The Fall of Doing It All

How Letting Go Can Help Your Business Thrive

As the crisp air of fall settles in and the trees begin their brilliant transformation to reds, yellows, and oranges, I can’t help but see a parallel to the lifecycle of a small business. Running a business is not unlike preparing for the changing of the seasons - each phase brings its own demands and needs, and like autumn, it often feels like you’re trying to hold onto the last of something while bracing for what’s to come.

We all feel it - fall is a busy time. The holidays are on the horizon, and the pressures of closing out the year strong are mounting. Yet, just like a mighty maple trying to hold onto its leaves, there’s a moment when it becomes clear - you can’t do it all. Those bright leaves, while beautiful, eventually let go, making space for rest and renewal in the months ahead.

Like you, I face this hard truth as a small business owner. As entrepreneurs, we often cling to every aspect of our business - managing operations, marketing, finances, customer service - with the intensity we embraced when we first started. There’s a sense of pride in being hands-on, in saying, “I did this…” But as autumn teaches us, holding onto too much for too long doesn’t serve the greater good of your business. Instead of clinging to every last task and to-do, there’s wisdom in knowing when to let go.

The beauty of autumn lies in its surrender. The trees don’t fight what’s coming. They shed what’s no longer needed, trusting that they will bloom again after a season of rest. As business owners, we can learn from this! Different phases of growth require different approaches. Maybe it is time to delegate. Maybe it’s time to focus on the big picture rather than the day-to-day grind. Or perhaps it’s simply time to rest, reflect, and renew - trusting your business, much like a tree, will come back stronger in the spring, rejuvenated and full of new energy, if you allow yourself space to grow.

As the leaves fall, take a moment to reflect on what you might need to let go. It’s not a sign of weakness - it’s a sign of growth. The more you let go, the more room you create for new opportunities, ideas, and energy. And just like the trees, you’ll find that your business will flourish in ways you might not have expected when the time is right.

After all, even in the most challenging seasons, there’s a certain beauty in change - as long as we embrace and grow from it.