Sitting Behind the Screen, Acting Crazy: Why It's Hurting Your Business (and How to Break the Cycle)

As a strategic growth advisor, I work closely with emerging business leaders — ambitious founders, solo operators, and small teams chasing scale.

And one pattern shows up again and again:

That moment when someone sends 47 cold DMs.

Rewrites their homepage headline for the 19th time.

Or stalks potential customers on LinkedIn, Instagram or eCommerce activities, anxiously “watching” instead of reaching out.

All while avoiding… the real work.

We call it: “sitting behind the screen acting crazy.”

And it’s more costly than most entrepreneurs realize.

What Is “Sitting Behind the Screen, Acting Crazy”?

It’s when you:

• Obsess over details that feel “productive” but avoid real conversations

• Stay in an echo chamber of your own anxiety instead of building momentum

• Monitor prospects’ every move instead of reaching out

• Confuse busywork for business

• Prioritize gathering data over understanding what stakeholders actually need

• Send one-way emails or DMs that are emotionally charged or overly opinionated — without creating space for real dialogue or feedback

  
  

You’re working. But you’re not growing.

Why Do Entrepreneurs Fall Into This?

Entrepreneurship is full of uncertainty. And the human brain craves control. So we overcorrect by:

• Building elaborate decks instead of testing an idea

• Refreshing our inbox instead of making the call

• Scrolling customer profiles for clues instead of talking to them

• Hiding behind emails, DMs, newsletters, or product tweaks instead of having real conversations

Underneath it all?

Fear.

Fear of rejection, of being seen, of being wrong.

So we “research” instead of reaching out.

But let's be honest — it's not real research. It's resistance.

The Customer Stalking Trap

One of the most subtle and damaging habits I see is digital over-observation.

You follow potential clients across platforms… analyze their likes and abandoned cart abandonment… rehearse imaginary conversations in your head…

But never send a message. Never say hi. Never show up in person.

Why?

• You fear "bothering" people

• You feel unready

• You’re overpersonalizing what’s just business

• You want to feel in control by avoiding the discomfort of hearing the truth

Because what if the prospect says, “No, we’re not interested”?

What if your offer isn’t as ready as you thought?

What if the feedback isn’t flattering?

So instead, you lurk in silence.

You gather more data. You tweak your positioning.

But you’re not moving forward — you’re circling.

Stalking isn’t strategy. Silence doesn’t build relationships.

And avoiding truth doesn’t make it go away — it just delays your growth.

In the Age of AI, Human Connection Is the Advantage

We live in a time where content is infinite, inboxes are crowded, and automation is everywhere.

And while AI can write your copy, organize your funnel, or analyze your data — it can’t build trust for you.

Your edge is no longer information.

Your edge is human connection.

The leaders who win now won’t be the ones hiding behind the dashboard.

They’ll be the ones showing up with empathy, clarity, and conviction—online and in real life.

Why This Hurts More Than You Think

When you sit behind the screen acting "busy", here's what's really happening:

• You miss real-world signals. Insight lives in conversation and human experience, not speculation.

• You erode courage. The more you hide behind the screen, the harder it becomes to show up.

• You stay invisible. People refer the helpful human, not the silent lurker.

• You’re not building trust — you’re building distance.

How to Break the Cycle (Small Shifts, Big Wins)

1. Make One Ask a Day

Reach out to one potential client, partner, or collaborator — directly. No pitch. Just start a real conversation.

2. Replace Stalking with Talking

Instead of analyzing your dream client’s posts or eCommerce behaviour, call them, meet for coffee. Ask a question. Invite their insight. Be of service.

3. Add a Live Component Every Week

Attend events, host a chat, schedule a call. Get out of your bubble and into real feedback loops.

4. Share the Journey, Not the Perfection

Post something unfinished. Ask your audience to weigh in. Let people in before it’s polished.

5. Track Progress, Not Activity

Log actual touchpoints and conversations. Progress isn’t measured in screen time — it’s measured in traction.

Final Thought

Sitting behind the screen, obsessing over non-factual details, waiting for the perfect move, or secretly stalking your customer’s every click… might feel like strategy. But it’s just fear in disguise.

Courage in business isn’t loud.

Sometimes it’s as simple as showing up. Asking the question. Starting the conversation.

✨ The moment you stop “acting crazy behind the screen” — and start showing up imperfectly — your business begins to grow for real.

👉 What’s one bold, uncomfortable but high-leverage move you’ve been avoiding this week?

Let’s bring it into the light. You’re not alone.