Are You Making the Classic Entrepreneurial Mistake with Your Business or Your Blog?
Almost all entrepreneurs make the oh-so-common mistake of trying to handle every single aspect of their business themselves. Either they don’t trust someone else to do a good enough job or they would rather just do a task themselves rather than having to explain it to someone else.
In the end, those who never grow out of this stage work themselves into a trap, unable to ever untangle themselves from their business or their blog long enough to take a break or most importantly to grow.
If you are one of these people (as I am, but am working on) consider this – instead of attending to every little detail of your business or your blog, shouldn’t you be handling upper level tasks such as planning a strategy for growth, researching new opportunities, or networking?
Your Opinion
Just because you CAN do everything yourself doesn’t mean that you should. I think this idea is pretty well understood for business, but what about for blogging? It seems there is some sort of expectation that a blogger handle every detail themselves in order to be “genuine.†Is this true?
What parts of blogging or your business could you have someone else handle that wouldn’t dilute your brand? Really challenge yourself here. The more time you can free up from doing menial tasks, the more time you’ll have to devote to executing and expanding upon the vision that caused you to start your blog or your business in the first place.
Oh you are so right. I’ve been running a business since 1994 during which time I’ve constantly struggled with this. I’ve employed PAs, trained them to a point where they are useful to me (costing me time and opportunity cost money in the meantime) only to have them leave for a higher paid job elsewhere soon after.
The answer is mindset - you need to believe that someone else can do the job as well, if not better than you. It’s also imperative to make sure what you do keep for yourself is strategic and effective towards your goals or you’re left with a business that is still dependant on you. I’m busy reading the 4-Hour Workweek (thanks again) and it is full of brilliant, albeit radical, ways of creating time. I’m running a series on the book starting today as I think it is so relevant for anyone looking to improve their working life.
I’m so glad that I have Christine to check my business e-mail and do most of the writing for this blog
David
You are so right Wizzer about the mindset thing… I love how Timothy Ferriss (4 Hour Workweek) said that his business actually improved after he removed himself from a big part of the picture. You don’t HAVE do to everything to own a business - as business owners, we’re probably much more effective (and happy) as the visionary and trusting others to handle the details.
Thanks David!
This was a wonderful post. Very helpful! I think most bloggers tend to do it all themselves… I’ve very recently learned the importance of delegating tasks that I don’t really need to worry about. It REALLY helps!
Good stuff!
-Terra Andersen
http://www.BetterForBusiness.com
I think there is good benefit from doing things yourself especially in the stages. You need to know enough to make informed decisions. With that said, being smart on focusing you time and energy on the things your are best will provide great return.
We often spend so much time to perform the things we are not good at or motivated for, knowing that we can skimp on the things we are good at(because it will be good enough). The most value will come when we pour or energy into the things we are best at.
Great advice, I really could stand to learn to trust people more!
I agree with you about the early stages. Unless you get “dirty” and learn the basics it’s hard to know 1) what you should outsource 2) whether you are getting good value / a good job done - unless you know what should happen.
I think there is a danger of “retaining” the things we are good at (and therefore probably enjoy) but they may not be the most effective. eg great at numbers and doing accounts and thus do it; good at designing websites and spend hours perfecting the design BUT neither move the business forward so they should be outsourced. We love our comfort zone’s!
I am minded though about the Michael Gerber (e-Myth) theory that if you want to run a hairdressing salon it is better if you are not a hairdresser. That makes sense to me since you HAVE to concentrate on running the business rather than cutting hair. As he says - “work on the business not in it”
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