If you’ve been working hard to grow your business, putting your heart into your messaging, and still feel like something’s not quite landing, it might not be your strategy, your content, or your funnel that’s to blame. It might be your words. More specifically, the small but powerful ones that quietly creep into your conversations, your emails, your DMs, and your offers—sabotaging your business from the inside out.

It’s not your fault. Most of us, especially women, weren’t taught to sell in a way that honors how we naturally lead, connect, and communicate. And those old selling models? They weren’t built for us. High-pressure tactics, forced urgency, and pushy pitches feel off for a reason. They weren’t made with your nervous system—or your audience—in mind.

So, we adapt.
We soften our tone.
We downplay our brilliance.
We try not to sound “too much.”

But here’s the thing: the more you try to sell in a way that doesn’t feel right, the more likely you are to unconsciously dilute your power. The result? Watered-down marketing, unclear offers, and second-guessing every move.

Let’s change that.
Let’s unpack the three seemingly innocent words that are sabotaging your business—and what to say instead.

“Just” – The Invisible Apology

How many times have you started a message with, “Just following up…” or ended a post with, “Just wanted to share…”?

It may seem polite, but “just” is often an unconscious way of asking for permission. It signals that you’re trying to soften your presence, make yourself smaller, and take up less space—especially in moments where you’re actually trying to lead.

The word “just” carries the energy of:
I don’t want to bother you
I know I’m not supposed to ask for this
I hope it’s okay if I say this

The problem? That energy leaks into every offer, pitch, and piece of content. And your audience feels it.

Instead of “just,” try one of these confident alternatives:

• “Here’s what I want to share with you today.”
• “This is something I believe will support you right now.”
• “Here’s an opportunity that aligns with where you’re headed.”

You don’t need to tiptoe into the conversation. Stand in it. When you replace “just,” you stop apologizing for showing up—and start leading with presence.

“Try” – The Half-Commit

“I’m going to try to go live more.”
“You could try this offer and see if it helps.”
“Let’s try to work together on this.”

The word “try” gives you an out. It sounds like commitment, but it’s actually avoidance. And when it comes to sabotaging your business, it might be one of the sneakiest culprits of all.

Try lacks conviction. It creates a gap between your intention and your action. And if you’re not convinced, your audience won’t be either.

More importantly, “try” reveals something deeper: you might not feel safe to fully show up. You’re protecting yourself from rejection, failure, or discomfort by staying vague. But that only keeps you in limbo—never quite moving forward, never quite fully stepping in.

Here’s what to say instead:

• “I’m committed to showing up every week.”
• “This is the next right step for you.”
• “I’m ready to support you with this offer.”

That language creates clarity. And clarity builds confidence—both for you and your audience.

“Hope” – The Disempowered Pitch

“Hopefully this post reaches the right person.”
“I hope you like this offer.”
“Let’s hope this works.”

Hope sounds positive, but in a business context, it puts all your power outside of you. It implies that the outcome is up to chance, not leadership. And your clients? They don’t pay for hope. They pay for trust, clarity, and conviction.

Saying “hope” can also be a sign that you’re struggling with self-doubt. That you don’t fully believe your offer will land. That you’re bracing yourself for disappointment in case it doesn’t.

This is a nervous system survival strategy, not a sales strategy.

So let’s shift the script. Say things like:

• “I know this will serve the right person.”
• “I trust the process I’ve built.”
• “This offer creates real results.”

When you stop outsourcing your confidence and start speaking from belief, you lead differently. You speak from your core, not your fear.

It’s Not Just the Words—It’s What They Reveal

“Just.”
“Try.”
“Hope.”

They seem small. But they’re not. These words signal something deeper: a hesitation to take up space, a desire to sound safe instead of strong, a fear of being “too much.”

When these words show up in your business, they often point to:

• Fear of being seen or misunderstood
• Anxiety around being salesy or pushy
• A nervous system that still doesn’t feel safe leading

And here’s the truth: this isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness. You’re not wrong for using these words—you’ve been conditioned to speak this way. But now that you’re building a business rooted in alignment, integrity, and impact, your language has to evolve with you.

Because your words shape your energy.
Your energy shapes your presence.
And your presence? That’s what sells.

Rewire Your Sales Language

So, what do you do now?

You begin by choosing words that match the leader you’re becoming. That reflect your clarity, your certainty, your embodied confidence.

You start saying:

• “This is the offer I’m proud to share.”
• “I trust the value this brings.”
• “I’m ready to support the right clients now.”

And most importantly, you practice speaking this way even before you feel 100% ready. Because confidence isn’t a prerequisite—it’s a result of practice, consistency, and presence.

Ready to Sell Without the Spiral?

If you’ve been sabotaging your business with vague language, unclear messaging, and nervous system spirals, I created something for you.

Sell Without the Spiral is a free guide for women ready to sell in a way that feels clear, grounded, and authentic—without overthinking or over-explaining.

You’ll get:

• A nervous system-based sales assessment
• Scripts to help you ask without shrinking
• The Calm Close Formula (with no fake urgency)
• Mini-practices to help you feel safe while selling
• A simple rewire plan to shift from fear to leadership

Because you don’t need to push harder to make more sales.
You need language that reflects your leadership.
And a sales strategy your body can trust.

Sabotaging your business doesn’t always look like a failed launch or ghosting your Instagram. Sometimes it sounds like “just,” “try,” or “hope.”

So here’s your next move:

• Delete the word “just” from your emails and sales pages.
• Replace “try” with “commit” or “choose.”
• Retire “hope” and speak from trust instead.

Lead with the confidence you already hold. Speak like the woman your business is becoming. You don’t have to shrink to succeed. You get to sell with presence, purpose, and power.

Now go back through your last few posts and emails. Find the words that don’t serve you. Replace them. And see what happens when you stop sabotaging your business, and start leading it.