Letting go

Every business owner wants to be set free from their business.

At least they should want this. A business which can run effectively without day to day input from the owner is much more valuable than a business which is reliant on him or her.

Value aside it must be much more rewarding in a practical sense having a business which works for you rather than just being being your place of work. 

That’s the theory. The practice is much more difficult.

If being ‘the boss’ has been your raison d’etre for 10 or 15 years, to morph into someone who is not needed and maybe even gets in the way a bit, is a difficult transition.

Part of the DNA and make up of business owners and entrepreneurs is being driven and busy. Long ‘to do’ lists, not enough time. Demanding customers, challenging suppliers,  employee problems. Stress. Adrenaline.

When you stop being essential to the business its hard to let go of old habits of jumping in, fixing problems and doing things the way you’ve always done them.

So what’s the solution?

Well I’m no expert because I am still fairly hands on with my business. My employees would be the judges of how needed I am. Maybe I’ll ask them. 

But getting back to the solution, I think the first thing is to learn to let go of the guilt. It’s ok not to be busy. It’s your business. You’ve put in the hard work. You’ve built the team. Now let them get on with it.

You can of course put your energy into something else - a new hobby, a new business venture or developing a new stream of your existing business.

If you have managed to find your freedom be sure to celebrate it. It’s a nirvana that many business owners never reach.

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