Business Pivots, Mindset, Online Business

5 Lessons You Need To Know For Online Business Success in 2025

April 24, 2024
By itssophiebiggerstaff.com

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Why Your Entrepreneur Mindset Matters More Than Your Online Business Model

Let’s rewind for a second to 2020 – the year so many of us decided to start an online business.

The world had shifted overnight. People were furloughed, made redundant, or suddenly working from home. The internet became not just a tool but a lifeline. Thousands of new businesses were launched overnight because people wanted to take back control of their income, create freedom, and make money online.

Some of those businesses grew into incredible success stories. Others fizzled out. In fact, estimates suggest that the majority of businesses launched in 2020 no longer exist today.

So, what’s the difference between those who’ve survived – even thrived – and those who struggled?

In my experience as an online business coach, it’s not just the niche, the product, or even the marketing strategy. The real difference comes down to the entrepreneur mindset behind the business. Founders who continually evolve, stay resilient, and develop a success mindset are the ones still here, still growing, and still building the life they set out to create.

Here are five lessons I’ve seen make the biggest difference – both in my own journey and in the journeys of the entrepreneurs I’ve coached.

Lesson 1: Evolve Your Online Business With the Market

If you’re still running your online business exactly as you did in 2020, you’re at risk of being left behind. The online space moves fast – technology changes, consumer behavior changes, and trends come and go.

The entrepreneurs who thrive are the ones who evolve. They tweak their offers, update their branding, shift their pricing, experiment with new strategies, and yes – sometimes they even pivot entirely.

One thing I’ve learned in my own journey: the business you started is not the same business you need to run today. And that’s not a bad thing. That’s growth.

If you resist change, you risk becoming irrelevant. If you embrace it, you give yourself room to expand.

👉 Takeaway: Don’t hold onto an outdated version of your business just because it feels safe. Ask yourself, what does my business need to look like today to be relevant and profitable?

Lesson 2: Pay Attention to Data (Even if You Hate Numbers)

I’ll be honest – most of us don’t start an online business because we love spreadsheets. But ignoring your data is like driving blindfolded.

Your sales numbers, your website analytics, your conversion rates – they all tell a story about what’s really going on in your business. And sometimes that story is uncomfortable. Maybe your favorite product isn’t actually profitable. Maybe your audience isn’t engaging with the content you spend the most time creating. Maybe you’re pouring money into ads that don’t deliver.

Here’s the mindset shift: looking at the data doesn’t mean you’re failing – it means you’re learning. That’s what having a success mindset looks like.

In fact, some of the biggest breakthroughs I’ve had with clients came from facing the numbers head-on. One client realized that 80% of her revenue was coming from just 20% of her offers. Once she doubled down on what was actually working, she went from stressed and scattered to streamlined and profitable.

👉 Takeaway: You don’t have to love numbers, but you do have to respect them. Data is feedback. Use it.

Lesson 3: Build Solid Foundations For Your Online Business (Not Just Quick Wins)

When you first start an online business, it’s tempting to throw everything together quickly – launch a service, create a website, start selling. And honestly? That works in the beginning. But long-term, growth without structure will collapse on itself.

It’s like building a house without foundations…

By year two or three, most entrepreneurs I work with hit the same wall: their business feels messy, chaotic, and unsustainable. That’s usually because they skipped building proper systems and foundations at the start.

Things like standard operating procedures (SOPs), automations, financial tracking, and workflows don’t sound sexy, but they give you stability. They mean you can grow without burning out.

Think of it this way: quick wins keep you afloat, but strong foundations let you scale.

👉 Takeaway: If your business basics and foundations feel shaky, go back and strengthen your systems. You’ll thank yourself later.

Lesson 4: Revisit Your Vision and Direction Regularly

The goals you had in 2020 aren’t necessarily the same goals you have today. And that’s okay. But too often, founders forget to pause and reassess.

Maybe when you started, your dream was simply to replace your salary. But now, maybe you want more freedom, more impact, or even less client work and more passive income. The point is – if your vision has shifted but your business hasn’t, you’re going to feel stuck.

One of my favorite tools for this is journaling. It sounds simple, but writing down what you want your business (and life) to look like in the next 12 months can give you huge clarity. I often share prompts for this in my coaching programmes like The Freedom Model Method because it’s a practice I return to again and again myself and know how powerful it can be.

👉 Takeaway: Don’t let your business goals get outdated. A true entrepreneur mindset means regularly checking in with yourself and realigning where needed.

Lesson 5: Check in With Yourself as Much as With Your Business

This is the one most people skip – but it’s also the most important.

Your business is an extension of you. If you’re burnt out, anxious, or misaligned, your business will reflect that.

When I first started, I pushed myself into exhaustion. I was saying yes to everything, undervaluing myself, and running on empty. The turning point came when I realized that personal growth is just as important as business growth.

Now I invest in my own development – not just in business strategy, but in my wellbeing, my mindset, and my capacity to lead. And I encourage every client to do the same. Because if you outgrow certain offers, clients, or even your old way of working, it’s okay. That’s part of entrepreneurship.

👉 Takeaway: Ask yourself regularly – does my business still reflect who I am today? Or am I running a version of me from years ago?

It’s Time to Embrace Change If You Want to Grow

Here’s the hard truth: the most dangerous place to be in business is exactly where you were last year.

If you want to succeed in 2025 and beyond, it’s not about hustling harder. It’s about strengthening your entrepreneur mindset, adopting a success mindset, and letting both you and your business evolve as you grow.

So before you plan your next launch or set another sales goal, pause. Revisit these lessons. Check in with yourself. Make sure the business you’re building still fits the person you’ve become.

And if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of how to actually do this? That’s where an online business coach like myself can help. Sometimes you need an outside perspective to see the bigger picture, create a strategy that works, and keep you accountable along the way.

👉 Ready to strengthen your mindset and build a business that lasts? Start with my Free Masterclass, or take my Quiz to discover your best-fit business model.

If you’ve been feeling like your business is stuck, overwhelmed, or not aligned anymore – you’re not alone. The online space has changed so much since 2020, and so have you.

Here are the lessons to take with you into this year:

Evolve with the market – don’t cling to outdated strategies.
Pay attention to data – it’s feedback, not failure.
Strengthen your foundations – stability creates scalability.
Revisit your vision regularly – goals grow as you do.
Check in with yourself – your personal growth fuels your business growth.

The truth is, building an online business isn’t just about strategy – it’s about who you become in the process. And if you commit to growth, both personal and professional, your business will thank you for it.

meet the writer

I'm Sophie

Online business coach, podcast host, mental health advocate, speaker, founder of TINAH, community builder, full-time digital nomad, and general trailblazing, rule breaker…

I tried to live a “normal” life: I spent 11+ years working my way up in the fashion industry, working for brands like Ralph Lauren and Burberry. I had the apartment in the city, I lived for going out at the weekends, spent money on designer bags and holidays – until I realized this lifestyle DID NOT FULFIL ME – I was waking up with anxiety every day – surviving, but definitely not thriving.

So I quit. I left my 9-to-5 behind to start an online business that supported the lifestyle I actually wanted. Now that looks like slow mornings, daily beach walks, co-working with like-minded entrepreneurs, yoga, meditation, and lots of social connections.

Since 2020, I’ve built multiple online business offers – from online business coaching and consulting to online courses, digital products, and a mental health marketplace – all while travelling the world and living life, and earning money on my own terms.

Now… I’m on a mission to help more people break free from lives that don’t feel good for them and create more freedom through starting and growing an online business.