The Cracked Nail Revelation: When 'Making Do' Costs More Than Getting Help

I am the type of person who hasa hard time slowing down. I have anxiety, and when that ramps up, I pick at my cuticles until my fingers are torn up. It's not cute!

That's why I committed to getting my nails done every month. When I have my nails done, I can't pick at my fingers. And the appointments are one of the few times each month when I just sit with my thoughts and don't do anything. It's preventive care disguised as self-care.

But this month, I was moving so fast—go-go-go—that I cracked two of my nails. They didn't break off completely, so I didn't bother with the glue. Instead, I just... kept going. For two weeks, those weakened nails bent with every task, annoying and a bit painful, but I told myself it was manageable.

I could have called my nail tech. I could have made an urgent appointment and gotten this fixed in an hour. Instead, I chose to push through with something that wasn't working, simply because I didn't stop long enough to realize there was another option.

The Cost of "Making Do"

Here's what I've learned, both from my cracked nails and from working with mission-driven entrepreneurs: we are incredibly skilled at making do.

You make do with the email platform that frustrates you every time you use it. You make do with the client onboarding process that takes three times longer than it should. You make do with the scheduling system that doesn't sync properly, the invoicing template that doesn't reflect your brand, the administrative tasks that pull you away from the work only you can do.

And all the while, your cracked nails are just annoying and slowly taxing at your patience.

What Happens When You Stop Making Do

One of my clients was running a nurture email sequence that she wasn't proud of. The emails were functional. They went out on schedule, they had the right information, but they didn't reflect her brand. Every time she sent one, she felt that she deserved better.

She sent me examples of email designs she'd found that resonated with her aesthetic and tone. I used those as inspiration to design a series of emails that actually stunned and showcased her products as they deserved.

The results?

Products sold out.

Increased engagement from her customers. And her investment in administrative support paid for itself before the campaign was even halfway through.

Just as I get my nails done to avoid feeding my anxiety, my client created that nurture sequence to connect with her audience. But we both needed maintenance—intentional support to keep usabout having systems that actually work, not one stunning.

What Support Actually Looks Like

Administrative support isn't about outsourcing tasks you don't want to do. It's about creating the conditions for your most important work to thrive.

It's having email templates that reflect your brand values so every customer interaction feels aligned. It's having systems that actually work instead of systems you work around. It's having someone who understands your “why” translated into operational practices.

What Are You Making Do with Right Now?

What are those chronic irritations? The processes take twice as long as they should. The templates you're embarrassed to send. The administrative tasks that you never get to.

What if you didn't have to push through for two more weeks—or two more months, or two more years?

What if getting support wasn't a luxury you'd consider "someday," but strategic maintenance that allows you to do your best work now?

What you have to offer the world is too important to keep making do.

Ready to stop pushing through with cracked nails?

Let's talk about what maintenance could look like for your business. Book an alignment call today.