Okay, let’s be real for a second. For the longest time, I thought “strategic planning” was something only people in boardrooms with fancy suits and PowerPoint slides did. Me? I was over here planning my week by the color of my iced coffee and hoping my business would just… work out. Spoiler: it didn’t. Not until I realized that the same messy, honest approach I use to navigate life could actually make things like competitive analysis and growth hacking feel less like a corporate nightmare and more like a fun puzzle with my besties.
So grab your favorite mug (mine has a chipped handle, and I refuse to replace it), and let’s get into the real talk about building a business model that actually feels like *you*.
The “Wait, What Are They Doing?” Moment: My Competitive Analysis Wake-Up Call
I remember the exact day I finally got competitive analysis. It was a Tuesday. I was scrolling through Instagram, feeling that familiar pang of jealousy seeing another blogger’s perfectly curated feed. “She’s got 50K followers,” I muttered into my tea. “I have 500, and three of them are my mom.” I felt small. But then, instead of spiraling, I did something radical: I opened a Google Doc and started taking notes. Not on her follower count, but on what she was *actually* doing. What was her tone? Did she use stories or reels? What problems was she solving for her audience?
And here’s the thing—competitive analysis isn’t about copying. It’s about getting curious. I started listing my top three “competitors” (I hate that word, let’s call them “inspiration buddies”). I asked myself:
- What do they do that makes me feel connected?
- Where are the gaps? What aren’t they talking about that I could?
- What’s their vibe—and is it even my vibe?
One afternoon, I realized my inspiration buddy never talked about the messy, behind-the-scenes stuff—like the time I accidentally sent a newsletter with a typo that said “sale on sweaters” instead of “sweaters.” It was a disaster, but my audience *loved* it. They commented, “Finally, a real human!” That was my gap. I leaned into imperfection. Competitive analysis helped me see that my unique angle wasn’t being perfect—it was being honest.
Growth Hacking for the Tired and Overwhelmed (Yes, That’s Me)
Growth hacking sounds like something you’d need a tech degree for, but I promise, it’s just creative shortcuts. My favorite growth hack? The “one small ask” rule. I was stuck at 500 followers for months, feeling like I was shouting into the void. Then, one night, I was making pasta (burning it, actually) and thought, “What if I just asked my audience for one thing?” So I posted a story: “Hey, if you’re reading this and you like my content, would you tag one friend who needs a little encouragement today?”
It was terrifying. I felt like a salesperson. But guess what? Three people tagged friends. Those friends followed me. One of them became a loyal reader. That’s growth hacking—not a magic pill, but a tiny, intentional action that multiplies. Another hack I love: repurposing content. I write one blog post, then turn it into three Instagram captions, a Twitter thread, and a voice note for my email list. It’s like meal prep for your brain. No extra work, just smarter use of what you already have.
Your Business Model Isn’t a Spreadsheet—It’s a Love Letter to Your Life
Okay, this one’s personal. For years, I thought a business model meant a rigid plan with profit margins and cost analyses. I’d try to fit my passion into a box, and it always felt suffocating. Then, I had a breakdown over a spreadsheet (yes, I cried over Excel). I realized my business model wasn’t about numbers—it was about how I wanted to *feel* every day. So I asked myself: What’s the simplest way I can serve people and still have energy for my evening walks?
That’s when market positioning clicked for me. It’s not about being the best—it’s about being the *only* one who does it your way. For me, that meant positioning myself as the “warm, messy friend” who talks about strategy without the jargon. I stopped trying to compete with the polished influencers and started writing like I was texting a girlfriend. My business model became:
- One paid offer (a simple course on starting a blog)
- Free content that feels like a hug
- And zero guilt about saying “no” to things that drain me
And you know what? It worked. Not because I hacked the system, but because I aligned my strategy with my soul. Market positioning isn’t about a tagline—it’s about the feeling people get when they interact with you. For me, that feeling is “I’m not alone in this chaos.”
So here’s my heartfelt takeaway, friend: Strategic planning, competitive analysis, growth hacking—these aren’t weapons to beat yourself up with. They’re tools to help you see yourself more clearly. The moment I stopped trying to be a “business person” and started being *me* with a plan, everything shifted. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start with one honest observation, one small ask, and one yes to your own weird, wonderful way of doing things.
Now go make that pasta (and maybe don’t burn it). You’ve got this. 🤍
