One of the freedoms of being an entrepreneur is exactly that: freedom. You can try a million different things, you can make changes on the fly and you can ultimately chose to do whatever it is you want to do however it is you want to do it. But, let’s face it, sometimes things go wrong.
Inevitably, you are going to be faced with a situation, a problem or an issue that you don’t have all of the answers for. Maybe you get too far in over your head with a particular project, or a client asks you for one thing, and it turns out they are really looking for something completely different. Having a good support system in place will make you shine in these circumstances.
No one can be the best at everything.
We have all heard the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none.” It might sound trite, but it is true. To become a better expert at a topic, you need to narrow your focus. For example, which of these people do you think would have more precise knowledge about a particular topic: the best doctor in the world or the best cardiopulmonary surgeon in the world? Well, if I’m going to have a heart attack, I’m going to want the best cardiopulmonary surgeon in the world, not just the “best doctor.” Why? Because I know he is focused on that very specific realm of medicine and is equipped with the best tools and knowledge to execute successfully.
As an entrepreneur it might be an initial blow to your ego to realize that you’re not the best at everything.
Figure out what it is that you are the best at, though. Once you realize where your strengths are, you can begin finding support for your weaknesses. (There’s a great book by Tom Rath on embracing your strengths, by the way.)
Once you have identified your weaknesses, start finding people to support you in those areas. Once you build a network of individual experts that are all focused on particular pieces of the puzzle, you will realize that you can help solve problems, satisfy your clients and relax with a lot more efficiency and effectiveness.
Your support system will help you grow, help you learn and help you focus on what you really do well. Let them take care of all of the “other stuff.”
Nice post, well stated and great points. Too often I’ve seen people bogged down by micromanaging projects. Instead of focusing on the big picture, they’re weighed down tinkering on something best delegated elsewhere. They also forget to factor in that it is frequently less expensive to pay someone specialized than to spend twice as much of their own time.