Fall is the perfect time to step back…
For most small business owners, working in the business isn’t optional, it’s how things get done. You’re leading, selling, managing, and often filling gaps that no one else can. But while it’s natural to stay hands-on, it’s also essential to build space for working on the business: setting vision, refining systems, and ensuring your efforts today create long-term sustainability.
The challenge? When you’re caught in the daily grind, it’s easy to lose sight of that higher-level work.
The E-Myth Reality Check
The E-Myth, coined by Michael Gerber, highlights a common trap: most business founders aren’t pure entrepreneurs, they’re skilled technicians who decided to strike out on their own. They know how to do the work but often lack the time or structure to grow the business strategically.
As Gerber writes:
“Most entrepreneurs fail because they are working in their business rather than on it. They are so busy doing the work of the business that they don’t have time to grow the business, or even think about it strategically.”
That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong, it means you’re doing what’s necessary to keep things running. But staying there indefinitely caps growth, drains energy, and makes scaling feel impossible.
Common Signs You’re Stuck In the Business
If any of these feel familiar, you’re not alone:
- You spend more time putting out fires than planning for what’s next.
- Decision fatigue is real and you’re stuck in execution mode.
- Your team depends on you too much; when you pause, progress pauses.
- You’ve lost sight of your original vision because you’re buried in the details.
- When a colleague or teammate volunteers to take point, your gut says, “I can do it faster”.
Working in the business keeps things moving. But working on the business is what moves things forward.
Stepping Back Is Good for Business
Stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away. It means shifting your focus and discovering and crafting a better role where you’re best-suited to make the best impact. When you zoom out, you give yourself and your team space to:
- Prioritize resources more effectively
- Reconnect with your long-term vision
- Build sustainable systems that don’t depend on you
- Avoid burnout and model balanced leadership
No one else can lead your business with your level of clarity and intention so making time to think, plan, and strategize is not optional. It’s leadership.
Two Keys to Making It Happen
You need to set the stage as a leader. And you want your business to continue to perform as it grows and evolves. But you can’t do either if you’re overwhelmed or leading in fight-or-flight mode. If you’re ready to step back, structure and support can create space for you to realign and recharge. This includes:
- Visionary Time: Even if it’s just an hour once a week, put time on your calendar to practice visionary, entrepreneurial thinking. Where could you take your life and your business if you were leading from your strengths? What processes and plans do you need in place to make that happen?
- Note: It’s important to honor this time as you would any other scheduled professional/business development. It’s not just a good idea, it’s a meeting you can’t miss!
- Operational Support: Fractional operational leadership brings a fresh perspective. Their specialized skills and proven business development strategies deliver customized solutions to your team/organization. They work to eliminate reactivity, developing and implementing strategic systems that help you all excel together.
Looking for more balance in your role as leader? Yes, please!
You don’t have to be consumed with the day-to-day. You can lead from a higher level, and we can help. We help overworked leaders delegate, strategize, and lead with an entrepreneurial mindset.
We facilitate your transition to more balanced, empowered leadership with customized operational support, including fractional COO services, project management, and more.
If you’re looking to recharge and reinvigorate your leadership, and your entire organization, don’t wait. Book a discovery call to discuss the possibilities. Move forward with clarity, calm and confidence.