As my businesses grew, some friends told me to step back. “You’ve earned it,” they said. “Let the managers handle things. You don’t need to be on the shop floor anymore.”

But I never listened to that advice — because I knew that being seen matters.

Visibility Isn’t About Control — It’s About Connection

When you’re visible, people trust you more. They see that you’re invested — not just in profit, but in people.

I wasn’t there to micromanage. I was there to show my staff and my customers that I hadn’t forgotten where I started.

Lessons From the Counter

I learned more from the shop floor than from any meeting room. You see the real needs of the community when you’re face to face — not from a spreadsheet.

It’s in the small talk, the complaints, the questions that no one puts in an email.

Presence Builds Culture

When people see the owner working alongside them, they see the standard. They understand what’s expected — not because it’s written in a handbook, but because it’s lived.

And that sets the tone for everything else.

Final Thoughts

As your business grows, remember: your presence is more than symbolic. It’s a promise.

A promise that says: I’m still here. I still care. And I’m not done learning from you.