5 Pieces of Bad Business Advice You Can Ignore (and What to Do Instead)

Written By Stacy Braga

Cozypreneur Episode 29

Not all business advice is worth following. Some tips sound great but don’t align with your goals, strengths, or business model. After three years in business, I’ve learned to filter out advice that doesn’t serve me — and I’m sharing what actually works instead.

If you’ve ever felt pressured to follow strategies that don’t feel right, this post will give you permission to trust your instincts and build a business in a way that feels good for you.

1. "Wait Until You're Ready Before Selling"

Early in my business, I was told to build perfect systems, polished offers, and detailed workflows before selling. The result? I spent three months “getting ready” — and had no clients to show for it.

What Actually Works Instead:

  • Start selling right away, even if things aren’t perfect.

  • As you gain clients, you’ll naturally refine your processes.

  • The sooner you start putting your offers out there, the faster you’ll figure out what works — and what doesn’t.

2. "You Have to Add Coaching to Your Offers to Make More Money"

There’s a common belief that adding coaching is the key to scaling your income. While coaching can be incredibly rewarding, it’s not the best path for everyone. Coaching requires specific skills like facilitation, adult learning strategies, and leadership techniques — skills that don’t automatically come just because you’re an expert in your field.

What Actually Works Instead:

  • Only add coaching if you genuinely enjoy it and feel confident in your ability to support clients this way.

  • Focus on refining the offers you already have before expanding your product suite.

  • Look for alternative ways to increase revenue, like raising prices, improving client retention, or offering VIP services.

3. "Create a Full Product Suite to Maximize Your Income"

I once believed that the more offers I had, the more successful I’d be. Instead, I ended up overwhelmed — constantly marketing, managing, and refining multiple services.

What Actually Works Instead:

  • Focus on one or two core offers that serve your audience well.

  • Streamline your product suite to keep your marketing simple and effective.

  • Build offers that naturally lead your audience from one stage to the next — like starting with a DIY course, then moving to done-with-you support, and eventually offering done-for-you services.

4. "Start a Free Community to Grow Your Audience"

I was told that a free community would help me build relationships and nurture leads. In reality, it became a time-consuming effort that didn’t generate the results I hoped for.

What Actually Works Instead:

  • Nurture your audience through content you’re already creating — like social media, email marketing, or podcasting.

  • Prioritize building deeper relationships inside your paid offers to support long-term client success.

  • If you do build a community, have a clear plan for converting those members into paying clients.

5. "Follow This Proven Roadmap"

While learning from other entrepreneurs can be valuable, blindly following someone else’s roadmap doesn’t always align with your strengths, goals, or lifestyle.

What Actually Works Instead:

  • Take advice as inspiration, not a rulebook.

  • Trust yourself — you know your business better than anyone else.

  • Before applying advice, ask: Does this align with my goals? My time? My energy?

Trust Yourself in Business

At the end of the day, trusting your gut is one of the most powerful skills you can develop as an entrepreneur. It’s easy to second-guess yourself when advice is coming from every direction, but you don’t need to follow every “proven strategy” to succeed.

Instead, focus on what aligns with your goals, values, and strengths — and build a business that works for you.

Resources

  • Copy Classroom – A hands-on membership designed to help you write your own high-converting copy with expert support.

  • Copy Studio – Now booking for one-time and retainer clients seeking strategic, story-driven copy.

  • DM Stacy on Instagram – Have questions about copywriting or want to share your biggest business win? Send Stacy a DM!

Connect with Stacy:

Podcast Credits: 

  • Podcast edit by: Chelsea Koenigsknecht of KC Virtual, Instagram: @KC_Virtual

  • Music by: teodholina, teodholina - Pixabay

Stacy Braga
Next

How to Write Case Studies That Attract Clients(Without Being Boring)