Running a business is a lot of work, but let’s take a step back and look at what true ownership really means. At ActionCOACH, we define ownership as having a “commercial, profitable enterprise that works without you.” It’s not about “running” a business; it’s about owning it. There’s a difference, and it’s one that can make or break your success.
Think of it like this: when you own stock in a company like Amazon, you don’t get to decide how Amazon operates, right? The same principle should apply to your own business. Yet, for most business owners I coach, the goal isn’t to truly “own” their business—they’re deeply involved, day in and day out, trying to keep things running. And this is exactly where the growth ceiling begins to form. The more you do, the less you can see your business expand on its own.
This is a hard truth, but it’s one every owner must face. No matter how much effort you’re putting in, your constant presence is also a limit on your business’s growth. Because if you had the right systems and skills in place to make the business work for you, it would already be happening.
The good news? There’s a specific skill set required to “own” a business rather than run it, and you can learn those skills. They’re no harder to master than the skills you’re using now to keep the wheels turning, but they’re far more rewarding.
If you want a truly great life, take this to heart: the skills of ownership are as accessible as the skills of working hard. Choose wisely—and set yourself up for a business that works for you, not the other way around.