Up in the Air: Why Stepping Away is Sometimes the Best Strategy

As I am traveling this week to see family, I wanted to share a unique perspective with you that came to me as I was preparing to travel. If you’ve ever flown on a plane, you know that moment when you finally take off, the wheels leave the ground, and suddenly the world below looks entirely different. Roads look like lines, houses like dots, and the noise of daily life feels…distant.

Wow what a perspective change!

It’s the gift of stepping away—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally—from the grind of everyday leadership. And it’s something too many nonprofit and small business leaders rarely allow themselves to experience.

Why Stepping Away Matters

The pressure to keep going is real. Deadlines, goals, client needs, staffing challenges—all of it piles up. And in our culture, busyness is often mistaken for effectiveness. But here’s the truth: clarity rarely comes in the midst of chaos.

When we’re caught in the weeds, it’s hard to see what truly matters. Taking intentional time away gives us the chance to:

• Recharge our energy so we’re leading from strength, not survival.

• Gain perspective on which challenges are urgent versus which are simply noisy.

• Reimagine possibilities we couldn’t see when we were too close to the problem.

It’s not indulgent. It’s strategic.

A Personal Reminder

Recently, I was reminded of this while balancing multiple projects, new launches, and preparing for the busy fall season both at Alo Civitas Consulting and my personal life. I realized I was trying to solve complex problems without giving myself breathing room. Shortly after I stepped away—it hit me: the clarity I was chasing required distance (and even shutting off my computer).

That shift reminded me that organizations, like leaders, need those moments too.

Creating Space to Breathe

This fall, I want to challenge you to schedule your own “Up in the Air” opportunity. It doesn’t have to be a vacation (though I highly recommend it). It could be:

• A morning offsite with your leadership team.

• An afternoon walk without your phone.

• A conference where you get to step outside your normal circles and engage with fresh ideas.

The key is intentional distance. Without it, you’ll find yourself running on fumes, reacting instead of leading, and missing opportunities for innovation.

An Invitation: October 30th

That’s exactly why I’m so excited about our upcoming conference on October 30th, “Tapping Into Your Higher Purpose”. It’s designed to be more than an event—it’s your chance to press pause, connect with other mission-driven leaders, and walk away with practical tools for scaling sustainably.

The day will combine thought-provoking speakers, real-world strategies, and intentional networking opportunities. Think of it as a built-in “Up in the Air Special” for your organization—a chance to reset, recharge, and leave with clarity about what’s next.

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to step away and refocus, this is it.

Final Thought

Fall is busy. The end of the year is even busier. But here’s the question I’ll leave you with: do you want to end the year on empty, or do you want to finish strong with clarity and renewed energy?

Your “Up in the Air Special” may be exactly what you need—and our October 30th conference might be the best place to start.