“In 2026, we want to reap the rewards”

 The father-daughter team ran a design and manufacturing business.  After years of struggle, the business was in a sound financial position.

In response I asked: “What rewards do you want to reap?”

 The daughter said: “Pay ourselves properly”

 The father wanted to repay the money he and his wife had advanced to support the business and pay off the equipment debt.

 I challenged them: “What does reaping the rewards mean for you personally?”

The father leaned forward, placed one hand on the table, stroking his chin.  The daughter leaned back in her chair with crossed arms.

Silence.

The father spoke first: “With my friends, I am working on a passion project to rebuild a railway trolley car.  I would love the time to advance this project”.

The daughter quickly followed: “I would love to have more time to write & perform in musical theatre.”

 I responded: “How could the business give you more time?”

The daughter responded quizzically: “Work fewer hours”

“How many hours?”

They both agreed: a four-day working week.  They set start dates for their new working hours.  They would announce it at next week’s team meeting.

For 15 years, they had worked to establish the business.  The business needed them – their time, their money, their energy.  Now it didn’t.  It was in a financially sound position. They had built a business which did not need them to be there five days a week.

The hard part was not whether the business could afford to give them a four-day week.  The hard part was believing it was OK.  The business could operate successfully without them.