We’ve had a bit of a running joke in our home for years about our opposite gifts. David is a fantastic designer, but Sallie struggles to draw adequate stick figures. On the other hand, Sallie is a fantastic writer, but David finds writing laborious and challenging.
She Can’t Draw, He’s Not a Writer
Sallie never had any illusions of grandeur when it came to designing. She leaves it all to David and only offers suggestions when the process has moved along. Most of the time she can’t even envision what she really wants for design, but she’s very good at critiquing something once she sees a draft.
For the longest time, however, David would insist on doing his own writing. After all, it’s just writing. Everyone can write. And then after struggling for forty-five minutes and producing something that was only okay and not publishable, he would turn it over to the writer and she would write in ten minutes what he couldn’t produce in an hour. Why? Because writing is her thing. Her gift. She’s a professional.
On the other hand, David can accomplish things on a website in ten minutes that will take others an hour or more. Why? Because he’s skilled. Because it is his gift. Because he’s a professional.
Why is it so hard for people to admit they can’t do something well and should hand it off to someone who can?
The Entrepreneur’s Secret
Entrepreneurs are a unique breed. They have confidence in their dreams. They are willing to sacrifice to make things happen. But the most successful men and women realize that they cannot do it all themselves. The smart ones know when it is time to hire things out. They know that there comes a point where DIY becomes a major DI-Why and it’s time to hand it off to someone really skilled.
DIY sounds great until it keeps you from doing the things you are passionate about and gifted to do. If you are struggling as a business owner or entrepreneur to keep on top of everything, ask yourself where you need to let go.
Where are you wasting time on things that aren’t your gift?
Which tasks are sucking your energy and keeping you from doing the things that matter most?
What could you hand off to a skilled professional that would free you to focus on your passions?
We would love to talk with you about how you could gain hours back in your life by letting us use our gifts to improve your business!