What to do with the tasks you hate

Quick Insight

Small business employees work as a jack of all trades and master of none. We have to overcome our weaknesses in some areas. For most others, outsourcing to experts may be the best option. Focus your energy on those things where you create the most value for your company.

“A businessperson recently asked me for advice regarding how to figure out his weaknesses… The real problem was that he hadn’t thought about his weaknesses as weaknesses. It was far easier for him to discuss things he ‘hated to do’ than to admit… that he actually had weaknesses.” Robert Steven Kaplan in What You’re Really Meant To Do.

I hate writing sales copy. The truth is, it’s one of my weaknesses. Twice in the past year, I’ve sat down to write an email series for a course and couldn’t bring myself to write a word. Both times I hired a copywriter from Fiverr. 

I could have written those emails, but it would haven’t taken a lot of my time and my energy. If the courses didn’t sell, I wouldn’t be certain if it was my poor copywriting or the content of the courses.

Small business employees work as a jack of all trades and master of none. We have to overcome our weaknesses in some areas. For most others, outsourcing to experts may be the best option.

Focus your energy on those things where you create the most value for your company. The cost of paying a pro is usually offset by the revenue we can produce by focusing on our strengths.

I wish you the courage to address the weaknesses you must address. For all other weaknesses, I wish you helpful contractors and employees. I wish you well.

- Rob Stephens

Further Insight

CFO Perspective Resources

  • Free Download: Objectives and Tasks Worksheet -This worksheet helps you map out your quarterly objectives (a.k.a. goals) and the tasks to achieve those objectives. You can then assess whether you should do one of three options for each task: keep it, delegate it, or stop doing it.
  • Free Download: Start Stop Continue Template - This fillable PDF template is a quick way to summarize what you should start, stop, and continue based on ideas from you, your customers and your employees.
  • Course: ACE - Strategic Planning for Small Businesses - Small business strategic planning should quickly lead you from defining where you are going to deciding how to get there. Getting there takes a well-built strategy and implementation plan. Get planning and management tools with the basics of how to use them.

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