for small business owners who feel busy — but aren't progressing
stuck doesn't always look like stuck
the little book that could
(help you)
A short, honest book for owners who are busy, not broken.
Most business books give you homework, systems, wants you to buy more things, and a dozen new “musts” to pile onto an already crowded day. This one does the opposite.
The Uncomfortable Comfort Zone is a quick read you can finish in a single sitting, written by a small business owner who has lived the long hours and quiet doubt—not a guru with a marketing funnel.
It won’t ask you to overhaul your business, fill out worksheets, pretend you’re failing, or make you feel bad about where you're at. Instead, it gives you simple shifts in how you see your effort, your guilt, and your next small move, so you can start experiencing forward progress again without blowing up your life.
the moment you realize...
As you read (or listen), you might catch a whiff of something familiar — like realizing you've stepped in dog crap. No one has to point it out. You just know. And once you know, you stop and properly deal with it.
That's what awareness does. It changes what you tolerate.
about the author
rick tracewell
Rick has been running small businesses since 1990, spending more than three decades in the same trenches as the owners this book is written for.
Instead of preaching from a stage, he’s sat in the office after hours, wondering why long days weren’t fixing what felt stuck. The Uncomfortable Comfort Zone grew out of those honest questions and conversations—with the goal of giving other solo and small‑team owners a short, practical way to name what they’re going through and start moving forward.
podcast episodes
about the book
What people are saying about the author of
Fantastic guest! Relatable and knowledgeable.
I highly recommend Rick!
sample the book
Here's the intro chapter of the uncomfortable comfort zone book
First: Is This Book For You?
Let’s make sure you’re not wasting your time here.
If you’re working harder than ever but things aren’t progressing…
If you sometimes wonder why your effort isn’t translating into the results you hoped for…
If you want your business to be comfortably profitable…
You are definitely in the right place.
This book exists because there are thousands of people just like you and me.
Doing everything we can, staying busy, pushing through — and quietly wondering why things aren’t improving. Friends and family see the long hours and assume it’s working, but inside, it feels way heavier than it should.
If that sounds all too familiar, know that you are certainly not alone. You may be in what I call the Uncomfortable Comfort Zone.
This is not a how-to manual.
I am not a guru you should follow.
This book is, of course, an inanimate object. On its own, it won’t fix things for you.
If you’ve read self-help books before, this book might cause some discomfort at times–not because you’re being pushed, but because things are being named honestly.
I don’t know your specific situation, so I won’t be offering you specific solutions.
Awareness is the first step toward resolution.
What this book will do is help you to see what’s been hard to see from deep inside your own business. It will put words to experiences you may not have named before and it will offer simple, low-pressure ways to start moving forward — right where you are.
You don’t need to read this book in any particular order.
You don’t have to spend money you don’t have.
You also don’t need to overhaul your entire business.
Read a few pages at a time. Come back to it when you need to. Take what helps you and leave the rest.
Running a business isn’t easy. Most people never try.
You did. Give yourself credit for that.
This book is here to meet you where you are — and to help you take the steps that move both you and your business forward.
– Rick Tracewell
questions & answers
click a question to reveal the answer
don't stop! keep going!
Curated books, podcasts, and youtube channels
to keep you learning, encouraged, and taking your next micro‑move
books to read
understanding your role of the business owner
making small changes that actually stick
Money (Without the Shame or Jargon)
marketing that makes sense for small businesses
Delegating, Hiring, and Letting Go (Without Losing Control)
Growing, Expanding, or Stepping Back
podcasts
about podcasts
Podcasts are simply conversations you can listen to instead of read.
You don’t need to sit down or carve out special time for them. Most people listen while driving, walking, doing light chores, waiting between appointments, or winding down at night.
You can pause them anytime and pick back up where you left off.
Find these podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Entrepreneurs on Fire
Host: John Lee Dumas
A daily podcast featuring interviews with business owners who share real stories about how they started, grew, failed, and learned. Lots of inspiration with practical takeaways for everyday business decisions.
The $100 MBA Show
Host: Omar Zenhom
Short, actionable business lessons without the fluff. Covers marketing, money, systems, and real business skills — perfect for busy owners who want straightforward ideas.
The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast
Host: John Jantsch
Focused on marketing fundamentals that won’t overwhelm you or require big budgets. The focus is on practical strategies small businesses can actually implement.
Small Business Sessions
Host: Dan Martin (Enterprise Nation)
Stories and interviews with real small business owners. This one is less theory and more “here’s how they did it / here’s what happened.”
The Diary of a CEO
Host: Steven Bartlett
Not strictly a business how-to, but deep, honest conversations about mindset, mistakes, success, and resilience — topics that often get ignored in traditional business shows.
Lemonade Stand
Hosts: Brandon Ewing, Aiden McCaig, Doug Wreden
A newer business podcast with a creative, conversational vibe that explores ideas, mistakes, success stories, and practical business talk in a human way.
youtube channels
Host: Omar Zenhom
Short, actionable business lessons without the fluff. Covers marketing, money, systems, and real business skills — perfect for busy owners who want straightforward ideas.