One of my clients is a classic entrepreneur. He built his business from the ground up, starting as a gemologist and appraiser and moving to an estate jeweler and retailer of some of the finest jewelry pieces I’ve ever seen.

But as time wore on, he recognized that the things that made him so good as an individual entrepreneur do not fit with the structure of a growing company now boasting of 20-plus employees, many of whom are specialists in their field requiring significant time, attention, and training.

So this is a classic case of someone who knows how to build a business from scratch, but doesn’t enjoy the task of managing the people side of a growing enterprise with all of the operational headaches that come with it. So instead of making himself crazy, trying to be all things to all people, he hired an outstanding executive who takes care of the day-to-day grind, which now allows my client to do what he is best at doing: buying right, creating magnificent jewelry, and selling to people who understand and appreciate the rare and extraordinary.

The lesson, of course, is to first recognize what you’re good at, and what you’re not, and what you enjoy doing, and what you don’t. This mostly comes from realizing what causes you stress and frustration, and, conversely, what provides vitality and joy in your work. But the second, very important step is to commit to doing something about it.
I know what you’re thinking….. a top executive or manager costs money; but the freedom my client now has to generate more money through growth in the business pays for the extra cost of building a business, while giving him the freedom and excitement to do what he loves to do.
This isn’t rocket science, but sometimes entrepreneurs have to be brutally honest with themselves, and to learn to get out of their own way. If any of this makes sense to you, and if you need a second opinion on what you should do, drop me a line or give me a call. I’d be glad to help.

Tags: Advice, Business, Business Development, Business Tips, Change, Crisis Management, Developing Leaders, Dreams, Knowledge, Leadership, Leadership Excellence, Leadership Problems, Leadership Skills, Learning, Management, People Leaders, Reputation, Responsibility, Success, The Mind of a Leader, Values