Drip, drip, drip

It’s only natural for us to gravitate towards the tasks we excel at (and enjoy!), and push aside any of the things we find challenging.

And, yes, “playing to our strengths” is a great way to leverage our skills — but everything else doesn’t magically disappear if we run away from it.

As business owners, we have to juggle dozens of roles — from visionary to vacuum technician — and it’s unrealistic to think every hat we wear is going to fit us perfectly.

But that doesn’t mean each hat isn’t important.

Ignoring your weaknesses is like ignoring a leak in your home… even a small one will do significant damage if it’s left unaddressed long enough.

But the opposite is true too; addressing these weaknesses — and solving for them — can feel like shedding a 100 pound weight that makes everything you do that much easier.

From what I’ve found, there are three ways we can do this:

1. Hire out. Maybe your yin just needs a yang. If you’re a “big picture” person, maybe what you need is a right hand who loves logistics, todo lists, and spreadsheets. Whatever your proclivity, the exact opposite is out there.
2. Build processes. I really hate doing sales, so I’ve meticulously mapped out the sales process so all I need to do is “follow the steps”. The process itself can act as your failsafe.
3. Pivot. One of the great things about owning your own business is that you get to set the terms. If you, for example, hate dealing with clients, you could focus on white-label work or freelance for a handful of agencies.

Closing the cabinet door to hide the dripping pipe might be easier today — but letting it go long enough will lead to structural damage that will be difficult to repair and impossible to ignore.

What small drip in your business can you start fixing today before it becomes a flood?