Three Counterintuitive Ways to Grow Your Business (That Actually Work)

“All great coaching advice is counterintuitive. It’s the stuff that goes against what everyone else is doing… and that’s why it works.” - Shawn Dill

Most service providers are playing the same tired game:

• Hustle for new clients

• Upsell your existing ones

• Raise your prices a little and hope no one notices

That’s not strategy. That’s survival.

If you want real growth—sustainable, strategic, scalable growth—you have to think differently. Because the truth is, all great coaching advice is counterintuitive. It’s the stuff that goes against what everyone else is doing… and that’s why it works.

Let’s break down the three ways to grow your business—and one outside-the-box strategy for each that’ll give you a serious edge.

1. Get More New Clients

Strategy: Create a Paid Gateway That Repels the Wrong People

Most people think the way to get more clients is to make it easier to say yes—free consults, free downloads, low-friction entry points.

I disagree.

If you want to grow with the right clients, charge for access. Upfront.

I’m talking about a low-ticket gateway product—a paid assessment, mini-intensive, onboarding session, or diagnostic that someone has to buy before working with you.

Why? Because it filters out the dabblers.

It attracts people who are willing to invest—people who are already signaling they’re serious. And when they pay even a little, you’ve elevated your positioning. You’re not just another option… you’re the option.

The best part? Your calendar is now filled with qualified leads—not wasted time.

2. Get Existing Clients to Buy More From You

Strategy: Solve Problems Outside Your Lane

Everyone says “stay in your lane.” I say, expand your value.

You already have trust. You already have access. Why stop at just solving the problem they hired you for?

Here’s what I suggest: audit your clients’ entire ecosystem. Look at where they’re struggling—not just in the area you serve, but across the board. Mindset. Workflow. Health. Relationships. Time. Energy.

Then either partner with someone who solves that, or create a new offer that does.

If you’re a chiropractor, and your clients are burned out and overwhelmed, why not build an executive productivity program? If you’re a marketing coach and your clients are clearly struggling with pricing psychology, build a pricing accelerator.

Think bigger than your credentials. Think total transformation.

Because when you become the person who helps solve all the real problems—not just the ones on your menu—you don’t just get more money from the same clients.

You become irreplaceable.

3. Get All Clients to Pay You More for the Same Thing

Strategy: Strip It Down and Raise the Price

Most people raise prices by adding more: more features, more time, more “value.”

You should do the opposite.

Cut 80% of what you offer. Deliver only the most powerful, results-driven core. And charge more for it.

High-level clients don’t want more stuff. They want less noise and faster results.

You’re not selling access—you’re selling clarity. You’re selling outcome.

Want to raise your prices? Don’t pad your offer. Refine it. Simplify it. Accelerate the win.

This is how you move from service provider to elite problem solver. From commodity to premium. From option to obvious choice.

Final Thought: Stop Playing the Same Game

Business growth isn’t about doing more. It’s about thinking better.

It’s not about adding layers. It’s about making smarter moves that create leverage.

If you want to grow, stop asking, “What’s everyone else doing?”

Start asking, “What would make the right client say yes—faster, more often, and for more money?”

That’s the real game.