The Adventures of Lee The SME Owner - 32.

Chapter Thirty Two - Easing Off The Reins

Lee sat in his office, staring at his desk calendar. A year ago, the thought of stepping back from the business had felt impossible—almost laughable. Yet here he was, following the plan he and John had carefully put together, watching his team take on more responsibility each day. It wasn’t without its challenges, but Lee was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

John had reminded him often that stepping back wasn’t about disappearing overnight. It was about creating space—both for the team to grow and for Lee to explore life beyond the business. And truth be told, that second part was proving trickier than expected.

“Alright, Lee,” John said over their regular catch-up coffee. “Let’s talk about what’s next. The team is handling operations well, Sam is proving his worth as General Manager, and you’re spending a bit more time away from the office. How’s it feeling?”

Lee took a deep breath, swirling his coffee. “It’s... different. I’m not used to having spare time. I still find myself wanting to jump in, fix things.”

John grinned. “Old habits die hard. But they’re doing fine, and you’re still around if they need you. The key now is to start thinking about what you do want to spend your time on.”

Julie had been gently nudging him toward this conversation for months. They’d started with small steps—mid-week lunches, scenic drives, even a few overnight trips. It was nice, but Lee still felt the itch to check his emails too often.

“I don’t know, John,” Lee admitted. “I feel like I should be doing something. Work has been my whole life for so long.”

“That’s exactly why you need to find new things to focus on,” John replied. “You’ve built something great here. It’s running well without your constant input. Now it’s time to figure out what you want next.”

John’s words stuck with him. Over the next few weeks, Lee began looking at life differently. He started spending more time with his grandkids, helping Susie with her backyard project, and even taking Glenn out for a few beers—something they hadn’t done in years.

At the office, Lee continued stepping back in small ways. He started letting Sam handle client meetings entirely on his own, trusting his team to make more decisions without his sign-off. It was a slow process, but Lee could see the difference. His team was rising to the occasion, and with each success, he felt a little less needed—something that used to scare him but now felt like progress.

One afternoon, as Lee packed up early to surprise Julie with dinner plans, he paused at the door of his office. The business he’d built was thriving, the future looked solid, and he was finally allowing himself to embrace what came next.

And for the first time in years, Lee walked out the door without looking back.