Steady as She Goes

Ever been behind the wheel in a snowstorm? You hit a patch of ice, the car starts sliding, and your gut reaction is to yank the wheel hard. But guess what? That’s how you end up in a ditch.

Well, owning a business isn’t much different. There’s always a moment (or three) where the seas start to get rough. Sales dip. A key employee leaves. Cashflow gets tight. The workload really piles up. Sound familiar? That’s when most business owners start overcorrecting. They throw out the playbook, chase the latest “fix,” or make knee-jerk decisions that just end up making things worse.

But here’s the thing: Overcorrection is just as dangerous as inaction.

Great leaders? They hold steady. They adjust with intent, not panic.

Back in my Navy days, when I was standing watch as Officer of the Deck on a nuclear submarine performing missions vital to national security, one of the most important orders I could give was “Steady as she goes.” It meant hold course, maintain speed, and don’t make unnecessary adjustments. It wasn’t about doing nothing, it was about trusting the process and making small, precise corrections when needed.

That’s the exact mindset business owners need.

How “Steady as She Goes” Applies to Business

As a business owner, you’ve already made big, strategic decisions about your direction. You’ve put systems in place. You’ve set your team up for success. But when challenges hit, it’s easy to doubt all that and start steering wildly.

Before you start scrambling for a fix, take a step back and ask yourself:
✅ Are we still on the right course and moving in the right direction?
✅ Is this challenge a storm that will pass, or does it require a real change?
✅ What’s the smallest, smartest adjustment we can make without throwing everything into chaos?

When you trust your process and make small, intentional course corrections, you avoid the chaos of reactive leadership and keep your business moving forward, without wasting time, energy, or resources.

The businesses that win aren’t the ones that flinch every time the market shifts. They’re the ones that stay steady, make strategic adjustments, and keep moving forward.

Coaching That Keeps You on Course

I work with business owners who are already successful but still too deep in the weeds and daily grind. Their business runs, but it doesn’t quite run itself. They’re constantly pulled in to fight fires, usually stretched thin, and making reactive decisions instead of leading with confidence. They need a way to step back, lead effectively, and regain control without constant firefighting.

That’s where the “Steady as She Goes” mindset comes in. I help business owners:
✔️ Identify their true course (what actually matters for growth)
✔️ Build systems that keep things running without their constant involvement
✔️ Make focused adjustments instead of chasing every new idea

We lock in systems, sharpen clarity, and build real leadership habits so they can step back and let the business run without needing to white-knuckle the wheel.

Because in business, just like at sea, the ones who stay steady, not the ones who overcorrect, are the ones who win. 🌊 

👉 A business that relies on constant overcorrection isn’t sustainable.
👉 A business with clear direction and controlled adjustments? That’s how you scale.

So next time things feel shaky, take a breath. Hold course. Make small, smart corrections. And most importantly -

Steady as she goes,
Dave