Taking Emotion Out of Business (and Why It’s a Superpower)

This one is for all the business owners out there.

If you run your own business, you’ll understand how difficult it is to take emotion out of decision-making. When you’re the director, the creator, the one who brought the business to life, it’s personal. You care more than anyone else ever could. Then one day you realise you’re trusting other people with one of your most prized possessions.

That’s exactly how I feel about RMG.

RMG is one of the most positive things I’ve ever done in my life. It carries huge sentimental value for me, not just because it’s our main source of income, but because it’s something I built from the ground up. Nikki, my wife, works in the business as well, so it’s personal on every level.

For a long time, emotion played a big part in how I ran the business.

As I’ve grown, both as a person and as a director, I’ve come to understand something very important. To be a good boss, and more importantly a good leader, you have to remove emotion from decisions. That doesn’t mean you stop caring. It means you stop reacting.

For me, this has been one of the most powerful shifts I’ve ever made in business.

Growing up, school was a negative experience. Dyslexia meant reading was a struggle. ADHD brought behaviour challenges. I was sent to a special school. Nothing about that environment played to my strengths.

When I started working, everything changed.

I became addicted to progress. To achievement. To the feeling of doing something well and being rewarded for it. That’s why I genuinely believe the education system isn’t for everyone. Some people thrive academically. Others, like me, were built for movement, problem-solving, and getting things done.

ADHD gives you energy, drive, and intensity. But without control, it also brings emotion, impulsive reactions, and frustration. Learning to take emotion out of business decisions has turned ADHD from a weakness into a strength for me.

It allows clarity. Calm. Better leadership.

Today, positivity is non-negotiable for me. Every day, something positive must happen. That doesn’t mean negative things don’t arise, because they always do. The difference now is how I handle them. I don’t react emotionally. I assess, decide, and move forward.

I don’t think enough business owners talk openly about this.

But I’m an open book. That’s just who I am.

Whenever I hear other business owners talking honestly about the ups and downs, I find it reassuring. It reminds me we’re all dealing with similar challenges, even if we don’t always show it.

Taking emotion out of business hasn’t made me colder. It’s made me calmer, fairer, and more consistent. And in my experience, consistency is what people actually want from a leader.

If this resonates with you, take it as reassurance. Taking emotion out of your business isn’t a sign you care less. It’s often the moment you become the strongest version of yourself as a leader.