How to restart your business development activities when you’ve gone quiet episode artwork

EPISODE · May 3, 2026 · 5 MIN

How to restart your business development activities when you’ve gone quiet

from The Start Up To Grown Up Podcast · host Heather Townsend

Has your business development quietly ground to a halt? Do you know you should be out there nurturing your network, but somehow weeks have passed and you haven’t done a thing? And if you’re honest, is it embarrassment or procrastination - rather than a lack of time - that’s keeping you stuck?I share what I’ve learned from my own recent experience of letting an entire month slip by without recording a new episode of my How to Make Partner podcast. In this episode, I talk about what actually stops us from restarting our business development activities after a gap - and it’s rarely what we think it is. You’ll hear the real story of how embarrassment, procrastination and a timely phone call from a corporate buyer finally got me back in front of the microphone.What you’ll learn in the podcast episode:- Why embarrassment is often the hidden reason your business development has stalled - and how simply naming the emotion can be enough to break through it- How procrastination disguises itself as busyness, and why it’s usually a sign you’re being pushed out of your comfort zone rather than a sign you don’t care- The power of identifying one small, safe action to restart your business development - and why going big is the wrong instinct when you’re trying to get back on track- Why reconnecting with your “why” - the real reason your business development activities matter - is often the most powerful way to find momentum again- How a single unexpected phone call reminded me that consistent business development creates results long after you’ve forgotten about the action you took- Why the most important thing when you fall off the business development horse isn’t how hard you fell - it’s how quickly you get back onRelated episodes:Most business owners quit their podcast after episode 3 (here’s what to do instead)https://startuptogrownup.substack.com/p/most-business-owners-quit-their-podcastThe 5Ps to make sure business development always happens https://startuptogrownup.substack.com/p/the-5ps-to-make-sure-that-business8 ways you are killing you personal brand  https://startuptogrownup.substack.com/p/8-ways-you-are-killing-your-personalWhy your ideal clients have already shortlisted someone else and what to do about it https://startuptogrownup.substack.com/p/why-your-ideal-clients-have-alreadyWhy your best referral sources are not sending you work (and what to do about it) https://startuptogrownup.substack.com/p/why-your-best-referral-sources-arentHow to turn meetings with clients into invoiceable business (without putting more on your plate) https://startuptogrownup.substack.com/p/the-real-reason-your-clients-dontThe lead generator sitting in plain sight that most firms ignore https://startuptogrownup.substack.com/p/you-know-your-website-needs-updatingUseful links:- sign up as a paid subscriber and use this link to get 20% off an annual membership of Start Up To Grown UpWelcome to a free podcast episode of Start Up To Grown Up: Your source for ideas, insights and tactics to take back control of your business and scale it sustainably and profitably by Heather Townsend, award-winning author of The Accountants’ Millionaires’ Club and Founder of The Accountants’ Growth ClubEach episode of the Start Up To Growth Up Podcast is based on my weekly Substack Article on the same topic. Head over to my substack to subscribe https://substack.com/@startuptogrownup so you never miss an article or episode again. Get full access to Start Up To Grown Up at startuptogrownup.substack.com/subscribe

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How to restart your business development activities when you’ve gone quiet

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This episode was published on May 3, 2026.

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Has your business development quietly ground to a halt? Do you know you should be out there nurturing your network, but somehow weeks have passed and you haven’t done a thing? And if you’re honest, is it embarrassment or procrastination - rather...

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