This month, I did something I’ve been mentally preparing for: I dropped my one and only child off at college.
The moment was full of pride, excitement, and more than a few quiet tears. As we helped set up his dorm room and made our final Target run, I found myself reflecting on how this experience mirrors lessons I’ve learned, and sometimes relearned, in business.
Trust the Process
As a parent, you spend years investing in your child: teaching, guiding, preparing. For me, I didn’t get the full 18 years, as I adopted my son when he was 11, but there was a lot packed into nearly a decade. It is hard to step back, and trust they’re ready. It’s no different in business. Whether you’re launching a new product or program, promoting a team member, or entering a new market, you do everything you can to prepare and then at some point you let go. Leaders must move from doing to trusting.
Growth Happens in Discomfort
College is the beginning of a new identity for your child, just like any pivot or scale-up is for a business. Both involve risk, unfamiliarity, and the discomfort that comes with stretching boundaries. And yet, we know this is where growth happens. Businesses, like people, don’t grow when things are easy, they grow when challenged.
Foundations Matter
Every lesson, value, and habit we try to instill in our children forms a foundation they now carry with them. In business, your culture, mission, and early decisions become that foundation. You can’t predict every obstacle your team or company will face, but if the groundwork is solid, they’ll have what they need to adapt and thrive.
Celebrate the Milestones
I’ve come to realize in both parenting and business, we don’t pause often enough to celebrate wins. It’s important to take a moment to appreciate the journey, whether it’s your child starting their next chapter or your team achieving a major goal. Reflecting on progress can create momentum. Enjoy the small wins along the way!
You’re Still Part of the Journey
Just because we step back doesn’t mean we step away. I’ll still be a call or text away for my son, and in business, great leaders know how to stay engaged without micromanaging. Your role evolves, but your presence still matters.
As we drove home, the empty seat in the car was a stark reminder of change but also growth. The same holds true in business: moments of letting go aren’t signs of loss. These are signs that something is working and that what you’ve built is strong enough to continue without your constant presence.
And in both parenting and business, isn’t that the ultimate goal?
Now, excuse me while I go grab a Kleenex.