Amanda Ketcham

Stepping away from your business is the ultimate leadership litmus test for freedom.

If you step away for two weeks and your company can't run without you, that is not a strong company.

It is so easy to stay buried in the day-to-day grind. But if you want real growth, you have to design thoughtful systems and have the right people in the right seats to actually be able to leave.

Taking a true break forces your organization to operate independently. It is the best way to evaluate what works and what processes caused flare-ups while you were gone. It gives you incredible clarity so you know exactly what to dial in on when you get back.

Very rarely do you have your best ideas when you are in your everyday routine. Big thinking requires external factors and new scenery. Whenever I am facing a big decision about the company's direction, I like to get away, turn down the noise, get a big notepad, and just start wrestling through the ideas.

Next week, I’m joining The Stevie Awards to talk about overcoming fear and self-doubt as a CEO.

Starting a company in your 20s will humble you real fast. To push past my own doubt, I had to make very intentional choices about how I lead, starting with checking my ego at the door.

Instead of trying to have all the answers, I work with people I trust and let them run with their unique ideas. I also let my team see me in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Vulnerability is something I want them to see from me so they can model it for their team members. When things go wrong, I get into the weeds and tackle it right alongside them.

We are digging into all of this during the WomenFuture Webinars on August 12th at 2:00 PM (EDT). If you haven't registered yet, grab your spot at the link in my bio or here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AifOiXZUPUHAw0ZB191vF8OyFehF8FiN4KkgvpepR9QMWVZIOgvB~Aqq28QvSWy2pYeebC-sErBarrMWVU-jqqyX_nU-zpz7xC-hydm0ZrmB6-w

I am excited to announce that I’ll be speaking at the upcoming WomenFuture Webinars hosted by The Stevie Awards!

We’ll be diving into The Founder Mindset: Overcoming Fear, Failure & Doubt to Build the Business You Want.

Building a business takes more than just a good strategy. It’s about how you operate under pressure, when you have to buckle up, show grit, and navigate the hard seasons to move your team forward. We'll be talking about the real mindset shifts required to make tough decisions and build a company through daily, fearless choices instead of waiting for one massive breakthrough.
Whether you’re just starting out or navigating your next stage of growth, I’d love for you to join the conversation.

📅 Wednesday, August 12, 2026
🕑 2:00 PM EDT

🔗 Register for FREE through the link in my bio or right here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AifOiXZUPUHAw0ZB191vF8OyFehF8FiN4KkgvpepR9QMWVZIOgvB~Aqq28QvSWy2pYeebC-sErBarrMWVU-jqqyX_nU-zpz7xC-hydm0ZrmB6-w

I used to think stepping away meant losing momentum. But over the years, I’ve realized that a stressed leader doesn't drive growth but rather holds it back.

While I was in Switzerland with my family, standing beneath the Alps, I was reminded how important it is for leaders to feel small every once in a while. It's easy to get caught up in what you've built or convince yourself that everything depends on you. Nature has a way of putting things back into perspective.

There is no such thing as completely turning your brain off when you care so deeply about what you have built and the people helping you achieve the vision. But I've learned that I show up as a better leader, a better friend, and a better person when I give myself the space to recharge.

As leaders, we have to be mindful that even a single look or a condescending tone can weigh heavily on our people. I know that when I am stressed, I’m not making the best decisions for the organization or being my best self for the people who depend on me. A leader's attitude trickles down throughout the organization. That's exactly why stepping away matters.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do isn't work harder. It's to step away, reset, and come back with the clarity and energy your team deserves. 💙

Half the year is officially behind us. 👏

It’s easy to just put your head down and keep pushing forward, but I always try to pause at the end of a quarter to look at what worked, what didn't, and what needs to change.

This past quarter has been a reshaping quarter in a lot of ways. We tore down old systems, overhauled processes, hired new people, moved big projects forward, and made some major decisions for the organization. It hasn't always been pretty, but it's in these seasons where true character is shown. I am consistently proud of how our team operates under pressure. We don't shrink or cower. We show grit and give it everything we have. That is not easy to do, and it comes from years of investing in our culture to be able to navigate hard seasons.

Because of that grit, Q2 brought some amazing wins. We partnered with INSPIRE and 1Life for another incredible Greater Heights Foundation event, and I am always so proud of our small but mighty team for pouring into the lives of the 700 people we benefited. We also hit a massive bucket-list goal for me by making the 40 Under 40 honoree list and earning the Top Healthcare Virtual Assistant Service company in 2026.

Our word for the year is Momentum. Sometimes momentum looks minimal, and you think there is no growth happening at all. But day after day, those micromovements compound until suddenly, you start gaining real speed. That idea is incredibly motivating to think about as we start off the next quarter.

On to Q3! 💙

I’m incredibly proud to share that My Mountain Mover has been named a 2026 finalist for the BBB, Pacific SW Torch Awards for Ethics. 🎉

Awards are never the goal, but they do reflect the values you choose to live by every day. We're committed to building a company where people are treated with respect, trust is earned, and doing the right thing is never optional.

Congratulations to all of this year's finalists! Looking forward to celebrating at the ceremony on October 29th! 💙

We are honored to announce that My Mountain Mover has been named a finalist for the 2026 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics - BBB, Pacific SW! 🎉

This recognition celebrates our unwavering commitment to trust, integrity, and ethics. In our industry, true integrity means ensuring that while we help healthcare practices scale, we are equally committed to providing empowering opportunities for our virtual assistants.

Thank you to our clients, our dedicated VAs, and our community for trusting us to move mountains with you every single day. We look forward to celebrating at the ceremony on October 29th!

When I started this company, I built it on faith and the hope that we could make a difference beyond our business. Seeing that vision come to life through the Greater Heights Foundation is something I'll never take for granted. It's a reminder that the greatest measure of success is the lives we're able to impact together.

Thank you to everyone who gave your time, heart, and energy to make this mission possible. 🙏💙

Over the years, I’ve learned that people will tell you a lot if you create space for it.

What’s working
What’s not
Where they’re getting stuck
What they need more clarity on.

But listening isn’t the hard part. It’s what you do after.

Your team is made up of smart people, and they can tell when their feedback just… goes nowhere. And over time, that’s when things start to break quietly.

For me, leadership started to feel different when I understood this.

Listening matters, but acting on what you hear matters just as much. Even small changes.

When people see that their inputs lead to something real, they no longer simply complete tasks and call it a day.

They start treating the team’s growth like it’s their own.

What are the common things your people tell you? Let me know in the comments! 💬