Real CEOs don’t cling. They cut.

Entrepreneurs love to brag about the start. The big launch, the first client, the “look Ma, I made a website!” moment. 

But no one ever wants to talk about the endings. 

Closing a program? Shutting down a business? 

That’s the part we sweep under the rug like last year’s pumpkin spice latte we never finished. (Believe it or not, this is one coffee drink I am NOT a fan of!).

But here’s the thing: sometimes the smartest, most CEO-level move you can make is knowing when to stop because your next level starts when this level ends. 

And if you’ve ever felt stuck, exhausted, or quietly resentful of something you’re still carrying, this is for you.

A Client’s Story (and Mine)

I watched this play out firsthand with a client I worked with for over three years. I joined them when they were about a year into their side hustle “passion project.” 

For a while, it was electric. Ideas flowing, the team buzzing, high-fiving one another’s web cameras on Zoom calls because things were working.

But somewhere along the way, things began slowly fizzling out as life and work took them in a different direction. 

And then it happened.

A big launch fell flat, the money got really, REALLY tight, and the passion…

Well, let’s just say it cooled off faster than a forgotten cup of coffee on your desk during a mind-numbing meeting that should have been a short email (don’t you hate it when that happens?!).

They had the hard conversations.
The “is this worth keeping alive?” conversations. 

And as their business manager who felt personally attached to them as people as well as the brand I helped them build, I shared my heart with them:

“Don’t let the narrative turn you into victims of circumstance. You are overcomers. You started something everyone told you was impossible, you proved the experts wrong, and you got the last laugh when that first product rolled off the line. 

The last few years taught you more than you ever expected about running a business and chasing opportunity. Sometimes the bravest decision is to ‘kill your darlings’; to shut one door so another can open.”

I told them to end it the way they began it: fierce, bold, and on their own terms. 

And honestly, this was one of those moments where my “aggressively helpful” side wasn’t about productivity hacks or efficiency tips, but about strength of character, choosing to finish with integrity and courage.

And as painful as it was to admit, the truth was clear: they weren’t lit up by the business anymore. 

Their energy and opportunities were pulling them in a new direction.

When they finally made the call to close, something amazing happened: relief. Like a giant exhale, they didn’t know they were holding. 

They didn’t walk away defeated.
They walked away stronger because they had the guts to end it on their own terms.

Wouldn’t you know it, I was staring down my own “ending” at the exact same time. 

I knew it was time to shut down my one-on-one services so I could go all-in on building The 7 Figure CEO System. 

The wild part? It happened right as my client was closing their doors. 

Providence?
Divine timing?
Absolutely. 

And because of that overlap, no one felt abandoned. It was a shift, not a loss.

The Hard Lesson Learned

Here’s where you come in. If you’ve been dragging something along in your business that no longer excites you, this is your sign.

Endings don’t mean failure.
They mean growth. 

Every time you level up, you shed something, and that’s not weakness. That’s leadership. 

The people who cling to what’s no longer working aren’t saving their business; they’re quietly suffocating it.

Sometimes the most CEO thing you can do isn’t to start something new. It’s to end something old.

Here are a few signs it might be time to shut something down:

• The passion is gone: You no longer feel energized by the work, and it’s become a drain rather than a driver.
• The numbers don’t add up: Despite effort and tweaks, the financial return isn’t sustainable or aligned with your goals.
• Opportunities are pulling you elsewhere: A new direction excites you more than keeping the current thing alive.
• It only survives on life support: If you’re constantly pouring in time, money, or energy just to keep it barely breathing, it’s already gone.

If you nodded yes to even one of these, it’s worth asking: “What am I holding onto that’s actually holding me back?”

Weekly Challenge

This week, take a hard look at your business. What are you keeping on life support just because it’s familiar? 

A program? A client? An offer you swear will work if you just give it one more push? 

Write it down.
Then ask: “What would happen if I let this go?”

And if you’re wrestling with a decision like this right now, head to my free CEO Coach AI Bot on my website and click on the conversation starter: “I need to make a big business decision and I’m struggling with the right answer.”

From My Pivot to Your Next Step

For me, shutting down one-on-one services opened the door for The 7 Figure CEO System. That decision changed everything. 

More clarity. More energy. More alignment. (Also, way fewer headaches from trying to juggle too many things at once.)

If you’re ready to step into your next level without dragging the dead weight of old offers behind you, check out The 7 Figure CEO System. 

Don’t wait until next quarter to cut what’s holding you back. Step into your next level now.

And remember, endings don’t make you weak; they make room for your next win. 

Now go ahead, forward this to a friend who’s still propping up an offer that died back in 2022. (Yes, I said it. 😲)