the Slowest of Burns
This morning I was leaving the 6:30 am Pilates Mat class at our St Marys Studio, chatting with the teacher on the way out the back door. We were talking about her new role and what it’s like working across a few different studios. (This is the life of most new yoga and Pilates teachers, by the way — travelling around, teaching in multiple spaces, and holding space in different communities.)
She mentioned she’d been helping with the sales process at another studio, so I asked how long they’d been open.
“Three years,” she said.
Without thinking, I responded, “Still early days.”
She looked at me and laughed, “Really? I think I’m too impatient for that.”
“Business is a slow burn,” I replied.
We laughed, hugged, and headed back home to our families.
A few moments later, while eating my apple and cinnamon porridge, I reflected on that comment.
Is Three Years Still “Early Days”?
It’s totally subjective, right?
I’ve had studios for eight years, and I’ve been in this industry for over a decade. Three years feels early to me, but to someone else, that might feel totally seasoned.
But… is business still a slow burn?
Absolutely.
Why Sticking It Out Matters
Alex Hormozi — that marketing and business guy on YouTube known for his denim shorts, weightlifting tees, traps as wide as his shoulders, and questionable nasal breathing strips — once said the number one killer of business isn’t time or money, but losing focus.
Andddddddddd I guess I agree, Mr Hormozi.
As humans, we get bored. As entrepreneurs, we’re even more susceptible because our gift-and-curse brains move at lightning speed. We’re constantly flooded with new ideas and want to act on them all yesterday.
But what if the secret wasn’t speed? What if success also comes from simply staying the course? From building a brand and committing to it — again and again — even when it feels slow?
The Data Doesn’t Lie
Michael E. Gerber’s The E-Myth Revisited (originally published in 1986 and still one of the best small business books out there in my not-so-humble opinion) shares a sobering statistic:
About 80% of businesses fail within their first five years.
Of the ones that survive, another 80% fail within the next five years.
That means making it to year ten puts you in a very small percentage.
And most of us won’t get there by constantly reinventing everything. We’ll get there by holding steady, showing up, and learning to fall in love with the slow burn.
Pep Talk Time
If you’re in business and feeling restless, remember this:
Every day you show up is a brick laid in something that lasts.
You don’t need to have everything “figured out” — you just need to stay in the game.
Consistency isn’t sexy, but it’s way more powerful.
Whether you’re three years in, eight years in, or just getting started… stay steady. Stick with your vision. Trust that the small, boring actions compound into something incredible.
Slow burns build strong fires, baby. 🔥
