Signal vs. Noise
The Science, The Struggle, and
The Sweet Spot of Success
Simply put, noise is what you need to ignore.
Signal is what you need to hear.
Ok, let’s get real for a second, ladies.
Running a solo business—especially in the spiritual or heart-led space—isn’t just about having a great offer or beautiful branding. It’s about focus. And right now? We are living in the most distracted era in human history.
Every day you are bombarded with ideas, opinions, trends, gurus, hacks, messages, metrics, and algorithms. So how do you know what actually matters?
That’s where the concept of signal vs. noise comes in.
And it might just be the thing that makes or breaks your business.
The Science Behind Signal vs. Noise
In physics and engineering, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a measure of how much useful information (signal) exists compared to the irrelevant or distracting data (noise). The higher the ratio, the clearer the message.
In radio communication, for example, static and interference can distort or drown out the real message. But if the signal is strong and the noise is low, it comes through loud and clear.
This concept also shows up in neuroscience, decision-making, astronomy—and yes, entrepreneurship.
As a Solo-Entrepreneur, You’re the Receiver AND the Broadcaster
You’re constantly interpreting data—internal and external. You’re filtering advice, client feedback, social media trends, your own intuition. But without knowing how to discern the signal from the noise, you’ll spin your wheels and drain your energy.
Noise sounds like:
Comparing yourself to everyone on Instagram
Jumping from one “should-do” strategy to another
Rebuilding your website instead of reaching out to potential clients
Buying yet another course you never finish
Feeling behind every time you log online
Signal sounds like:
A client says, “You helped me finally sleep through the night”
80% of your leads come from one podcast interview
Your gut says, “This launch doesn’t feel aligned”
You light up every time you teach live but feel drained by prerecorded content
You keep hearing the same need from different clients—hello, messaging gold!
Why It’s Especially Hard for Women
Here’s something else we need to name:
Signal vs. noise is even harder for women.
Why?
Because we’ve been conditioned—by culture, community, and sometimes our own families—to be multi-taskers, nurturers, and peacekeepers. We’re praised for juggling everything at once. For tuning into everyone else’s needs. For being endlessly available.
That constant toggling between mental tabs?
It makes it so easy to confuse noise for signal.
We hear everything—what the market wants, what our clients expect, what our peers are doing, what our parents think, what that coach on Instagram said last night…
But hearing everything doesn’t mean you’re tuned in.
Sometimes it just means you’re overwhelmed.
When we learn to discern what’s ours—and what’s just social static—we start making decisions from truth instead of tension.
Real Life Example: The Instagram Spiral
Rachel (our struggling solopreneur) logs into Instagram and sees another woman in her field celebrating a $50K launch. Cue: internal panic. She starts questioning everything about her offer. She signs up for three webinars, buys a new Canva template pack, and rewrites her About page at 2AM.
That’s noise.
But when she revisits the testimonials from her last three clients, she realizes they all mentioned how calm and clear they felt after working with her. That’s a theme. That’s a thread. That’s…
The signal.
So instead, she updates her messaging to reflect that clarity she brings. She speaks directly to anxious women seeking spiritual peace and practical momentum. She leans into her zone of brilliance—and her business begins to grow with grace.
Noise Makes You Hustle. Signal Makes You Magnetic.
Here’s the truth: Noise leads to burnout. Signal leads to momentum.
When you tune in to what’s essential—your clients, your calling, your data, your intuition—you create clarity. And clarity is currency.
This is especially critical for heart-led women entrepreneurs. Because let’s be honest—we tend to overthink, over-give, and overcomplicate. But signal teaches us to:
Simplify
Trust ourselves
Act with purpose
Even the Greats Know: It’s All About Signal
I was watching a video recently where Kevin O’Leary (yes, Mr. Wonderful from Shark Tank) was talking about this exact concept—signal vs. noise.
He said something that really stuck with me:
“Steve Jobs was probably operating at 80% signal, 20% noise. Elon Musk? Likely 100% signal.”
Now whether or not you vibe with Elon, that level of clarity and singular focus is what makes people unstoppable.
But what about women entrepreneurs?
We have our own icons of signal-driven leadership—women who stayed fiercely focused on what mattered and tuned out the rest.
Here are three who embody this beautifully:
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx
Sara trusted her intuition when every manufacturer turned her down. No fashion background. No business degree. Just a vision she refused to let go of. Her signal? A deep knowing that women wanted shapewear that actually worked for them. She bootstrapped her way to a billion-dollar brand by staying focused, resourceful, and bold.
Melissa Butler, founder of The Lip Bar
Melissa started making lipsticks in her kitchen while working on Wall Street—and was famously rejected on Shark Tank. The noise told her, “no one will buy bold colors from a Black-owned brand.” But she stayed true to her mission: to challenge beauty norms and empower women of color. Today, The Lip Bar is sold nationwide and Melissa is celebrated as a disruptor in the beauty space.
Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble
Whitney launched a dating app where women make the first move. People said the market was saturated. The noise was loud. But she stayed committed to her signal: creating a platform that flipped traditional gender roles. The result? An industry-shaking success—and she became the youngest self-made female billionaire.
These women didn’t try to please everyone.
They didn’t chase trends or fall into comparison traps.
They listened, refined, and acted from a place of grounded alignment.
That’s the power of tuning in to your signal—and muting the rest.
How to Tune Your Inner Antenna
Track Patterns. What keeps showing up in client feedback or your own instincts?
Limit Inputs. Follow fewer people. Filter your content. Protect your mental space.
Ask Better Questions. Is this aligned or distracting? Essential or extra?
Build a Practice of Discernment. Meditation, journaling, and stillness help you feel the difference between noise and truth.
Get Support. Sometimes, another set of eyes (or ears) can spot your signal faster than you can.
Final Word
Success doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from listening better.
Simply put, noise is what you need to ignore, and the signal is what you need to hear.
So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a breath and ask:
What’s the signal here?
Because when you listen to the right signal—your brilliance gets amplified. And that’s when your business (and your energy) finally clicks into place.
With clarity, courage, and a whole lot of love,
Janet
PS: If you’ve been caught in the noise and need help finding your true signal, I’ve opened a few complimentary clarity call spots this week. Let’s get you grounded in what really matters. Book your free 30-minute Clarity Call today.
PPS: Want to go deeper and surround yourself with women who get it?
The Master Your Money Course & Community is now open—and it’s so much more than money. It’s about expansion, alignment, and building a business that reflects your brilliance.
I’m inviting you—as part of my Abundance Rising Circle—to join at a special Visionary Rate (just half the regular investment for a limited time).
It’s my way of saying thank you—and honoring your next-level rise.
“The most powerful guidance is the one you already carry.”
-Janet Hutchens