“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”–Albert Einstein
I am frequently reminded of this quote. So often, people think that if they just get better organized or become more efficient, they’ll achieve greater success. In reality, that only helps a tiny bit. Entrepreneurs still continue to do the things they always did–their own writing if they are a numbers person, their own financial books if they can barely balance their personal checking account.
When businesspeople continue this practice, it really is insanity. The way to really take your business forward is to let go. Don’t be afraid to delegate. Change the way your business operates and you may just achieve the results you are looking for.
I embrace this theory. I have a neighbor who has a cleaning service. I pay her and her partner to clean my house. Am I capable of cleaning my own house? Absolutely. Do I enjoy it? No. Can they do it faster and better than I can? Yes. Is my time per hour billed at a higher rate than theirs? Yes. To me, it’s a no brainer. As my own business grows, I plan to hire a VA that specializes in bookkeeping. That’s not one of my strengths. My time is better spent elsewhere.
An entrepreneur is truly a one-person company. In medium to large size businesses, you have a multitude of departments–from marketing and advertising to sales and accounting. An entrepreneur doesn’t have that luxury. But even outsourcing one task can free up your time to devote to the more profitable aspects of your business.
Don’t continue to do everything yourself. You are an expert in your field, give your routine tasks to someone who is an expert in that and watch your business grow.