You built your business, and poured all your time, energy, and heart into it, nurturing it into what it is today. It’s no wonder you feel so protective over it! I know how scary it feels to hand even a tiny part of it over to someone else. However, so many business owners do it.
When I meet with entrepreneurs, I like to ask questions to find out what their current strategy is. All too often, I quickly discover that their strategy is literally “do everything.”
That’s right. Do everything.
This blog isn’t meant to judge anyone; I totally get why and how this happens. But, after working with a lot of busy bosses, there are two things I now know for sure:
- Doing everything is not a strategy.
- This is a surefire way to burn yourself out fast.
So, how do you dig yourself out of this trap? How do you stop taking everything on and start delegating some of the tasks on your ever-growing to-do list? How do you start to put life first and business second?
Below are the three strategies I recommend for anyone who needs to break out of the “zone of endless hustle” and into their “zone of genius.”
Create A Strategy That Works For You
Do you know what your business goals are for the next 6 months? The next year? The next 5 years? Chances are, if you’ve been hustling day in and day out, you haven’t given much thought to the big picture stuff. A good strategy is a plan that outlines your BIGGEST goals, keeping your vision and mission in mind.
Remember, this strategy needs to work for you… not the other way around. Create freedom and space in your business and your daily routine to live the life you want to live! Map out the exact steps you will need to take to execute your goals in the time frame you want, allowing space for you to dream and live. Think of it like a roadmap to find your success!
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate
This is the piece of advice I find people are the most resistant to. However, you HAVE to let go of your control over things so you can do more of what you love.
Often, people don’t know how to start. My advice? Don’t overthink it. Sit down and write down everything you do over the course of a week. Now, put a checkmark next to any tasks that could be delegated. Contractors are surprisingly affordable these days, especially on sites like Upwork. If you have more “entry-level” tasks you’re still doing, it’s time to hand those things off.
Your time is so much more valuable than the amount of money it would cost to pay someone to do those tasks for you.
Once you have your list, start transitioning the checked tasks off your plate. Yes, you’re busy, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by this, but start small. Choose a few things that you can easily train someone on. It will give you a chance to decide if the person has a work ethic that will work for you. If so, you can always hand off more tasks later on!
Be Accountable
It can be so easy to fall into old habits. It takes a while to feel comfortable with a new strategy, and during that time, I see many people start to gradually take back their control of all the little things they already admitted weren’t worth their time or effort.
Thinking big is scary. Innovation is intimidating. It’s much more comfortable for most of us to fill our days with busy work because it makes us FEEL productive. But this is not real growth. Once you push through and start to get more comfortable with your new strategy, you’ll find that your business will flourish. You just have to let it get to that point.
For most people, this means finding an accountability partner. Just like at the gym, you need someone who will hold you to your word, who will push you toward your goals. Whether it’s a coach or a business bestie, you need to find someone who understands your journey and keeps you on the right path.
You’ve got this, boss! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more tips and inspiration like this, and if you want to discuss any of my packages or services, feel free to reach out to me here!