This wasn't the topic I planned to write about this week, but sometimes the most valuable lessons come from what's happening right now.

When I was building my business, it seemed like everyone else had it all figured out. I felt so alone in the struggle. That's why I'm sharing this experience—not to complain, but to remind you that even years into this journey, we're all still figuring it out. This is a place where we can celebrate the highs, support each other through the lows, and laugh our way through everything in between.

So here's what happened in my business just this week...

While trying to enjoy a family vacation in Colorado before my kids start their senior and sophomore years, reality hit: I had clients moving to a new city who needed us to help orchestrate their relocation, ensure everything had a place, and identify where they might have gaps. Yes, please.

Another client was wrapping up a 10,000+ square foot home install and photo shoot. Amazing, right?

A potential new client wanted me to fly out to discuss their 12,000+ square foot project. Music to my ears.

And our Scout House—our showcase project—(more on that soon!) had major developments that needed my attention. Not to mention juggling all of our current amazing ongoing projects and the decisions they require.

Oh, and my oldest son starts his last year of high school tomorrow.

The internal dialogue was all too familiar—that rushing woman voice that feels like she can squeeze it all in and do it all: "I think I could fly to one place, catch another plane to the next, do it all after they start school, then travel to the third..." I was literally trying to figure out how to be in four places at once while honoring the fleeting time I have left with my kids under my roof.

That's when it hit me: it's time to level up again. Anytime I feel like I need to clone myself is a signal that it's time to start delegating.

The Things I Actually Want to Do

The brutal reality of scaling:

Sometimes you have to delegate the very things that made you fall in love with this work in the first place.

Here's what made this moment different from my earlier scaling challenges. Back then, I was happy to delegate the tasks I didn’t love: bookkeeping, email management, calendar coordination. I was practically throwing those tasks off my plate, thinking, "Good, someone else can handle the energy-sucking things."

This time felt completely different because these were all things I absolutely love to do. I love helping clients, seeing the outcome of our work, the culmination of months of preparation. I love meeting new clients on large-scale projects, hearing what's important to them, and understanding their vision. If I can't do these things—the things that truly fill my cup—what am I doing this for?

When "Throw It and Run" Fails Spectacularly

Delegation isn't about abandoning ship; it's about progressive responsibility.

I'll be honest: I used to be terrible at delegation.

That's an understatement. When I first started handing off responsibilities, I had this twisted approach: I'd throw tasks at team members and then run as far away as possible. I didn't want to watch them potentially struggle or not do it the way I thought it should be done, because if I saw something going wrong, I knew I'd take it all back.

This set my team up for massive failure. They'd be left wondering, "What exactly do you want me to do with this?" while I was hiding from the process, thinking, "I don't have the heart to look because if it's not going well, I can't handle taking it all back." If I don't look closely, I won't see all the ways it's not right.

What I learned the hard way is that delegation isn't about abandoning ship, it's about progressive responsibility.

Now I demonstrate, watch them do it, provide feedback, provide steps and tips, and create an atmosphere for learning. Only once they've mastered it do I walk away.

The Real Cost of Staying Small

Balancing the fear of “what if I delegate and it's not perfect?" against "what if by not delegating, I become the weak link?"

Here's what nobody talks about: the risk isn't just burning yourself out by trying to do everything. The real risk is what happens to your clients when you're spread too thin.

I see this happen regularly in our industry. Someone tries to handle everything themselves, probably thinking they're saving money by not bringing on help. But when you're operating outside your zone of genius, the result is often a confusing, less-than-ideal experience that leaves clients questioning your service. I've watched talented professionals risk losing entire relationships because they couldn't let go of tasks that someone else could have handled better.

When you're not operating in your zone of genius, you're not just shortchanging yourself, you're shortchanging everyone who's counting on you to deliver excellence. Your clients don't get your best work. Your team doesn't get the leadership they need. Your family doesn't get the present, energized version of you they deserve.

The Choice That Changes Everything

So here I was, just this past week, overwhelmed and facing some hard choices. I sat down with my chief of staff and brain-dumped everything on my plate. Together, we mapped out who needed to go where and what truly required my personal attention.

The hardest part? I didn't go to that newly finished home for the photo shoot—one of my favorite parts of any project. Instead, I have two team members there right now, translating everything back to me. Do I wish I could be there? Absolutely. But I had to make a choice.

And here's what I chose: I'm sending my kids to school on their first day. I'm not missing my son's last "first day" of high school for work, no matter how important that work feels in the moment.

The Foundation That Makes It Possible

Our core values—initiative, synergy, and adaptability—aren't just words on our website. They're the standard for how we perform, the expectation we hold for every interaction.

The only reason I can delegate these high-stakes moments is because we've built a foundation.

When team members understand the core values, they can represent our brand authentically. They know what's important and what's not. They have the initiative to do things that aren't directly asked of them but that they can see are needed.

This is why we specifically look for hungry team members who want to step up, who are ready to grow. Having initiative as a core value means we attract people who are always wanting to get better, always ready for the next challenge.

And my team members who traveled to install and shoot this house got to step up in a big way that's fulfilling to them. It gives them confidence in their abilities to take on even more. That's a win-win all around—not only for them and me, but the business is rewarded, and so are all the clients who come after this.

The 50/50 Reality Nobody Talks About

Can I be vulnerable for a moment?

There are definitely days when I think, "Why don't I just take one or two clients a year—something I can do on my own, not worry about scaling, hiring, employees—fill my passionate cup with hands-on design work, and avoid all these headaches?"

I have those moments more than you might think.

But then there are the days when everything aligns, and I feel incredibly fulfilled by creating an atmosphere where people can do what they love and get paid for it. When my team leaves on Friday feeling like they accomplished something meaningful, feeling valued, loving their job—those moments remind me why this is all worthwhile.

What This Means for You

If you're reading this while feeling like you need to be everywhere at once, you are not alone.

I'm exactly where you are. Whether you're a solo designer drowning in your own success or running a team but still trying to do everything yourself, this challenge never really goes away—it just evolves.

Maybe you're staring at your calendar thinking, "How is this physically possible?" Maybe you're realizing that the client meetings, site visits, and creative decisions that energize you are exactly what's holding your business back. Maybe you're caught between the fear of "If I'm not there personally, will it be good enough?" and the guilt of "Am I failing my family by trying to do everything?"

Here's what I want you to know: the fact that you're struggling with delegation doesn't mean you're failing. It means you care deeply about your work—and that's exactly why your business will thrive once you learn to trust the foundation you've built.

When you stop trying to be everywhere at once, you create space for your team to shine, your business to grow, and yourself to focus on what truly matters most.

The question isn't whether you'll face moments that force you to choose. The question is: will you use those moments to level up or will you let them burn you out?

Yes, it's uncomfortable. Yes, you'll worry about quality. Yes, there will be days when you think, "Why don't I just take two clients a year and skip all these headaches?"

The stakes will always feel high because you care and that's not a weakness. That’s the farthest thing from it.

But here's what I've learned: you're not the only one who cares enough to do it right. You can't scale excellence by being the bottleneck. And sometimes the most loving thing you can do for your business—and your family—is to trust your team to rise to the occasion.

Looking Forward

This journey of scaling yourself out of your own business isn't a destination—it's an ongoing evolution. Each level brings new challenges, new things you'll need to delegate, new ways to trust your team.

And sometimes, in the middle of it all, you'll realize that creating an environment where talented people can do work they love while building something meaningful together? That might just be the most fulfilling work of all.

What's one thing you're holding onto that you know you need to delegate? I'd love to hear about your own scaling challenges and victories in the comments below.

Photography by Sammie Ploch