Chapter 1: The Balance Between Business and Family

Are you finding yourself missing precious family moments while trying to manage your business? It's astonishing how a single change can make a significant difference.

To truly transform your approach, it’s crucial to stop one specific practice: dictating tasks to your team. As a CEO, your primary responsibility is to cultivate your company's growth. Increased success leads to more responsibilities, which in turn necessitates a larger team. This expansion requires effective leadership. If you fail to grasp this, you may find yourself trapped in a cycle of constant email checking, leading to overwhelming workdays.

The consequences can be dire:

• Endless work hours
• Little to no time with family
• A lack of personal time to pursue interests
• No opportunity to develop new ventures or engage with clients

I personally experienced this when I nearly missed out on my first child's early milestones. Two years ago, I was engulfed in a whirlwind of "decisions via email." With a team of 90, every choice, from product specifications to operational details, rested on my shoulders. I spent my days fielding questions and evaluating work, leading to sleepless nights in hotels as I scrambled to complete projects. I felt drained and unable to focus on the future while only seeing my newborn daughter on weekends.

This realization prompted me to share my insights: stop commanding your team.

If I could rewind time, I would opt for inquiry instead of instruction. Here's a secret: people appreciate your leadership not solely for your storytelling skills, but because you hold yourself accountable. Allow your team the freedom to make decisions, and your life will transform dramatically. The results I experienced included:

• A reduction from 140 to just 10 emails per day
• Ample time to explore new business opportunities
• Quality moments with my family
• Returning home most nights to sleep

Instead of issuing commands, begin asking empowering questions. Here are some prompts to engage your team effectively:

• "What are your thoughts on this?"
• "How does this align with your objectives?"
• "What challenges are you facing?"
• "How might you address this issue?"
• "When do you plan to take action on this?"

Your role carries immense responsibility: to contribute to a better world.

Stop creating dependent subordinates and start recognizing their potential for autonomy. It might be intimidating at first, but soon you'll witness their growth and development.

Chapter 2: The Journey of Empowerment