I’m The Real Jason Duncan, back with another Beyond the Grind blog — helping entrepreneurs like you build thriving businesses without sacrificing your freedom. 🚀

This post continues our deep dive into The Seasons of Entrepreneurship — a framework for understanding not just your business, but your mindset and leadership patterns.

If you haven’t yet read the breakdown of the seven seasons, you can catch up here:
👉 therealjasonduncan.com/blog

Recognizing your season is step one.
But knowing how to lead yourself through it?

That’s how you move forward without burning out, blowing things up, or selling just to escape.

Let’s talk about what to do — and what to avoid — in the season you’re in right now.

If You’re in The Flow

You’re riding momentum. Wins are stacking. Energy’s high.

But blind spots are forming faster than you think.

I’ve been there. One year, revenue was climbing, my team was growing, and I felt unstoppable — until I realized I hadn’t reviewed a single ops report in weeks. Systems were breaking behind the scenes, and I was too in love with the wins to notice.

Lead Yourself:
Use The Flow to reinforce — not just expand.

Audit your systems. Delegate more than your ego wants to. Look for the cracks before they turn into chasms.

Try this:
Pick one area this week — sales handoffs, onboarding, cash flow — and tighten it up while you still have margin.

If You’re in The Drift

On paper, things look fine. Internally? You’re unmotivated, unclear, and going through the motions.

One of the most dangerous things about The Drift is how invisible it is. You're not crashing — you’re coasting. But directionless momentum eventually runs out.

Lead Yourself:
Don’t double down on tactics. Step back for clarity.

This season isn’t solved by working harder — it’s solved by remembering who you are and what you want.

Try this:
Block 90 minutes. No agenda. No tech. Just you and a notebook. Ask: What would make this business feel meaningful again?

If You’re in The Grind

You’re exhausted. Everything feels urgent. You’re reacting instead of leading.

I’ve lived in The Grind. I built a 7-figure business and still woke up dreading each day. Not because the business was failing — but because I was. I was saying yes to too much and leaving zero space for recovery.

Lead Yourself:
Cut what doesn’t move the needle. Refuse new projects.

You don’t need to pivot. You need to breathe.

Try this:
Cancel two meetings this week. Use that space for real rest.
Your energy is a leadership asset. Guard it.

If You’re in The Storm

Something broke. A deal, a partnership, your health, or your identity.

This isn’t hard — it’s crisis.

In 2019, after a major legal situation with a business partner, everything came apart. It was the first time in years we lost money — and I realized how fragile things really were without me at the helm.

Lead Yourself:
Don’t isolate. Don’t make big moves fast.

Let the dust settle. Get wise counsel. Process before you pivot.

Try this:
Reach out to someone you trust. Don’t ask for advice — just ask to be heard.
You can’t lead well when you’re emotionally underwater.

If You’re in The Realignment

You’re questioning old values. Exploring new direction.

You’re not burned out — you’re being recalibrated.

Many founders I coach enter this season after exiting a business or hitting a milestone they thought would feel different. Suddenly, they’re not chasing what they used to — and they’re not sure what to chase next.

Lead Yourself:
Slow down. Create space to listen.

The best decisions here come from stillness, not speed.

Try this:
List your top 5 values. Then ask: Where in my business am I out of alignment with these?

If You’re in The Margin

You’ve finally created space. You feel clear again.

But now comes the temptation: fill it back up.

I’ve seen founders finally reclaim their calendar — only to jam it with low-leverage stuff “because I can.” Then the old patterns return, dressed up in new clothes.

Heck, I’ve even done this myself.

Lead Yourself:
Margin isn’t empty space. It’s sacred space.

Use it for vision, not busyness.

Try this:
Block one full morning this week for proactive thinking. No meetings. No tasks.
Just space to design what’s next.

If You’re in The Threshold

Something new is emerging. You’re not who you were — but not fully who you’re becoming.

I see this in founders who are on the edge of a pivot, an exit, or a reinvention. There’s tension, excitement, and fear — because the next version of you isn’t fully formed yet.

Lead Yourself:
You don’t need a five-year plan.

You need clarity on your next right move.

Try this:
Write this prompt at the top of a page: “What is God preparing me for in this next chapter?”
Then write until something lands.

Final Thought

Every season has a purpose.
Some build. Some prune. Some reset your direction.

But all of them require one thing: your leadership.

Because if you apply the wrong mindset to the right season, you’ll stall — or even sabotage — your next breakthrough.

You don’t need to master all the seasons.

Just name the one you’re in — and lead it well.

Need Help Leading Through Your Season?

If you’re in a season that’s stretching you — and you’re tired of figuring it out alone — let’s talk.

Book a 1:1 Breakthrough Call.
We’ll identify your season, clarify what’s next, and map out what to fix first.
No pitch. Just clarity.
Book your call here

Words of Wisdom

“Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 4:6

Until next time…

Go beyond the grind,
The Real Jason Duncan 🚀