Scaling a recruitment business is one of the toughest challenges a founder can face, especially in Southeast Asia, where many small business owners find themselves stuck in the “ramp up” cycle. Despite dreams of growth, they can’t seem to move beyond that 8-10 person team. Sound familiar?

The core of the problem? Often, it comes down to people—finding the right ones to scale up and give you the freedom to focus on growth. But when you dig deeper, you’ll find that the real issue may lie closer to home: you, the founder. It can be tough to admit, but acknowledging where you’re holding things back is the first step toward fixing it.

Here are some signs you’re falling into the trap of being stuck in the same cycle:

1. You make statements like: “No one gets it here,” “There are no good recruiters,” or “People just aren’t willing to work hard.”
   This mindset creates a culture of blame, which can be a huge barrier to growth.
   
2. Your business is you.
   You’re the face of the company, the one with all the clients, the strategy—everyone else just tags along without real autonomy to build and contribute to the growth.
   
3. You hire yes-men because it’s easier.
   You hire people who agree with you rather than those who challenge you, which can limit your business’ innovation and long-term success.
   
4. You’re tight with cash and overly risk-averse.
   This leads to a boom-or-bust cycle, always playing it safe and avoiding any bold moves to expand, thus stalling growth.
   
5. You’re an “ideas guy” but struggle with execution.
   You come up with brilliant ideas but fall short when it comes to implementation. Without the follow-through, your ideas remain just that—ideas.
   
6. You have no internal processes in place.
   Without clear processes, everything is reactive, disorganized, and inconsistent, making it nearly impossible to scale effectively.

If any of this sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re not alone. But recognizing these signs early is key to breaking free from the growth cycle. A little self-reflection and a willingness to shift gears could be the secret to unlocking your business’ true potential.