Have you ever sat in front of your computer, staring at a project management tool that everyone says you need, feeling completely overwhelmed? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself trying to maintain a social media schedule that leaves you exhausted, simply because “that’s what successful businesses do”?

Last week, I spent an entire day inputting our year’s projects into a sophisticated project management platform. Everyone I respect uses these tools. They’re designed by brilliant minds, backed by massive investment, and supposedly essential for any professional business. And yet, as I looked at the finished result, my head actually hurt. The sea of information made absolutely no sense to me.

In that moment, I felt what so many of us experience when trying to follow industry “shoulds” – that creeping sense that maybe we’re just not good enough. But what happened next taught me something valuable about trusting our natural ways of working.

When Different Isn’t Wrong

After that frustrating day, I did some research about dyslexia (which I have) and traditional project management tools. What I discovered was fascinating and reassuring: “The challenges that you face in using traditional project management tools are likely related to how these learning differences affect your information processing and organisational skills.”

This wasn’t a reflection on my capabilities – after all, I’ve successfully orchestrated major projects with significant teams under tight deadlines. It was simply that I needed to work differently. And that realisation led me back to my own simple, effective system that makes me feel instantly calm and in control.

The Two Types of Business “Shoulds”

What’s particularly interesting about running a creative business is how we navigate different types of “shoulds”:

1. Growth Challenges: These make us nervous but excited – like when I recently accepted an invitation to interview an extraordinarily successful entrepreneur in front of an audience. It’s well outside my comfort zone, but the nervousness comes with anticipation.
2. Misaligned Methods: These feel heavy and draining – like forcing yourself to use tools or systems that fight against your natural way of working, simply because they’re industry standard.

Finding Your Natural Strength

Sometimes our greatest business assets emerge from what initially feels like a limitation. That simple project management system I created? It’s now something I share with others in our programmes, who find it helpful in their own businesses. What started as a “limitation” has become part of our offerings and contributes to our revenue.

This pattern appears in various ways across different businesses:

• The designer who works best in focused blocks rather than juggling multiple projects
• The brand strategist who communicates complex ideas with natural simplicity
• The consultant who intuitively understands client needs before they’re fully articulated

Moving Forward With Intention

If you’re feeling that disconnect between industry “shoulds” and your natural way of working, here are some gentle suggestions:

1. Notice when work flows effortlessly – these moments often reveal your true strengths
2. Pay attention to consistent client praise – especially for things you might take for granted
3. Track your energy levels – which tasks energise you and which leave you drained?
4. Question standard practices – just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s right for you

The Courage to Work Differently

Building a successful business isn’t about forcing yourself into someone else’s system. It’s about having the courage to trust your instincts about how you work best. Yes, there will always be challenges that push us outside our comfort zone, but these should stretch us in ways that help us grow, not drain us by trying to be someone we’re not.

Remember: What makes your business different might be exactly what makes it special. Your natural way of working – even if it doesn’t match industry norms – could be your greatest strength.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this. When have you trusted your instincts in your business and found it led to something better? Share your experiences in the comments below or join the conversation over on Instagram.