My hair is not quite as long as Tarzan’s, but I can sure swing through the trees like him… at least I thought I could. Two weeks ago, I took my two youngest kids to the “Blue Hole.” It is a deep part of the river that runs behind our house where the locals like to swim. There is a large tree that hangs over the 27 feet deep hole sporting a long rope-swing.
About 20 minutes into the escapade, my son had just jumped off the rope into the water and it was my turn. I thought I would give him a bit of a scare and swing over his head. I pushed off from the bank holding tightly to the rope-swing. As I arrived over my son’s head, I pretended to jump, but kept swinging. Once I was over him, I realized there was a problem. I had swung a bit too far at this point and would land in the shallow part if I let go. Clearly, not a good option. I made a split-second decision to hold on to the rope and come back to the safety of the bank again. Problem was, I missed the bank and hit the tree instead. SMACK! It was very “George of the Jungle” of me. Let’s just say, my head and finger were hurt almost as much as my ego. I learned the hard way, in a very literal sense, that you gotta know when to let go.
Running a business is no different. There are times when you are swinging along and things are going, well, swimmingly (pardon the horrific puns). Other times, you find yourself over a hazard and decisions must be made… NOW. Do you let go or hang on? Do you change course or continue on your current trajectory? This is where true leadership comes in.
When you are at the helm of the corporation, you must know when it is time to let go. Whether it be an employee, a piece of equipment, a new (or outdated) business procedure, or the business itself; there comes a time when letting go is the only viable option. A good CEO will do so in time to avoid hitting the tree.
Now, go create some value!
Dustin Harris is a multi-business owner, but he has found most of his success as a self-employed, residential real estate appraiser. He has been appraising for nearly two decades. He is the owner and President of Appraisal Precision and Consulting Group, Inc., and is a popular author, speaker and consultant. He owns and operates The Appraiser Coach where he personally advises and mentors other appraisers helping them to also run successful appraisal companies and increase their net worth. His two-day workshop will be held on Oct. 7-8, 2013 in Salt Lake City. His principles and methodologies are also taught in an online, Mastermind group. He and his wife reside in Idaho with their four children.
