The hardest job for many business owners and leaders is doing less.
Most people who start or lead businesses achieve early success from “doing” work. So much so that they forge an identity as a nose-to-the-grindstone manager who achieves through sheer force of will and work ethic combined with business savvy and intellectual insight.
And that works… for a while.
I was recently talking to the founder of a business who sold it for eight figures. When he started, he was doing everything – chief cook and bottle-washer. But a solopreneur doesn’t sell for eight figures.
At each plateau of the business, he had to get comfortable with “doing” less and less.
Because you can’t DO everything. You can’t BE everywhere…if you want to grow.
Leaders at all levels change from “doing” to casting vision, leading, managing, etc. This is about subtraction, knowing your highest-value activities, the things that only you can do.
You know the tools of the “do less” trade. The urgent/important matrix, time optimization, delegation, hiring and retaining good people.
But first and foremost, it’s a mindset shift that you have to get used to doing less.
That’s hard for those of us who built a business on our sweat and tears. It requires solid procedures, making your business system-dependent rather than person-dependent, and trust.
But trust me, it works.
If you’d like to talk more about how to do less in your business, drop me an email or book a time to chat.
Talk soon.