When I talk to groups of business owners about working less to make more, taking time off, and taking time out, eventually one of them will say “yeah but I feel so guilty”. I always ask the group who else feels that way, and I get 90% of the hands in the air. A lot of it is to do with how we see ourselves, and even more importantly, how we think we look to others, especially our staff.

Let’s look at that in terms of how we can make the biggest contribution to our business, and how we should see that contribution.

My brother talks of sailing with some America’s Cup sailors in a local regatta. For the most part it was a normal sail, though you could tell by the ease with which the guys did the basics that they were well practiced. Then they decided to move it up a notch, and as they slipped into a more intense mode, one of them said to my brother “OK Johnny, call the wind”. John had no idea what they were talking about, so he did the obvious thing and shouted out to starboard “hey, wind, come over here”. The sailor patiently explained how the patterns on the water reflected the different strengths and directions of the wind. John still had no idea what he was talking about, but he did get invited to sail with them again because he provided the humour.

It’s a nice analogy. Your job as leader is to call the wind, to see the shifts in the market, the tactics of the competition, the allocation of roles on the boat, and alter course and speed accordingly. You can’t do that when you’re on the grinder. You have to create time and space to look, listen and concentrate intently. You have to be quiet, empty your mind, and observe. Make no mistake, it’s the most important job on the boat. Don’t do it and you leave success to chance. Get it wrong and you lose (or maybe even capsize).

You should feel guilty if you’re NOT spending time on the bridge.