Entrepreneurial Exploration: Testing and Expanding Your Business Offerings

If there’s one thing I know about business, it’s that nothing stays the same.

Whether external factors force you to adapt or your need for growth pushes the business to evolve, what we start with is rarely what we end up with. 

The important thing to know is that it isn’t a sign of failure—it’s the natural progress of you and your business.

When I launched my business, I had one core service, one primary audience, and a fairly straightforward vision of how it would all unfold. But as I gained experience, listened to my clients, and experimented with new offerings, I realized there were new, exciting, and more unique ways to serve coaches and clients. 

Sound familiar? That’s because it’s not so different from career exploration. Just like professionals explore industries, roles, and skills to find the right fit, business owners test services, refine offerings, and pivot as they uncover what works best.

Here is some food for thought on how to dive into your career exploration – as an entrepreneur. 

1. Lean into the Evolution

Most entrepreneurs start with a single focus—a core service that feels like a natural extension of their expertise, and as time goes on, we often realize we’re capable of more! 

→ What was once a zone of genius has become a zone of competence, so we seek new zones of genius. 

Maybe your clients start asking for services you hadn’t considered, or you see a gap in the market. Maybe you get bored with what you’ve been doing and need a challenge. Whatever the reason, business evolution is natural and necessary, but the key is to evolve intentionally rather than reactively.

Here are a few ways you can be in tune without jumping the gun:

• Listen to patterns in client feedback. What are people consistently asking for that you don’t currently offer?
• Assess your interests. What do you enjoy doing the most, and what could you see yourself leaning into more?
• Check the market. Just because you can offer something doesn’t mean you should. Does the demand justify the effort? Will you enjoy providing such a service?

When done strategically, adding new services expands your reach, increases revenue, and keeps you engaged in your work.

2. The Experimentation Mindset

Ever had an idea that sounded amazing in theory but flopped in execution? You’re not alone.

That’s why the best business owners approach new offerings with an experimentation mindset—testing before investing too much time, energy, or money.

→ WARNING: put your perfectionist hat away for this one, y’all! 

To test new services, you must be willing to launch them before they’re ready. Otherwise, you’ll waste too much time developing them before knowing how your audience will react. 

Instead of launching big, try:

• Pilot programs → Run a small test group before a full-scale launch.
• Beta offerings → Offer a service at a discounted rate in exchange for feedback; this works best when focused on exciting clients or an inner circle you trust to test the product. 
• Time-bound experiments → Try something for three months before deciding if it’s a long-term fit.

Treat new ideas like prototypes that need to exist outside your head. Refine them based on real-world feedback before fully committing. (It’s called risk mitigation, friends!). 

3. When to Pivot, Expand, or Double Down

Not every idea is a winner. And that’s okay. Knowing when to release, pivot, expand, or double down is the trick.

Here are some signs it’s time to release or pivot:
❌ Your current offers aren’t selling despite strong marketing efforts.
❌ You’ve lost passion for your work, which feels like a grind.
❌ The market has shifted, and your services are no longer relevant.

If you’re seeing demand grow steadily, with repeat clients and referrals, it might be time to expand.
✅ Consider adding complementary services.
✅ Build out scalable offerings, like courses or memberships.
✅ Look for strategic partnerships to widen your reach.

And if something is working exceptionally well? Double down.
✔ Raise prices to reflect demand.
✔ Reinforce your expertise in that area.

The magic of business exploration and solo-preneurship is that it’s okay to change your mind: try things, fail, succeed wildly, and use that knowledge to your advantage! 

4. Finding the Right Offer Mix

Once you’ve tested an idea and know it works, the next step is turning that experiment into a core offering.

How do you go from “Let’s see if this works” to “This is what I do now”?

• Refine the process. Can you create a repeatable framework that makes selling and delivering this service easier?
• Develop supporting assets. Marketing materials make it feel official, and evergreen materials used within the program will add value to the client while helping you work more efficiently. 
• Position it within your brand. Where does this fit into your larger business identity? How does it complement your existing services? 
• Don’t be afraid. Adding new services may mean sunsetting old ones, but that doesn’t mean you have to start telling clients, “No.” It may, however, mean you need to build a strong referral network so you can say, “Not me!” 

Not every experiment needs to become a long-term fixture, but when you embrace the exploration, you will inevitably find new opportunities to serve while building toward your next big thing. Your business will evolve.

The best businesses aren’t built overnight; they’re discovered, tested, and refined over time, so as you navigate your journey, I challenge you to ask yourself:

🔹 What’s one new idea you’ve been considering but haven’t tested yet?
🔹 Is there an existing service that needs a refresh—or a retirement?
🔹 Where is your business naturally pulling you next?

Give yourself permission to explore – it is the best way to build a business (and career) that lasts. Here’s to the next phase of your journey—wherever it leads!

Your Friend and Coach,
Angie Callen, CPRW, CPCC