On the opposite end of the spectrum, I spoke with an owner last week who took a full "no internet, no cell service" vacation.
He stepped away knowing stuff would go wrong, but knowing he needed to get away and let it happen for the benefit of himself, and to see where the holes are in his business.
But he came back and literally everything was fine.
Something he discovered about himself noticing that was that he micromanages certain things way more than he needs to. It's this weird psychology trick he's been playing on himself to feel productive.
He's a classic Type A high functioning person. But he literally doesn't need to be as involved as he's been making himself.
He would not have noticed this unless he fully disconnected.
This is a pattern I've seen come up repeatedly in conversations with business owners who deal with anxiety about stepping back. They convince themselves they're essential to every decision, every process, every outcome. And sometimes the only way to break that cycle is to physically remove yourself from the equation.
Here's the thing about stepping away: it reveals the truth about your business. Either things fall apart because there are genuine holes that need fixing, or everything runs smoothly and you realize you've been inserting yourself where you don't need to be.
Both outcomes are valuable. One shows you where to build better systems. The other gives you permission to let go.
If you're a high functioning business owner who feels like you can't step away, consider this your sign to try. You might be surprised what you learn about yourself and your business when you fully disconnect.
