Episode 689

full
Published on:

3rd Jun 2026

I Made All the Big Events. That’s About It. (Book Solo #6)

This is the most personal episode in the Busy Is Broken series. Bill made all the big events — the graduations, the performances, the big games, the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. He has the photos. He was in the right seat at the right time for every moment that had a date on a calendar and a crowd in the room. That’s about it.

What he missed was everything that led up to those moments. The practices before the big game. The rehearsals before the play. The meetings with the rabbi in the weeks before the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. The ordinary Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings that, strung together, make up the actual texture of a childhood. Nobody sends you a calendar invite for “the night your daughter told a funny story at dinner that became a family legend you’ll never know.” You just look up one day and the kids are grown. Bill’s engine was adrenaline. He loved being needed. Every rescue was a hit of proof that he mattered. And it was also what kept him on a plane when his kids were at practice and in a hotel when they were doing homework at the kitchen table.

This isn’t self-pity and it isn’t a pitch to feel sorry for the host. It’s recognition. Bill tells the story because he sees himself in the leaders he coaches now — the founder who can’t leave the office before seven, the CEO who hasn’t taken a real vacation in three years, the leader checking Slack during their kid’s soccer game. The question underneath isn’t “why are you working hard?” That’s obvious. It’s why the specific pattern. Why the midnight emails. Why the inability to let go of decisions your team could make. Why the thing that costs you more than it earns. This week’s invitation is small and concrete: tonight, put your phone in another room during dinner. Not on silent. In another room. Be present for thirty minutes with the people you love. The moments that haven’t happened yet are still available.

Links:

Busy Is Broken book and free diagnostic: https://busyisbroken.com

Q20 Growth Diagnostic: https://scalingcoach.com/Q20

Mentioned in this episode:

Busy is Broken book

Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.com

Q20 Diagnostic Offer

Stuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20

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About the Podcast

Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher
Do you dream of an easier way to scale and grow your business? Do you wish you didn’t have to work so hard and put in as many hours? Do you find growth too slow, or hard to sustain?

This podcast—Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher—can help you achieve and maintain the growth you want.

A message from your host: “I’ve been in your shoes as a founder, CEO, and executive leader. I’ve coached and trained many leaders just like you over more than 15 years to grow their businesses successfully and profitably. But more than that, I’ve helped give them their time and sanity back. My core strength is making the growth process easier, faster, and way more fun.”

A dynamic thought leader, Bill talks with fascinating and brilliant guests each week, including visionary CEOs, trailblazing entrepreneurs, best-selling authors, renowned business strategists, and more.

Broadly, each episode focuses on one of the four major decision areas every entrepreneur and company must get right: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash. More specifically, the show explores topics such as:

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Running a business is ultimately about freedom. Subscribe to this podcast to learn how leaders like you can get your organizations moving in sync, create something significant, and still enjoy the ride. Subscribe if you want to elevate your business to unprecedented heights by tuning in to a masterclass in business excellence.

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William Gallagher