Why your business feels like a bolting horse and how to rein it in
If you’ve ever sat on a horse that suddenly decides to take off, you’ll know the feeling: heart racing, reins slipping, and absolutely no sense of control.
Running a business can sometimes feel exactly the same. One minute you’re trotting along nicely, and the next, your to-do list has bolted out from under you, leaving you clinging on for dear life. Emails, client demands, marketing tasks, operations, and admin… they all pile up, and before you know it, your business feels like it’s running you instead of the other way around.
The good news? Just like with a horse, there are ways to regain control. Let’s break it down.
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1. Spot the signs of a “Bolting Business”
A horse rarely bolts without warning. Ears flick back, muscles tense, energy rises; you can feel it coming. The same is true in your business. Common warning signs include:
Endless firefighting instead of strategic planning
Constant overwhelm and late nights “catching up”
Repeatedly missing opportunities because you’re stuck in admin
Feeling like every day is chaos rather than progress
If you recognise any of these, you’re not alone. It’s a sign your business is sprinting ahead without a clear rider.
2. Take a firm, but gentle, hold of the reins
In the saddle, panicking only makes things worse. Grip too tight and you unbalance everything; let go completely and you’re off to the races. The trick is calm, steady leadership.
For your business, that means stepping back and asking:
What absolutely needs you?
What can be streamlined, automated, or delegated?
Where is your time best spent to keep direction and momentum?
Think of it as soft hands on the reins; enough control to guide, without choking progress.
3. Delegate to stay in the saddle
A rider doesn’t do all the work; the horse carries the weight. In business, you shouldn’t be taking on every single task yourself. Delegation isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.
Hiring support, whether a VA, OBM, or specialist, lets you focus on riding the course, not mucking out every single stall. From inbox management to client care, project workflows to Pinterest marketing, delegating gives you space to think strategically, not just reactively.
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4. Put up the fences: Systems & Structure
A bolting horse in an open field is hard to catch. But in an arena with fences, the runaway doesn’t get far.
Systems and processes are those fences.
Project management tools keep everyone on track.
Automated workflows save time and brain space.
Clear SOPs (standard operating procedures) ensure consistency without you micromanaging.
When your business has structure, it can’t run wild—it follows the path you’ve set.
5. Ride with purpose, not panic
A bolting horse often calms when it feels confident leadership. The same goes for your business. When you’re clear on your direction, have support in place, and systems backing you up, everything falls into place.
You’ll move from chaos to clarity, from frantic reaction to purposeful action. And best of all, you’ll actually enjoy the ride again.
Your business doesn’t need to feel like a runaway horse. With the right reins: strength, direction, and momentum; you can guide it exactly where you want it to go.
And if you’d like an experienced rider in your corner (or rather, behind the scenes), that’s exactly what I do at MRM Business Services. I help business owners and equine professionals rein in the chaos, set up smart systems, and free up their time so they can focus on growth, not firefighting.
Because every rider deserves a steady, responsive horse - and every business owner deserves a business that runs with them, not away from them.
👉 Book a quick 15-minute call here or get in touch and let’s see how I can support you.