At a networking event I recently attended, I was challenged to provide an example of where the outcome of coaching was that a business owner achieved a balance between their work & life.

In response, I told the story about being approached by the owner of a very successful bookkeeping and MYOB training business.  The business owner wanted to have a conversation to help her to get to the bottom of why she was feeling unfulfilled even though she was running a financially successful business!

As the conversation developed, the owner disclosed her real passion was playing golf, which she was very good at, playing off a handicap of +1.  As it turned out, her desire was to play ladies pennant golf, which at that time was played on a Thursday.  The owner did not participate as she felt she could not be absent from the business on a weekday.

I responded by asking why she felt this way.

The owner responded with a long-winded story about a time when she was away from the business on leave, but was called back into the office to deal with an urgent request from a client which the team felt they could not deal with.

I responded by pointing out the only thing stopping her playing pennant golf was the attitude  the business could not operate successfully without her being there.  I challenged her to take a break away from the business to see what would happen when she was not there.

As a result, she took two weeks off and went on a golfing holiday.

When we connected upon her return, I asked what happened.  Much to her pleasant surprise the team stepped up to ensure the business operated efficiently and effectively during the time she was away.

The outcome of our conversation was the owner was able to pursue her passion for golf while the business continued to prosper without her having to be there 100% of the time.

In my view, the lesson for business owners from this story is  they should be striving to create a business which is more successful when they are not there as against when they are!