There’s a lot of talk in the online space about building a business that runs without you.
It’s something many business owners dream of, and it’s a core focus of my work. I love helping businesses and their teams create the systems and structures that make this possible, ensuring everything runs smoothly without requiring the CEO to be in the day to day details. It’s incredible when a business operates so seamlessly that the CEO can take time off—whether for a vacation, an extended holiday, or even maternity leave—while the business continues to thrive and grow.
Although it’s less talked about (and, to be honest, uncomfortable for most of us to think about), what’s even more important is for your business to be able to run without you when you need to take time off for unplanned things.
Last year, one of my clients took a lot of time off to travel: The Bahamas, Mexico, a weeklong road trip, Austin, Atlanta, Aspen…the list goes on. And she was able to take those trips while her business ran effortlessly without her.
But in between all of that travel, a close family member also had some serious health scares which needed a lot of her attention.
When it first happened, we were in the middle of a big launch. In most businesses, something that serious would derail everything—except, it didn’t. Nothing broke down, nothing had to stop or get paused—and she wasn’t sitting in the hospital waiting room frantically trying to get the wifi to work so she could keep up with DMs.
The team and I were able to step in and continue to run everything on our own so that she could be fully present with her family. And that launch STILL sold out and brought in $200,000 in sales.
This was only possible because for years we have prioritized setting strong foundations with our team and creating streamlined processes so that she doesn’t need to be in the business 24/7. She can focus her time on what’s most important—whether that’s CEO-level creative tasks or being fully offline to prioritize her family life.
I want this for every business owner.
You don’t have to be running a 7-figure business with 10 team members to make it happen. But there are two key things that you do need:
1. Systems. Clear processes, well-defined roles, and documented guidelines ensure that your team knows exactly what to do without needing you to step in. The more rinse-and-repeatable your systems are, the easier it is for you to step away—without things falling apart.
2. Team. Specifically, you want one key role: a right hand person. You want someone you trust—who understands your business inside and out and can make decisions the way you would, so that you feel confident that things will continue to run smoothly even if you step away.
This is why I created my Team Empowerment Program—to strengthen the role of the right hand person and train them from being task-takers into decision-makers who can become a true partner in your business. Someone who can support you in the day to day, who can grow alongside you, and who can, when needed, step in to keep things running if you need to step out.
If your current person isn’t quite ready to step up in the way that you want them to, I’d love to support you. Learn more about the Team Empowerment Program here.
