Why Choosing Presence Over Productivity Could Be the Most Important Business Decision You Ever Make

I almost said no.

A funeral had been set for my best friend’s stepdad. We’ve been inseparable since Year 1, our lives stitched together through decades of sleepovers, milestones, and secrets. But when she told me about the service, my calendar was already full.

A client session was booked. My head whispered: “You can’t move it. Be professional. Stick to the plan.”
My heart whispered something else entirely.

That tug-of-war—between work and love, duty and presence—is one I think every entrepreneur knows too well.

The Day I Made the Harder Choice

In the end, I shifted my session and drove to the funeral.

When I arrived, my best friend’s daughters—my “nieces,” who call me Aunty Casey—ran up and hugged me tight. “Thank you for coming,” they whispered. Their little voices anchored the moment, reminding me exactly why I was there.

Later, as the service unfolded, I held space for my bestie, for her girls, for the heartbreak that hung heavy in the room. I didn’t have the right words. I didn’t need them. My presence was enough.

And in that raw, human moment, a truth hit me like lightning:

👉 Sometimes, the most “unproductive” thing you can do is the most powerful thing of all.

The Productivity Myth We’ve Been Sold

Entrepreneurs are fed a constant narrative:

• Show up no matter what.
  
  
• Don’t let clients down.
  
  
• Prioritise output above all else.
  
  

And yes—commitment and consistency matter. But if they cost us the moments that really matter, what are we building all of this for?

Because business should never come at the expense of love.

The Deeper Reason I Built My Business

This moment reminded me why I created my business in the first place.

Not to chase endless metrics.
Not to fill my calendar until it overflowed.
But to design a life that lets me show up for the people I love.

And this is why I help women craft Signature Talks.
Because speaking isn’t just about being seen—it’s about creating space for connection. Real connection. The kind that lasts far longer than a perfectly polished social post.

If You’re in the Tug-of-War Too…

If you’re caught between duty and heart, let me be the one to remind you:

💡 Business can wait. Love can’t.

So today, pick up the phone. Call the person you’ve been meaning to. Take the detour that pulls you closer to love, not just output.

Because when you look back, you’ll never regret the client call you postponed. But you might regret the hug you didn’t show up for.