A few weeks ago, I found myself back at school camp, not as a student, but as one of the adults helping out at Tui Ridge. If you know me and my ADHD, you’ll understand why being surrounded by dozens of energetic kids is what I’d call a full sensory experience. It was chaos, colour, and noise, but it also offered some surprising insights into business leadership strategy.
One moment, in particular, gave me a sharp reminder of how growth really happens. It involved a rope maze, my son William, and a hard-earned lesson in leadership.
At camp, there was a rope maze, a web of tangled ropes in different colours, strung between pillars in a sandpit. The objective? Clip onto one coloured rope and make your way through, climbing over, ducking under, and weaving between a confusing mix of pathways.
William started confidently, then froze midway through. Frustration set in. He looked back at me for help. I wanted to step in. I almost did. But when I tried, he pushed back: “Go away, Dad.” And so I did.
I watched as he struggled, paused, tried again, and eventually found his way through. The pride on his face when he finished was unforgettable. He didn’t need rescuing. He needed space, persistence, and the chance to work it out.
That rope maze is a perfect metaphor for business. Every owner we work with faces their own version of tangled ropes: pricing, staffing, marketing, cashflow, compliance. It can feel overwhelming. The instinct is often to grab at everything, to fix it all at once.
But here’s what that moment at camp reminded me: trying to tackle everything simultaneously only leads to confusion and burnout. Progress comes when you choose one rope, one clear issue, and work it through fully.
Here’s what you might consider doing next time your business feels like a mess:
- Pick one issue. What’s the most pressing challenge that’s within your control right now?
- Ignore the rest (for now). Trust that the other ropes can wait.
- Work it through. Give that problem your full attention. Whether it’s updating your pricing strategy or improving team communication, focus until it’s sorted.
- Let others learn. Resist the urge to fix everything for your team. Step back. Coach instead of doing.
- Move to the next rope. Once one issue is resolved, choose the next and repeat.
Leadership is not about fixing all the problems or knowing all the answers. It’s about trusting people to figure things out. Whether you’re managing a team or raising a child, it’s tempting to step in and take control. But growth comes through struggle, not rescue.
Confidence isn’t built through instruction. It’s built through experience, the messy, frustrating, mistake-filled kind.
That week at Tui Ridge reminded me that good leadership is quiet. It’s about creating space for others to grow, supporting without micromanaging, and having the patience to let things unfold.
So if your business feels tangled right now, pause. Take a breath. Pick one rope. Focus on that. You’ll be surprised how quickly clarity follows.
Feeling stuck in your own maze? We help business owners untangle the complexity and focus on what matters most. Let’s chat.