thrive.

The moment we release the need to control everything, the moment we allow ourselves to breathe, delegate, and trust—we begin to create space.

The Bottom Line:

The pressure of entrepreneurship is real. But so is your ability to rise above it—if you're willing to loosen the grip and lead differently. You don’t have to do it all. You were never meant to.

You’re building something great—but you’re not meant to build it alone.

If you’re ready to step into the CEO role your business needs—without the burnout—let’s talk.