This morning, I was out for my usual run through downtown Miami with reggae playing in my ear.
Well… one ear.
The other AirPod has been living its best life somewhere in a hotel room in Saudi Arabia for over a year now.
Ironically, I never replaced it. At first, it was annoying. Now, I think it might be one of the best leadership lessons I’ve ever received.
As entrepreneurs, we’re taught to focus. Set goals. Build systems. Increase revenue. Scale. Optimize. Repeat
In many ways, entrepreneurship rewards the ability to put both AirPods in and tune everything else out.
But while I was running this morning, weaving through bikes, scooters, pedestrians, and the beautiful chaos that is downtown Miami, I realized something.
If I had both AirPods in, I would have missed half of what was happening around me.
The cyclist coming up behind me. The bird chirping overhead. Someone saying, “Excuse me.” The subtle signals that help me navigate safely through the world.
And it hit me. The same thing happens in business.
The Danger of Running Your Business With Both AirPods In
When we’re chasing goals, it’s easy to become completely consumed by the destination.
Revenue targets. Growth plans. Marketing funnels. Hiring goals. The next launch. The next client. The next milestone.
Before we know it, we’re so focused on where we’re going that we stop paying attention to what’s happening around us. We stop noticing our team. Our clients. Our children. Our friends. Our spouses. Ourselves.We become efficient. But we lose awareness.
And leadership without awareness is just management.
The Best Leaders Hear What Isn’t Being Said
Yesterday, I spent a significant amount of time on a client call that wasn’t even supposed to happen.
From a business perspective, it wasn’t the highest and best use of my time. There was no invoice attached to it. No proposal. No upsell opportunity. No direct ROI. But as I listened, I realized my client wasn’t calling because he needed accounting advice. He needed support.
He needed someone to hear what he wasn’t saying. That’s something AI can’t automate. That’s something a dashboard can’t measure. That’s something no KPI will ever fully capture.
The best leaders develop the ability to hear beyond words. To notice the hesitation. The exhaustion. The uncertainty. The fear. The hope. Sometimes what people don’t say tells you far more than what they do.
As a Business Owner, Your Job Is Bigger Than Revenue
Yes, businesses exist to generate profit. I’m an accountant. Trust me, I love healthy margins.
But somewhere along the way, many entrepreneurs forget why they started.
Most businesses weren’t born because someone wanted another spreadsheet. They were born because someone wanted to solve a problem. Serve people. Create impact. Change lives. Build something meaningful.
Your business is meant to be a blessing to the marketplace.
Whether you’re a coach, an accountant, a nonprofit leader, a consultant, an event planner, or someone selling handmade products from your kitchen table, your business exists to improve someone’s life.
The revenue is important. But the impact is the point.
What Does “Keeping One Ear Open” Mean?
It means staying connected while staying focused.
It means pursuing your goals without becoming blind to the people around you.
It means paying attention to your children when they’re quietly asking for connection.
It means noticing when a team member is struggling before they burn out.
It means recognizing when a client needs guidance, not just a service.
It means listening for opportunities that don’t arrive wrapped in a perfect business case.
It means keeping your finger on the pulse of the people you’re called to serve.
That’s leadership.
How Do Great Entrepreneurs Stay Connected While Scaling?
The most effective entrepreneurs don’t just track metrics. They track people.
They create systems without losing their humanity. They scale operations without outsourcing empathy. They build businesses without disconnecting from the mission that inspired them in the first place.
They know when to put both AirPods in and focus. And they know when to leave one ear open.
For the people. For the purpose. For the opportunities that aren’t showing up on a dashboard.
The Lesson Kilimanjaro Taught Me
After climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, I came down with a level of clarity I didn’t expect. The mountain has a way of stripping away noise.
You start realizing that success isn’t just about what you’re building. It’s about who you’re becoming while you build it.
This past year has reminded me that leadership isn’t about controlling the room. It’s about feeling the room. Understanding the room. Listening to the room. Sometimes before anyone else does.
A Quote I’ll Leave You With
“The entrepreneurs who make the greatest impact aren’t the ones who tune out the world. They’re the ones who stay focused while keeping one ear open.”
Practical Takeaway
Today, ask yourself:
Where have I been running with both AirPods in? Is there a relationship I’ve stopped listening to? A team member I’ve overlooked? A client who needs more than my service? A child, friend, or loved one quietly asking for my attention?
Keep your goals. Keep your ambition. Keep building.
But leave one ear open.
You never know who needs your gift.And you never know what purpose is trying to get your attention.
Sincerely,
A Recovering Accountant Learning to Leave One Ear Open
