If you’re responsible for everything in your business and you’re the only one who can handle tasks, you’re creating a low ceiling on how much your business can grow.
Do you what you’re great at
You’re not amazing at everything, but you’re amazing at many things. What are you REALLY good at? What is your zone of excellence? (Have you read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks?)
Focus on that work.
You’ll enjoy it the most and it will make you the most money.
(Truth: you can’t outsource everything you don’t like, but plan to work towards that instead of thinking the more you do yourself, the better.)
Create systems so others can do things the way you would
When you outline how you want things to run in your business you’re creating a business that is:
Consistent
A business others can help you with
Scalable
There’s only so much of you to go around. Start figuring out how you do things and get it documented (Clockwork by Michael Michalowicz has some great tips on how to create these systems) so that you can guide others to do it the way you do.
(Truth: You don’t need to write down EVERYTHING that you do and the first time you create the system might not actually be the best version of that system. Start with some of the things you do most often in your business and document the process as you’re doing it.)
Delegate the stuff other people are better at
I know other people are better and faster at getting regular content scheduled, emails sent, contracts updates, and sales pages and automations built. It’s not only a much better use of my time to do the things I’m good at, but when I try to take some of that stuff on myself I occasionally make things worse instead of better anyways! Instead, I can focus on writing, recording videos, networking, having sales calls, and supporting my clients.
By delegating I have more time to make more money and support more people instead of being distracted on the stuff that isn’t my genius work (even though I am perfectly capable of doing it!) And a bonus - I’m supporting someone else’s business/career at the same time!
(Truth: People won’t necessarily get it right the first time they try to do what you do. Don’t have that expectation and know that your job is to mentor them and guide them so that they CAN start to do it the way you would. It is worth the effort.)
How do you take action on this?
Keep a running list of what you’re doing on a day-to-day basis and rate the work.
What do you love?
What do you wish you didn’t have to do?
What do you procrastinate to avoid?
What do you do that you KNOW someone else should be doing but you’d rather save the money of paying someone else to do it and just do it yourself?
The things you’ll keep doing are the things that help bring in more money, run the business, and manage the team.
The things you’ll delegate are the things that you know other people are better at and that you know isn’t reliant on YOUR brain and skillset.
Start thinking about how big your company can grow if you’re not responsible for everything.
This is one of the ways you can stop feeling trapped in a world where the only way you can more more money is to work harder and longer. That doesn’t have to be the case.
Start believing that the less you are personally responsible for, the more your business can grow and the bigger the impact you can have on the world!