You Can't Grow a Business On Empty

For years, my diet looked like this:

Bagel and cream cheese for breakfast. Taco Bell for lunch. A handful of almonds at my desk. Diet Coke to keep me going.

I wasn't trying to eat poorly. I was just trying to keep up.

There was always another email to answer, another deadline to meet, another client need to handle. Food was just… whatever was fast. I could never catch my breath long enough to think about what I was eating.

But here's what I started noticing:

By 3 PM, my brain felt foggy. I'd read the same email three times and still not know how to respond. I didn't feel good in my skin, I didn't feel good in my clothes which made me want to hide and stay small.

And here's the thing about staying small: You can't grow a business from that place.

You can't confidently reach out to your network. You can't show up on social media. You can't have the 1:1 conversations or talk about your pricing when you're trying to hide.

Here's what I've learned after 15 years of running my VA business:

You can't build on empty.

Not your business. Not your focus. Not your future.

When you're fueling yourself with bagels, fast food, and whatever is quick; no real protein, no sustained energy, your brain can't do the work that grows a business.

The strategic thinking. The clear communication. The confident decisions.

That all requires energy. Real energy. The kind that comes from actually feeding yourself well.

When you eat well, you think clearly. When you think clearly, you show up better. And when you take care of yourself? Your confidence grows.

It's not complicated. But it is real. Eating food that doesn't serve you might not matter today, but it will over time.

Let's make a shift. This week, I want you to try something small:

Before you dive into work, eat something that actually fuels you. Not just what's fast. Not just processed carbs. Something with real protein. Real energy.

Then notice what happens.

Notice how much easier it is to focus. To write that email. To make that decision. To not spiral when a client says no.

Your business is only as sustainable as you are.

And you can't sustain yourself on bagels and Taco Bell.