Have you ever had one of those moments where your body just says, “Enough”?
Where no matter how much you’ve been pushing, planning, or powering through… something forces you to stop?
That happened to me recently. What started as a few quiet warning signs turned into a full-on emergency gallbladder surgery.
Not ideal. But honestly? Not surprising.
I’d been ignoring the signs for weeks—heck maybe longer.
The exhaustion.
The tension.
The moments where I knew I needed rest but kept going anyway.
I told myself I didn’t have time to slow down. I had things to figure out. A business to build.
Maybe you know that feeling too—the one where it seems like everything will fall apart if you take your foot off the gas.
So I kept going. Even when my body was clearly screaming at me to stop.
But here’s the thing I’ve had to sit with: being busy isn’t the same as being on track.
And in the quiet that followed surgery—when I couldn’t rely on movement or productivity to feel “on it”—I finally saw it.
I had been mistaking motion for momentum.
Busyness for purpose. Noise for progress.
And I wonder if you might be doing the same.
TL;DR
If you’re feeling scattered or stuck, it might be because you’re chasing busy instead of what actually builds your business.
When you focus on what matters most, you make space for results—and a life that feels lighter.
Exciting News!
Starting June 25th, I’ll be hosting a monthly workshop designed just for women building a side business.
Each session will focus on a different topic to help you gain clarity, build momentum, and take action—without burning out or sacrificing what matters most.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Expert guidance and actionable strategies every month
- A supportive community of like-minded women
- Live, interactive sessions on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:00–8:30pm EST
- Affordable pricing: Only $27 per workshop
The first workshop, “Niche Discovery & Clarity,” is on June 25th.
Spots are limited—register now to secure your place.
Have questions? You can learn more here or just hit reply—I’d love to hear from you!
Okay, let’s get into it—here’s what I want you to really see this week.
Deep Dive: You Don’t Have to Be Busy to Make Progress
Let’s be real: we live in a culture that worships the hustle.
If you’re not juggling five tabs, checking boxes, and adding more to your to-do list before bed… are you even trying?
But here’s the truth I’ve been sitting with—and maybe you need to hear it too:
Being busy doesn’t mean you’re making progress.
It means you’re filling time. And that’s not the same as building momentum.
Here’s what “busy” tends to look like:
- You write a massive to-do list and stall before you even start.
- You half-work all day—bouncing between Canva, your inbox, and someone’s Instagram strategy.
- You “research” instead of doing, because nothing feels clear yet.
- You tweak your website again instead of following up with someone who might actually want to work with you.
- You don’t rest—because guilt creeps in any time you’re not doing something.
Sound familiar? Yeah, me too.
The sneaky part is, it feels like you’re being productive. You’re busy. You’re trying.
But somehow, you’re still stuck.
Exhausted, but no closer to landing a client or sharing your work in a real way.
What’s Really Going On
Motion feels safe.
It tricks you into thinking you’re moving forward—but it keeps you comfortably hidden.
Especially if you’re used to being the reliable one, the planner, the person who has their act together.
You want to get it right before you put yourself out there.
But here’s the thing:
You don’t need to get it right. You need to get it moving.
Because momentum doesn’t come from more planning.
It comes from brave, simple action—especially the kind that stretches you a little.
So Here’s What to Do
Let go of the long prep list and pick one thing that actually moves you forward.
Like:
- Telling someone about your offer—even if it’s not perfect.
- Following up with someone who showed interest instead of overthinking it.
- Posting a story about your work, even if only five people see it.
- Reaching out to a friend and saying, “Hey, I’m doing this now—keep me in mind.”
The goal isn’t to do more. It’s to do what matters.
The Outcome?
You start trusting yourself—not because you have it all figured out, but because you finally followed through.
You get clearer—because clarity comes from action, not more thinking.
You feel energized—because you’re finally doing the thing instead of spinning around it.
Let’s Keep the Momentum Going
You don’t have to earn your right to slow down.
You don’t need to check every box before you’re allowed to show up.
If anything, less might actually get you further.
So this week, I’m inviting you to choose one small, meaningful action that moves your business forward. Not ten. Not everything. Just one.
And if you need a little help figuring out what that looks like for you?
That’s literally what I do.
I help women like you cut through the busywork and find the momentum that actually leads to clients, confidence, and a business that fits your life—not runs it.
Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.
And until then, I hope this gave you a gentle nudge (or loving push) to do less—but do what matters.
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Yours truly,
Kristina Portella, Business Strategist
Founder of Side Business Momentum
Where clarity meets momentum-for a business that truly fits your life.
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P.S. Don’t forget to save your spot for the June 25th workshop—it’s 90 minutes of clarity, strategy, and momentum you can actually use. Register today!
