---
title: "Fixing limbo land"
description: "A check for a business that has plateaued, such as one stuck under $500,000 in revenue."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/start-with-yourself/fixing-limbo-land/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Fixing limbo land

> A check for a business that has plateaued, such as one stuck under $500,000 in revenue.

Emma Grede's framework, from Start With Yourself, pp. 49 to 237.

Framework 7 of 14 from [Start With Yourself](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/start-with-yourself/index.md) by Emma Grede. Category: Offers and pricing.

## The steps

1. **Check four things together.** Make sure product, pricing, distribution and marketing all work at once.
2. **Dissect the details.** Ask whether the product suits the retailer's customer, sits in the right place, stands out on the shelf and is bought again.
3. **Read reviews and comments.** Look at what customers say and consistently ask for.
4. **Check for product-market fit.** Be honest about whether there is a real thing here and rightsize ambition if not.
5. **Do not spend more on marketing.** Spending more on marketing pours resources into a leaky colander; fix the core business first.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: Part Three: Old Thoughts, pp. 49–237

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/start-with-yourself/fixing-limbo-land.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/start-with-yourself/fixing-limbo-land-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/start-with-yourself/fixing-limbo-land.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/start-with-yourself/fixing-limbo-land-dark.png