“Can you help my son take over my business?”

The business owner was 60, looking to semi-retire. While his 23-year-old son was working in the business, he was showing little interest in stepping up to take control. The frustration was clear.

I responded: “What were you doing at 23?”

“Having fun going out with my mates, working in a job I loved with no thought about the future.”

“So why would your son be any different?”

He leaned back in his chair, went quiet. Stroked his chin. “There is no difference.”  Followed by a pause before saying. “So what should I do?”

“Create space. Step back. See if he steps up when you are not there.”

Then came the line that changed everything:

“When I was injured last year and couldn’t work for three months, my son did step up and successfully ran the business in that time.”

I said nothing.

This was not about his son lacking ambition or direction. This was about the business owner standing in the way.   His son had demonstrated he could step up when he was given a chance.

I suggested: “How about you start by taking one day a week away from the business?”

The business owner leaned forward.  “One day a week. I can do that.  I’ll start Monday”  He was already imagining what this would look like for him, his son and the business.

The question for the business owner was never whether his son was ready. The question was whether he was willing to get out of his son’s way.