A while back, I started working with John, the founder of a retail business that’s now doing over £1m in revenue. When we first met, he was caught up in the grind—spending 11 hours a day working, with nearly 4 of those stuck on the shop floor. It was relentless, and it was taking a toll on him. He didn’t have much time for himself, let alone his family.
Through our coaching, we turned things around. One of the first shifts was reducing his time on the shop floor, from hours each day to just 15 minutes. That simple change freed up so much space in his life. Suddenly, he had time for breakfast in peace, reading a book, or even enjoying an evening walk. But more importantly, it reconnected him with his family. Now, he has time to take walks together, share meals, and hit the gym with his loved ones.
John also embraced a new approach to leading his team. Instead of just setting targets, he focused on truly understanding the people he worked with. Coaching sessions became a chance for him to dig into his team’s aspirations, making space for honest conversations about performance and helping them grow together. Clear agreements were made, and suddenly the business started to feel less like hard work and more like a team effort.
To take things a step further, John hired a skilled manager and put in place a strong recruitment process to ensure every new hire aligned with the company’s vision. He gave his team more autonomy, set up straightforward playbooks to streamline training, and made the operations run smoother than ever.
The biggest change came when we did a deep dive into how he was spending his time. By letting go of the tasks that weren’t adding real value, John could focus on the activities that actually moved the needle—like growing the business and seeking out fresh opportunities. With a sharper focus on high-impact work, he grew the business by 48% in revenue and boosted net profit by 39% last year.
And he’s not stopping there. Looking ahead, John’s planning to reduce his daily check-ins to just 30 minutes, trusting his manager to handle the day-to-day. It’s not just about working less; it’s about opening up a whole new set of possibilities. Now that his business is thriving with a solid team, he’s free to focus on what’s next, whether that’s scaling up, exploring new revenue streams, or just enjoying more of the life he’s built outside of work.
For John, it’s no longer about being stuck in the daily grind. It’s about creating a business that supports an exceptional life, rather than one that controls it. And that’s exactly what he’s doing—one step at a time.
