I’ve been thinking (and reading here
For a lot of us, especially those of us running a solo show, the tendency is to try to improve our weaknesses. To become better at the things we aren’t so great at. To become well rounded.
But is this the best use of your time? And is it the best strategy for your business?
Instead, what if you became AMAZING at the things you’re already good at, and found someone else to take care of the things you aren’t so good at?
How would this change your business? How would this allow your business to grow?
Ahaaa…! Very thought-provoking, great question!
Why thanks for the segue Megan!
That’s exactly what I’ve done! And I wrote about it right here: http://www.taragentile.com/big-risk-big-reward/
I know where my strengths are: business thinking, marketing, code, web experience. So I filled the my hole: graphic design and all things pretty.
We’re itching to get someone in to help us, the problem is (for us) that right now we’re working out of the hubby’s parents’ basement and there’s just enough room for us 2 and the things we need to work.
I think it’d be so worth it. We have so many little tasks like packaging up orders for wholesale and punching holes and stamps library card pockets and just lots of things that don’t require the skill-set or creativity that other aspects of what we do but still have to be done. This is where I would love the help.
I’m not great at PR efforts, but I think if I was not being so tied up with the little tasks I’d actually have time for it and would enjoy it.
That is a very thought provoking idea. I’m going to write that down and keep it near by and see how it would fit my current goals and plans.
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This strikes home for me, especially when it comes to websites. As much as I do want to be well-rounded, by now I know where my strengths lie. I’d rather focus on creating than try to teach myself something I know nothing about (like coding a website). There are so many talented web designers out there, I’d rather just save my money (and time!) and hire one of them.
So incredibly important to growth! I have saved a great deal of my time by admitting my weaknesses and hiring people to do those items. I enjoy my work a great deal more as well knowing that the area in which I struggle are taken care of.
I excel at design…in jewelry and web, business development and social media networking, so I try to focus on those!
I hire people to do pr, marketing, graphic design, piece work of the jewelry, product photography, filing and other mundane office tasks, inventory and even to clean my studio & apartment.
You have to think big to grow big and I can’t be big all by myself!
The owner of the last place I worked pointed out this logic, and it’s pretty good. And liberating, too!
But here’s the million-dollar question, at least from a personal development standpoint: What about when your strength is also your weakness?
The accident of finding this post has bretighned my day
this is so much easier said than done! 😉
i like the challenge of sitting down and really analyzing what one’s strengths + weaknesses are, though. that’s a worthwhile exercise in and of itself, i think.
This is one reason our LLC partnership works so well- my friend and I get to distribute the workload and take a break from some of the more trying tasks. Plus, we also make the kinds of items we each like, which adds variety.
I love to do shipping while my friend likes to do the accounting stuff. We’re familiar with both processes but it works great when we can do the things we are more interested in as far as nitty gritty tasks go.
Hi Megan–I love your blog!
I have been thinking about this topic, as I just took the Strengths 2.0 “test.” The trust of the series is that we’d all do best to identify and concentrate on our strengths rather than our weaknesses, and I think Rath & Co. make good arguments for why.
But I also think the issue is a little more complicated. People in general, but I think women especially, tend to get shoehorned into certain roles and activities pretty young, and rarely have the chance to step of that and try out other ways of being.
Also, while it’s clear that an entrepreneur can’t manage every facet of the business, surely it’s important to have a basic understanding of each?
I don’t know–I’m just talking (typing) out loud here.
Should be THRUST of the series….