‘I Can’t’ vs ‘I Can’t Yet’: What’s Really Keeping You Stuck

The other day, my 9-year-old was trying to put together this ridiculously complex LEGO build - full of secret trap doors and spinning wheels and a 45-page manual that looked like it belonged in NASA.

And about 20 minutes in, he completely cracked it.

I can't do it! It's impossible! The instructions make no sense and the pieces are STUPID.

Classic meltdown. Big feelings.

This is the same energy I see in grown, brilliant, capable businesswomen every single day. Except instead of LEGO masterpieces, they're trying to build amazing businesses - while quietly trying to overcome business overwhelm that no one else seems to talk about.

You've got all the pieces. The ideas. The vision.
But nothing's clicking. You’re stuck. You’re tired.
And instead of "the pieces are stupid!", the voice in your head is shouting:

"I can't figure out this damn funnel.”
"I can't launch again."
“I can’t take on more clients.”
“I can’t fix this backend chaos right now.”

It’s not that you’re not capable. You are.
But in that moment? It feels impossible.

And here’s what I’ve learned (as a mum, and as a strategist):
There’s a massive difference between “I can’t” and “I can’t yet.”

One shuts the whole thing down.
The other leaves the door open.

The sneaky power of two tiny letters

“I can’t” is a full stop. A shutdown. The end of the road.

“I can’t yet” is a pause. A breath. An invitation.

And when you’re building a business - especially while also being a parent, a partner, a household manager, driving the kids to all their activities, balancing clients, emails, Facebook Groups, sales, and lunchboxes, and occasionally just a human with hobbies - that pause matters.

Because most of the time, when we say “I can’t,” what we actually mean is:

“I’m stuck"
"I don't have capacity"
"I don’t know where to start or how to move through it without breaking something.”
"I've tried ... but it isn't working!

Which is totally fair. And human. And real.

But the problem is, if we let “I can’t” run the show, we end up building our business around our fear - not our future.

This showed up for me too

II remember years ago, before I had proper systems in place, trying to write a sales email while juggling two boys, clearing dishes, answering client messages, and mentally replaying tomorrow’s to-do list.

It felt like business was happening to me - not something I was consciously building. And I’d find myself saying:

“I can’t take on more clients.”
“I can’t scale without burning out.”
“I can’t run a growing business and be present for my family.”

And it felt true.
But the truth was… I just couldn’t yet.

What changed everything wasn’t hustle or discipline - it was finding a way of overcoming business overwhelm that actually works for women with a life!

It was systems. Boundaries. Prioritising capacity over chaos.

And choosing to believe that “not yet” didn’t mean “never.”

This is where so many of my clients start, too

Here’s what I know about the women who find their way to Simple, Scalable Business School:

They’re not afraid of rolling up their sleeves.
They’re not lacking drive.
They’ve built something real - and they know it could be working better.

They’ve seen others in their space doing what they want to be doing - running sold-out programs, building simple offers, scaling without chaos - and they’re sitting there thinking:

“I KNOW I’m capable of that. So why does it feel so hard?”

They’re the ones who’ve DIY’d everything.
Signed up for the freebie. Bought the template. Tried batching. Tried planning.
They’ve shown up, done the work, and still feel stuck.

Not because they’re doing it wrong.
But because their business is being held together with digital duct tape… and they’ve outgrown it.

And when you’ve tried everything you can think of, and it’s still not flowing?

That’s when the “I can’t” voice gets LOUD.

“Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”
“Maybe I’m not organised enough.”
“Maybe I can’t scale without losing my mind.”

That’s the lie.

The truth is - they don’t need to change who they are.
They just need to stop carrying the entire business in their head.

SSBS gives them a smarter way to hold it all - with systems that support the growth they’re more than ready for.

So… where are you stuck in “I can’t”?

This week, try noticing it.

Catch yourself in an “I can’t...” moment and add yet to the end.

• “I can’t grow my list.” → “I can’t grow it yet.”

• “I can’t streamline my onboarding.” → “I can’t yet.”

• “I can’t plan a month of content in advance.” → “I can’t yet.”

That tiny word opens a door.
It gives you permission to be a work in progress - and still move forward.

Want help turning “not yet” into done and dusted?

Inside Simple, Scalable Business School, we help online coaches, service providers, and course creators build a business that actually supports your life - not swallows it.pxl

We look at what’s working, where you’re stretched thin, and what needs to shift to create a business that’s simple, scalable, and solid enough to grow.

If you’re ready to ditch the DIY chaos and finally feel like the calm, confident CEO of your business - let’s talk.

👉 Book your free Clarity Call here and let’s make “I can’t yet” the beginning of something brilliant.