The success of their strategy had sent shockwaves through the industry. Their competitor, despite their deep pockets, had underestimated them. Lin Yue's platform had not only held its ground but had thrived.
But success came at a cost.
Lin Yue was back to working late nights, juggling expansion plans, partnerships, and investor meetings. The team had grown, but so had the responsibilities. Every victory brought new expectations.
And exhaustion was creeping in.
One evening, Lin Yue was in the middle of a financial review when Zhang Wei entered her office. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"You're still here."
Lin Yue barely looked up. "There's a lot to do."
Zhang Wei sighed and walked over, placing a cup of coffee on her desk. "And if you burn out, who's going to run this empire you're building?"
She chuckled, but there was no real humor in it. "I don't have time to slow down, Zhang Wei."
He pulled out the chair across from her, his voice softer now. "Lin Yue, you need to rest. You've been pushing yourself too hard."
She exhaled, rubbing her temples. "I know. But we're growing so fast, and I have to stay ahead."
Zhang Wei studied her for a moment before speaking. "Then let's delegate. You don't have to do everything alone."
She hesitated. She had always been the one making the big decisions, steering the ship. Letting go—even a little—felt risky.
Zhang Wei smirked, reading her thoughts. "Trust your team, Yue. You built them for a reason."
The next morning, Lin Yue took a deep breath and called a meeting with her leadership team.
"I've been handling too much alone," she admitted. "It's time I let you all take on more responsibility."
There was a pause, and then Jia Hao, her assistant, smiled. "We've been waiting for you to say that."
Mei Lin grinned. "Took you long enough."
Lin Yue chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let's make this work."
They restructured the workload, ensuring that Lin Yue wasn't carrying the entire weight of the company. It wasn't easy for her to step back, but as the days passed, she realized Zhang Wei had been right.
She wasn't just leading—she was empowering others to lead, too.
And that was the true mark of success.
"A great leader doesn't do everything—they inspire others to rise."