Unplugged in Mexico: How I Left My Laptop Behind and My Business Thrived

When I told people I was heading to Mexico for my anniversary without my laptop, the reactions ranged from raised eyebrows to outright concern. As the owner of Magnolia Marketing & Consulting, a digital-based company responsible for websites and other internet-critical tasks for our clients, disconnecting completely seemed like a risk.

But here's the truth: it wasn't risky at all. It was liberating. It was peace. It was pride. It was success.

The Reality of True Business Freedom

Three years into owning Magnolia, we've finally achieved what I've been working toward since day one—a business that runs like a well-oiled machine, even in my absence. The social proof? During my anniversary trip, my team posted social content I never saw, approved, or touched in any capacity. And it was excellent.

The most rewarding part wasn't the beautiful beaches or the quality time with my spouse (though those were amazing). It was the absence of that impending stress—that feeling that things were piling up or that I needed to work. The freedom to truly unplug was transformative.

Systems Run the Business, People Run the Systems

This level of freedom didn’t happen overnight—and it definitely didn’t happen by accident. At Magnolia, we’ve spent the past three years building the same kind of structure internally that we now help our clients create. We call it our Whole Business Marketing & Optimization Approach, and it’s designed to build real stability, not just surface-level success.

It’s more than a marketing strategy. It’s a system-wide view of your business—from sales to customer experience to internal communication—that uncovers where things are slipping through the cracks and rebuilds them into something clear, streamlined, and scalable.

The truth is, most businesses don’t lack effort—they lack systems. And as The E-Myth so perfectly puts it:
“The systems run the business. The people run the systems.”

I’ve seen firsthand how powerful that shift can be. Today, my team has the structure and confidence to handle daily operations without my constant input. They're trusted to make smart decisions, solve challenges, and keep clients thriving—whether I’m in the office, guest lecturing at Tennessee Tech, working with the TN Small Business Development Center, or enjoying a laptop-free vacation.

A Business Should Support Your Life, Not Control It

If you're a business owner craving this type of structure, I have good news: it's more achievable than you think. A business is meant to support and help you build the life you want, not control the life you have.

Getting here comes down to trust—trust in your systems, trust in your team, and trust in the process. When you create clear procedures, hire the right people, and give them the tools and authority they need, magic happens.

The Shift from "In" to "On"

Owning a business structured this way has ignited a new spark within me. It has allowed me to stop being heads-down working in the business and be strategic and heads-up working on the business. I feel grounded, free and excited for the future, without the oppressive stress and all the "baggage" that used to come with being a business owner.

This balance makes me better at everything I do—as a marketing strategist, as a mentor, as a wife and mom, and simply as a person who values family, faith, success, and work-life balance.

Your Turn to Unplug

If you're reading this and thinking it sounds like a pipe dream, I'm here to tell you it's not. At Magnolia Marketing & Consulting, we help businesses like yours transform from owner-dependent operations to systems-driven successes every day.

The laptop-free vacation isn't just a luxury—it's a sign that your business is working as it should. It's evidence that you've built something that extends beyond your daily input. It's proof that you're truly a business owner, not just self-employed.

Are you ready to build a business you love to own? A business that runs whether you're at your desk or on a beach? It starts with systems, continues with team empowerment, and results in freedom you may have thought was impossible.

And trust me—that freedom is worth every bit of the work it takes to get there.

I would love to discuss how we can make this a reality for your business!