[Express Gratitude 25] Time Away That Fuels Next-Level Success

In business, we talk a lot about growth. Revenue. Strategy. Leadership. Momentum.

But today, I want to talk about something equally powerful, and often underestimated.

Time away.

Recently, I spent time interstate with my son. We experienced a true bucket list moment: watching the iconic Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race leave Sydney and then arriving in Hobart — all in the same year.

That experience wasn’t just memorable. It was meaningful.

And it reminded me why rest, reset, and reconnection are not luxuries.

They are leadership strategies.

The Power of Stepping Away

As business owners and professionals, we often operate in constant output mode:

• Solving problems

• Supporting teams

• Driving revenue

• Holding the vision

But space to pause?

That space fuels everything.

When we step away from the noise of daily decision-making, we give ourselves permission to:

• Reflect instead of react

• Reconnect instead of rush

• Realign instead of overextend

This aligns deeply with the Ask Fleur philosophy: Your version of success.

Because success isn’t just revenue growth or scaling operations.
It’s work-life balance. Sustainable growth. Long-term clarity.

And sometimes the most strategic thing you can do for your business… is rest.

Watching the Start Line

From a fast ferry in Sydney, we watched the yachts surge forward as the race began, I was reminded of how business often feels:

• Fast-paced

• Competitive

• Demanding

• Exhilarating

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is not a casual sail. It requires preparation, endurance, teamwork, and resilience.

Sound familiar?

Business growth is much the same.

But here’s the difference.

Those crews train intensely — and they also rest strategically. They respect conditions. They adjust course. They don’t push blindly without regard for capacity.

What if we approached leadership the same way?

The Arrival: A Different Energy

Arriving in Hobart carried a completely different energy.

The intensity of the start had shifted to the anticipation of the Finish. While waiting, it reminded me that every ambitious season is wise to be followed by a moment of grounding.

In coaching conversations, I often ask:

• Where are you pushing too hard?

• Where do you need space to recover?

• What would change if rest became part of your growth plan?

Because burnout is not a badge of honour.

Sustainable success — the kind we talk about inside Ask Fleur — requires balance.

Time With What Matters Most

The greatest gift of this experience wasn’t the race itself.

It was time.

Time with my son.
Time in conversation.
Time without urgency.
Time to be present.

As leaders, we often say we are building businesses “for our families.”

But are we building space to actually enjoy them?

True next-level success — as we define it — goes beyond metrics. It includes:

• Work-life balance

• Long-term sustainable growth

• Purpose-aligned achievement

This trip was a reminder that growth feels different when it’s aligned with what matters most.

Why Gratitude Is a Growth Strategy

Gratitude isn’t passive. It’s powerful.

When we pause to acknowledge what we are grateful for, we:

• Strengthen perspective

• Reduce stress

• Increase clarity

• Reconnect to purpose

This is something I encourage in both the events I facilitate and coaching sessions — take a moment to focus on and appreciate what you are most grateful for.

Because clarity doesn’t always come from doing more.

Sometimes it comes from stepping back.

Your Reflection

A question for you:

When was the last time you truly paused — not because you had to, but because you chose to?

What did it give you?

If 2026 is about sustainable, intentional growth, then rest must be part of the strategy.

Time away isn’t stepping back from success.

It’s strengthening your capacity for it.

And that, to me, is next-level success.

If you’re ready to build a business that supports your life — not consumes it — let’s connect.

🌿 Book a conversation at www.askfleur.com 
📩 Or reach out directly to explore personalised coaching and group event options.

Because success should feel aligned, sustainable, and deeply rewarding.

Your version of success starts with what you choose to value.