The other day I got a question on the blog asking whether I thought a solopreneur should have a job description.
My immediate answer is YES.
But aren’t entrepreneurs, and especially entrepreneurs who work alone supposed to do whatever it takes?
Well, yeah…
But “doing whatever it takes” isn’t the same as doing everything.
Doing everything is a bad idea, it costs you money and it costs you growth, and I can prove it.
Watch the video to get the whole scoop.
When you’re done leave a comment with your insights and if you’re up to it, your next steps.
PL
Hey Paul,
I always find a lot of value in your posts-so thanks for that.
What struck me about this one is that it reinforced and reminded me of Jay Abraham’s words on the same topic, which he calls “highest and best use”-of yourself, and your resources-primarily your time and energy. He made a big impact on me by the impeccable logic of concentrating only on what you do best-that is also high value.
One of his points in support of the premise, is that skills that can be used to grow your business, or establish profitable new income streams can often pay in the hundreds or thousands per hour, if worked out, backwards from the end result they create, therefore, you have no business doing what someone else can be hired to do for $15, $20, or even $50 an hour.
Another point I loved was that you are not going to master every skill, so don’t spend your life trying to become semi-competent at everything. Spend it becoming a master of one or a few things that are very high value, and that you already, hopefully, have a running head start at, whether because of training or natural talent.
It especially makes no sense to try to become mediocre at low value skills you currently suck at!
Thanks again-great insights as usual!
Cheers, Greg
Paul,
As I have said before, you are indeed a best friend to the entrepreneur. Your perspective and style of presentation are refreshing and your messages are always substantive, relevant and timely. The ease with which you convey such material, similar to the visible portion of an iceberg, hints at the large base of competency that resides behing the message. You are a gift to those who aspire to accomplish more.
Many concepts underly what you have shared in this message. You cut directly to the core of the matter without distracting the viewer with unneccessary detail, rendering relevant wisdom in a concise and thus practical form. This is among the things that I so admire about you. You have an amazing mind, full of practical knowledge and competencies – including the skills to share same so very effectively.
It remains appreciated. This message was ‘spot on’ and arrives at a good time.
Glenn – thanks for saying so. I couldn’t have written this better! –pl
I have to say that taking this advice and implementing into my business practice (trading services,) led to a whole new business collaboration, allowing my business to expand and grow in a whole new direction I never realized possible. Once again, know “WHAT” you want, and your personal “WHY” and interesting, the “HOW” shows up in ways you can’t even imagine.
Gail, keep up the terrific work. It takes a lot of nerve to go in the direction you’re going. Anybody who can pull off huge price hikes and grow their business besides, is obviously doing fantastic work. –pl
Paul,
You have great things to say. I really believe in doing the right things that can grow a business and outsourcing the things that don’t. I use ManagePro software to stay organized and to assign things to others. Accountability is easy to track!
Hey Josh, it’s a good product, I agree.
As an aspiring entrepreneur the biggest transition is adjusting my mindset from that of a traditional working environment to a home office setting.
Having a job description in that environment works… so why wouldn’t an entrepreneur want to adopt that for their own business?
Since I am first a stay home dad and THEN an entrepreneur, it is important to have structure. I have just recently taken on a contract where I am realizing all the more the value in having a job description that I can integrate with my duties as dad and to my client.
With summer coming up, I am going to need to evaluate my current description – which I’ll need to write down – so I can get the most profitable productivity and still be the best dad to my daughters…
Eric – summer is a dangerous time for work-at-home entrepreneurs. Part of the beauty is being able to spend lots of time with your young kids. At the same time, you don’t want to divert too much attention away from your work. In life, balance is tricky. –pl
Hey Paul, how do I get over the thing where because I don’t have a enough people, and the work HAS to get done, and that leaves me without enough time to market and sell? Thanks for the great video.
James
James — this is the challenge lots of us face. The trick is the PRIORITIZE which ultimately means pushing some things to the side and elevating the importance of the things that make you money. Some people prioritize in terms of New Business, and then Current Customers, and then everything else. You could easily make that Current Customers, then New Business, then everything else. This would give you a different outcome. If you can balance New Business with Current Customers, that might work better.
But what won’t work is what a lot of people are really doing, which is EVERYTHING ELSE, then New Business or Current Customers.
pl