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A Small Business Entrepreneur’s Top 10 Playbook: #9
As a small business entrepreneur for over 20 years and a former professional athlete with a career that spanned about the same amount of time, I've been able to utilize aspects of both those endeavors that have helped enable me to become a successful small business person.
Like a well played game, all businesses will go through their natural cycles of ebbs and flows. You, as a small business entrepreneur, need to know when to call a timeout, change out your players or when to run another play. Sports has taught me the value of team play, camaraderie, working towards common goals, learning from your temporary setbacks and the ability to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep on going.
If I were to put together a top 10 list of "must haves" whether you’re a startup company or a well-established business, it would go something like this. (I’ll be sending in a new play every day until you compile all 10!)
# 9: Realize Early on You Can't Do Everything -
Similar to what's above, realizing early on that you can't do everything is a key to business success. There is a very high "burnout" factor for owners who have an "I – can - do - it – all – by - myself" attitude and refused to delegate responsibilities to other members of the team. You may feel like no one can do it better than you can (and that may be true), but if you want to keep your team engaged with a sense of ownership and empowerment, it's important to delegate responsibilities to them because it shows a sense of trust and confidence in the rest of your team.
There will be plenty of opportunities for you as a business owner to "burn the midnight oil" so you might as well wait for those opportunities to roll around and be well rested and prepared.
The article "A Small Business Entrepreneur's Top 10 Playbook" was written and submitted by James Donaldson, president and owner of The Donaldson Clinic www.DonaldsonClinic.com of Mill Creek, Wa. Established 1990.
Donaldson is the author of Standing above the Crowd: Success Strategies in Athletics, Business, Community and Life. For more information go to www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com and/or contact him at JamesD@StandingAboveThe Crowd.com
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