- Best for
- Owners who haven’t taken a real break in years because the business stalls the moment they stop checking their phone.
- Time to run
- Four weeks to hand over. Two weeks away to test it.
- You finish with
- A written handover plan, a named person for every decision you used to make, and proof it works because you tested it.
01 The problem
You’re the only one who can approve a quote, fix a client problem or sign off on a purchase. So you never really leave. Even on vacation you’re on email, and your team waits for you.
That’s not just tiring. It caps how big the business can get, and it means the business is worth a lot less to a buyer, a lender or a partner. If it can’t run without you, you don’t own a business. You own a job.
02 The numbers
You need to see how much of the business still runs through you. Track these for two normal weeks before you hand anything over.
| Measure | How to get it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Decisions only you make | Keep a running list on your phone. Every time someone needs your OK, write down what it was. | This is your handover list. Most owners are surprised how long it gets. |
| Hours a day you’re on call | Note the times you check messages or take a work call outside your planned work hours. | It shows how tied down you really are, and gives you a number to beat after the handover. |
| Questions while you’re away | During the test, count every call or message that needed you to answer. | This is your pass or fail. Each one is a gap in the handover you still need to fix. |
Rule of thumbIf the same decision has come to you three times, it should have a written rule and a named person. Hand over the frequent, low-risk calls first.
03 The steps
- 1Write down every decision you makeWho: you. Time: two weeks. Done when you’ve logged every approval and call you made, with how often it came up.
- 2Name an owner for each oneWho: you and your team leads. Time: two hours. Done when every decision on the list has one named person and a backup.
- 3Write the rule and hand it overWho: you and each new decision owner. Time: two weeks. Done when each person has made the call on their own at least once while you watched and didn’t step in.
- 4Leave for two weeksWho: you. Time: two weeks. Done when you’re back, you’ve counted every question that reached you, and you’ve fixed the rule behind each one.
Start the decision log today. Every time someone asks for your OK, jot it down in your phone’s notes app. Don’t fix anything yet. Just write it down for one week and read it on Friday.
04 The template
Take two weeks off. Here’s how to make sure nothing breaks.
BIZPLAYBOOKS
Kevin helps owners use AI to get time and money back, then turns what works into free playbooks.
