Derek Sivers, founder of online independent music bastion CD Baby, describes the awkward but common situation of being in charge of his own small, independent operation, but feeling helpless to do anything but spend all day triaging questions and problems.
Image via gfpeck.
Sivers broke free by starting a process that, in the end, would make him almost unnecessary for the actual running of his own firm. Every time there was a notable question, he would:
- Gather everybody around.
- Answer the question, and explain the philosophy.
- Make sure everyone understands the thought process.
- Ask one person to write it in the manual.
- Let them know they can decide this without me next time.
By the end of two months, Sivers was actually free to work on new projects, grow the business, and resume something resembling a life. Has this happened to you or someone you know? Give us your best advice for breaking free of the Everybody’s Parent situation in the comments.
Delegate or die: the self-employed trap. [Derek Sivers via The Cranking Widgets Blog]
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