When Your Business Feels Like It’s Falling Apart: The Three Things Rule

Have you ever looked at everything happening in your business and felt completely locked up?

A client leaves. Revenue drops. An employee quits. Your barn suddenly has empty stalls. And instead of knowing what to do next, your brain starts creating a list of 50,000 things that all feel equally urgent.

I’ve been there.

My response was to start making lists.

And more lists.

Until my wife finally asked me one question:

“If you could only do three things, what would those three things be?”

That question completely changed how I approached the crisis.

In this episode of Equine Business Edge, I share the Three Things Rule I've used ever since, and how horse trainers, equine professionals, and other small-business owners can use it when everything feels like it's falling apart.

When everything feels important, nothing is important.

You need three things.

In This Episode

00:00 — What do you do when you're completely overwhelmed? Why business crises can leave even experienced owners feeling frozen.

~02:00 — My “City Slickers” version of the One Thing How Curly's famous advice eventually became my own Three Things Rule.

~04:00 — The business crisis that taught me this lesson Losing two major clients representing roughly 30% of agency revenue while simultaneously dealing with employee and morale problems.

~08:00 — The question my wife asked that changed everything “If you could only do three things, what would those three things be?”

~10:00 — You can't have 100 Priority #1s Why enormous to-do lists can actually become a way of avoiding the work that matters most.

~12:00 — Thing #1: Protect your existing clients Why client retention came first and why I personally got back into client conversations.

~16:00 — What client retention looks like for horse professionals Training updates, videos, feedback, communication, and staying connected even as your business grows.

~20:00 — Thing #2: Go make it rain Why you have to keep generating business—even when your barn or calendar is currently full.

~24:00 — Why I started calling people Relationship building instead of cold selling, and why staying top-of-mind creates future opportunities.

~29:00 — Create content that answers real client questions Using the questions clients and prospects already ask you to create useful Facebook posts, videos, podcasts, articles, and other content.

~34:00 — Be there when they're ready to buy Why consistent visibility matters long before someone actually needs your service.

Equine Business Edge is built for the people who make their living on or around horses.

We talk about the business side of the equine industry—marketing, sales, pricing, leadership, operations, client relationships, profitability, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable horse business.

Find this episode and more at:

EquineRevShare.com/podcast

This Episode Is Sponsored by EquineRevShare

If you're a horse trainer or equine professional, chances are you're already recommending products to your clients.

You're texting them links to the tack, supplements, equipment, grooming products, barn supplies, and other products you trust.

EquineRevShare helps you earn commissions from those recommendations.

It's free to join, and you can start turning recommendations you're already making into another revenue stream for your business.

Learn more and sign up at:

EquineRevShare.com