You can't do it all yourself.  There are only so many hours in the day and you have only so much gas in your tank.

 

And yet, you have big things you want to accomplish in your business, whether you're the leader of a large operation who directs the efforts of a lot of people or an entrepreneur who operates as a largely independent agent.

 

The problem is that we try anyway.  We try to do it all. 

 

As a small businessperson, I know full well how much there is to do.  I also know how easy it is for anyone to fall into the trap of thinking that it's all on you to get it done.  Careful.

 

Sure, you might be able to carry the whole load in heroic fashion for a while, but how long will it be before you burn out and your dream of running a business transforms itself into a backbreaking slog that makes you long for the day you can retire?

 

Y

es, we have a lot of things we have to do. There's no getting around that, but what's the most important role you play?  It isn't that of doer.  I think the most critical role you play as the head of any enterprise, big or small, is to be an attractor, focuser, and manager of human energy. 

 

As such, your challenge is to tap into the skills, creativity, and enthusiasm of others in a way that complements and supports your own talents and magnifies your own efforts.  That's how you leverage your own personal talent, time, and energy to produce results far beyond what any single individual could ever hope to achieve.

 

Sounds nice, but what does that mean exactly?

 

Am I just talking about delegating?  No.  It's good to learn to delegate effectively if you want to take the load off yourself, and it's certainly a significant part of producing the kind of leverage I'm referring to, but what I'm getting at involves far more than just transferring the burden of performing tasks to someone else.

 

I'm talking about connecting with people in a way that energizes both them and you, creating a synergy that allows you to produce big results together.  It doesn't matter whether those folks are your employees, contractors who work for you, clients/patients, or simply people you collaborate with.  In each case, there's a network of connections you're working with.  Whether you created it or it was established already, your job is to focus the energy of the network and keep it headed in the right direction.

 

How do you do it?  It all starts with creating and articulating a compelling vision of what you're working toward.  The prospect of a brighter tomorrow and the chance to contribute to a worthwhile effort is what motivates people to go the extra mile and let fly with all their creative energy.  It's what has them take on your vision and mission as their own.  Your job is to get people excited about the possibilities you see.

 

Also, understand that there are certain people who are better equipped to solve certain problems and do certain work than you are.  Let them do their thing.  If you're a solopreneur, that might mean something as simple as turning the handling of your accounts over to a bookkeeper and computer stuff over to someone who understands information technology.  Going one step further, it might mean working with professionals in areas where you don't have sufficient training or experience to do the best job yourself, like graphic design or marketing.  It might also mean forming strategic alliances with people who have access to prospective clients you don't have access to.

 

So, the emphasis comes off of doing and goes toward attracting, inspiring, guiding, supporting ... and sharing the load.  Let others help you solve problems and make things happen.  Now, this obviously requires you to give up some control and let go of needing to have all the answers.  You also have to shelve the desire to call all the shots and micromanage the business.  Think collaboration.  It's the way the world is going.