How Ya Doing
- Adam T. Hurd
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Simple Newsletter - Issue # 072
Adam’s Thoughts:
Yesterday, I sat down for lunch with an old friend who’s doing some pretty incredible things.
He asked me:
“How’s the business doing?”
And I paused.
Usually, when someone asks that, we give the automatic answer.
“It’s good.”
“It’s busy.”
“It’s tough.”
Some cliché response that doesn’t really mean anything.
But yesterday was different.
I knew he wasn’t just asking to break the ice. I knew he had my back. I knew he supported what I do. I knew he wanted the best for me.
And because we don’t get much time together anymore, I didn’t want to waste it.
So I told him the truth.
The positives.
The struggles.
The internal difficulty most people would never understand.
And he got it.
He didn’t just hear me.
He listened.
He asked questions that helped me understand more deeply how I’m really doing.
And that made me realize something:
Maybe when someone asks how the business is doing, it’s not just an opportunity to update them.
Maybe it’s an opportunity to explore the truth.
Adam’s Lessons:
When someone asks, “How’s the business doing?” maybe they’re giving you permission.
Permission to pause.
Permission to think.
Permission to answer honestly.
Not with the polished version.
Not with the automatic response.
Not with the answer that makes everyone comfortable.
But with the truth.
And yes, some people are just being polite.
But maybe that doesn’t matter.
They asked.
And as business owners, we rarely create space to think deeply about ourselves or our businesses.
That’s why so many people end up in what we call the Founder Trap.
They use their skill and expertise to build a successful business on paper, but then they get stuck doing everything.
They can’t grow beyond a certain revenue level.
They can’t grow beyond a certain happiness level.
They can’t even clearly explain how they’re really doing.
So the next time someone asks:
“How are you?”
“How’s the business?”
Don’t rush to answer.
Take it as a sign.
A momentary opportunity not just to respond…
But to truly think.
So here’s my question for you this week:
When someone asks how you or your business is doing, do you give the automatic answer — or do you give yourself permission to tell the truth?
Reply and tell me. While I can’t respond to every message, Tom and I read every reply, and we genuinely appreciate hearing from you.
That’s all for this week.
See you next Saturday.
P.S.
If someone asking “How’s the business?” feels harder to answer than it should… there’s usually a deeper reason. Click Below to find out why so many business owners struggle to tell the truth about where they really are.
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