E79: The Power of Stepping Away: Why Space Might Be the Best Strategy for Your Business

In this deeply personal episode, I share a lesson that might feel counterintuitive: the power of stepping away from your business. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your business isn’t doing more, it’s giving yourself space.

I open up about my own journey of walking away from a seven-figure business, what I learned in the process, and why creating The Dream Retreat has become such a central part of my mission.

Whether you’re sipping your morning coffee or unwinding with a glass of wine, this episode will inspire you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your vision.

Key Lessons from This Episode

1. Success isn’t just numbers...it’s alignment.
   Even with a booming business, if your life and energy are consumed by work, you lose sight of what truly matters.
2. Clarity comes when you step away.
   Taking intentional breaks allows your mind to reset, leading to better decisions, fresh ideas, and renewed creativity.
3. Rest fuels growth, not weakness.
   Your business thrives when you thrive. Pausing strategically prevents burnout and ensures you’re making intentional, high-impact moves.
4. The value of space.
   Stepping back allows you to see the bigger picture, reconnect with your “why,” and realign your business with your dream life.
5. Business expands at the pace you do.
   When you invest in yourself, emotionally, mentally, and physically, your business naturally follows.

About The Dream Retreat

After stepping away from my first business, I realised many ambitious entrepreneurs were craving clarity, connection, and alignment without the burnout.

The Dream Retreat, held in the stunning Peak District, is designed for business owners who want more than growth. It’s about slowing down, reflecting, and designing a business that truly fits your dream life.

At the retreat, you will:

• Reconnect with your vision
• Reset your energy
• Leave inspired, clear, and ready to lead your business with intention

Find all the details about The Dream Retreat here.

💭 Reflective Question

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to pause and just be?

Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from doing more...it comes from doing less. This episode is your reminder that stepping away is a powerful step forward.

If this message resonates, share it with someone who needs that same reminder and if you’re ready to take a real break to find clarity, connection, and alignment, The Dream Retreat is waiting for you.

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

Transcript

Hello & Welcome to today’s episode of Dream Business Dream Life.

Today’s episode is a really personal one. I want to talk about something that might feel counter intuitive that’s the power of stepping away from your business.

Because sometimes, the best thing you can do for your business
 is to give yourself space from it.

I’ve lived this lesson in the biggest way possible, and I want to share that story with you…the story behind why I walked away from a seven-figure business, and why creating The Dream Retreat became such a huge part of my mission.

So, settle in maybe grab a coffee, or a glass of wine, and let’s talk about what really happens when you stop doing for a moment and start being.

 If you’ve been in my world for a while you will know I built a seven-figure business. From the outside, it looked super successful.
 We were hitting goals, scaling fast and doing all the things we’re told to chase.

But behind the scenes I was completely consumed. Every waking hour revolved around the business. I’d lost touch with my own life, my energy, even my sense of who I was beyond work.

And I remember one day, sitting at my desk thinking, I’ve built everything I thought I wanted so why does it feel like I’ve lost myself in the process?

That moment changed everything. Because I realised success isn’t just about numbers it’s about alignment. It’s about building something that supports the life you want, not swallows it whole.

So, I made a decision that shocked a lot of people.
 I walked away.
 I let go of that business and I started again.

But this time, I promised myself I’d build differently. On my terms.
 In a way that supported my dream life, and helped others do the same.

And what I learned in that process is that clarity doesn’t come when you’re buried in the doing. It comes when you create space.

When you slow down enough to listen. To breathe. To check back in with what you actually want.

Because when you’re constantly on, your mind gets cluttered with to-do lists, expectations, responsibilities. But when you step away, even for a few days, your perspective shifts.

You start to see what really matters.
 You remember why you started in the first place.
 You reconnect with the vision behind the business. The dream you here me talk about all the time.

That’s what stepping away gives you.
 Not weakness.
 Not lost momentum.
 But clarity.
 Direction.
 And a life you want to live.

 Taking time away isn’t just good for you. It’s one of the smartest things you can do for your business.

Because space creates clarity and clarity creates growth.

When you give yourself permission to step back, something powerful happens, you stop reacting and start leading.

Because when you give yourself space, you come back with fresh ideas because creativity thrives in stillness. How many times do those amazing ideas come to you the minute you stop…even if it just for a shower.

New products, offers, collaborations, the ideas that grow your business rarely come when you’re sitting at your desk. They come when your mind is free to wander.

Decisions become better, easier even because you’re less reactive, and more intentional. You make decisions that move the needle not just keep you busy.

You find a whole new energy because you simply can’t pour from an empty cup.

And the irony is, when you stop chasing every opportunity and start focusing on what truly aligns with your goals, you make more money. Because your time and energy go into the right things, he things that deliver real return.

Burnout isn’t a strategy and taking time out is going to help to prevent burnout.

You are your business’s biggest asset.
And when you’re thriving, emotionally, mentally and physically your business naturally thrives too.

I always say your business expands at the same pace you do.
So when you take time to rest, to reset, to reconnect with your vision your business follows.

That pause isn’t wasted time it’s a strategic investment.

On the flip side?
 When you don’t take that time, when you keep pushing through,  you start to lose clarity.

You stop thinking strategically and start firefighting. Decisions get made from stress instead of intention. You say yes to things that don’t serve you because you don’t have the space to think if it actually right for you.

The business might still look like it’s growing but underneath, it’s built on shaky ground.

That’s how burnout sneaks in. That’s how profit margins shrink, creativity dries up,
 and suddenly the thing you once loved starts to feel heavy.

Taking space doesn’t slow you down it saves you from that spiral. It keeps your vision alive and your business healthy.

And that’s exactly why I created The Dream Retreat.

After walking away from my first business, I realised I wasn’t alone.
 So many business owners were building amazing things but feeling drained, overwhelmed, or out of alignment.

I wanted to create a space that gave people permission to pause.
 To breathe. To dream again.

The Dream Retreat is held in the beautiful Peak District surrounded by nature, calm, and connection. It’s designed for ambitious business owners who want more than just “growth” they want clarity, purpose, and a business that truly fits their dream life.

It’s not about hustling harder. It’s about aligning deeper.

During the retreat, we slow things down.
 We reflect, reconnect, and redesign your business and life vision so they work together.
You leave not just rested but re-energised, clear, and inspired.

If that’s something you’ve been craving
 you can find all the details in the show notes I’d love to welcome you there.

But before we wrap up, I want to leave you with a question.

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to pause?
To step away from the noise and just be?

If it’s been a while maybe this is your nudge.
 Because clarity doesn’t always come from doing more.
 Sometimes, it comes from doing less.

So take that walk. Book that weekend away. Say yes to rest.
 Because that space might just hold the answer you’ve been searching for.

I hope this episode reminded you that stepping away isn’t stepping back, it’s actually a powerful step forward.

If this message resonated, share it with someone who needs that same reminder. And if you’re ready to take a real break to find clarity, connection, and alignment again you know where to find me.
 The Dream Retreat is waiting.

Until next time take a breath and keep building your business and your life…on your terms.

Thank you for listening, I’ll see you next time.