In business, there comes a point where you have to delegate. A natural-born control freak, this has never come easy.

Despite having very talented folks on my team, I often struggle to hand over the reins.

Even when I know someone else is fully capable of the task, I sometimes still won't hand it off and find myself buried when I should focus on another task.

This, of course, robs productivity.

Sometimes, I need someone to do something beyond their current skill set. It might be asking a non-techy person to build a spreadsheet or asking an introvert to make phone calls or site visits with customers.

I struggle in those cases because I know - at least the first time - that I can do it better because I've had years of practice. And I can do it faster than explaining it to them.

But the fact is, if I'm going to achieve all that I've set out to do, I have to have help.

This isn't a one-man show.

I trust my team. I know they will sometimes do things differently than I would, and it may be challenging, but we keep rolling.

This, of course, adds to productivity.

It ain't rocket science.

Two people can do more than one, and three can do more than two.

So, I've had to learn to let go and to trust that they will do things the right way and make the right decisions.

I struggle to do this in my personal life.

My middle [step]son has decided to drop out of high school and move to his dad's here in his senior year, about 100 school days before he would otherwise graduate.

Certainly, it's not what I would do.

Being unfamiliar, Julia and I looked into the details, which we found pretty shocking. For example, in North Carolina, if you drop out of school when you're 16 or 17, your driver's license is revoked.

And, of course, there are other implications. My stepson's job at Target is his 3rd job in less than a year, and he's quitting to move to his dad's.

And I worry about the long-term consequences. There are examples of wildly successful high school dropouts, but they are anecdotal at best.

Most are not living the kinds of lives that we dream about for our children.

Will my stepson ever finish high school or get his GED?

And what will the next potential employer think of his rapid change in employment over the last year?

I don't know.

I do know the short-term benefits to him look pretty good.

No more getting up early and no car insurance to pay for (it sounds like his father is covering that now). And upon hearing the news, his grandmother even bought him a new PlayStation!

As parents, we look forward to the bittersweet day when our children leave the nest.

This isn't how I envisioned this one leaving, and there's a lot more bitter than there is sweet.

But I'm letting go and accepting that my stepson won't always do things as I would.

I hope he keeps rolling.

And I hope this is the right way for him.