“Irreplaceable”: not as great as it sounds

Today a long-time client called to let me know she’s retiring at the end of August. Not much more than five weeks to go.

And she's ready ... almost. Except for this one thing:

What happens to all her work when she's gone?

She’s been at her organization for 18 years. In all that time, she's been the one running the CRM and slowly working for its improvement.

She knows where things are, how it all fits together, and what’s been tried before.

She knows how it fits with the overall mission and strategy.

And it got me to thinking ...

At some point, all of us step away. Sometimes it’s planned — retirement, a new role, a vacation. Sometimes it’s not — health, family, life.

But the work continues. The people we're working to serve still need things to run smoothly.

And stepping away isn't just a logistical challenge — it’s an emotional one.

It’s easier to let go when you know what you’ve built will keep working. When you know someone else can pick it up and carry it forward.

So maybe now’s the time to ask: Could someone else step in and make sense of your CRM system?

If not — what small steps could make that easier?

Because here's the thing:

Of course, none of us is truly replaceable. We'll always bring our own personality and perspective to the table, and that always leaves with us if and when we're gone.

But this isn’t about being "irreplaceable."

It’s about building systems that can carry the work forward — whether or not you’re there to carry it yourself.

Ensuring your CRM system will work without you is not just smart.

It’s generous. And it's liberating.

All the best,
A.