The Superhero Syndrome and Outsourcing
Know-it-alls. Do we know them? Yes. Do we love them? Hmm.
What Is The Superhero Syndrome?
The problem with know-it-alls is that in the slim chance of actually ‘knowing’ all, the probability of actually ‘doing’ all is also slim, bordering to none.
It’s sad knowing that a lot could have been done, produced, finished, improved, earned, learned if only this person knew how to let go of even just one of the many hats he’s trying to wear.
Exhibit A: When The Flash, in an attempt to save his mother, created a wormhole alongside the super-villain (ha, how smart) which turned into a singularity black hole that’s put the whole of Central City at risk. If you’ve been deeply touched (in an uncomfortable way) by the preceding statements, then you, my friend, might be suffering from the same condition as Barry’s. You might be suffering from The Superhero Syndrome, minus the superpowers.
The Symptoms of Superhero Syndrome
You like doing everything on your own because —
- You think you know everything
- Your ways are the best, if not the only way to do things
- You think you’re saving money by doing tasks yourself
- You think you’re better off not dealing with disappointments from other people’s mistakes
- You think you can learn anything, and you can teach yourself better than teaching anyone else
The Problem With Having The Superhero Syndrome
While this might be working for you at the moment, this practice has its repercussions, and you might not have the time or energy to sort it out in the end. Leaving you with nothing but shoulda-woulda-coulda’s, opportunities lost, and regrets. The problem with being a one-man-team is that you are trying to accomplish everything at once, hold yourself accountable for everything, but end up finishing only a few or worse, nothing. You might also experience burnout even in the early stages of building your business. Imagine all the ideas, skills, and talent that will go to waste by simply not acknowledging the need to delegate.
“Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.”
-Steve Jobs
The Antidote
The antidote is simple: Let go. So you could let growth happen.
Delegate your basic, repetitive tasks so you can focus on areas of your business that require your attention the most.
Ask yourself – “Which of these tasks can only be done by me?” “Which of these tasks can I hand over to someone else?”
Downsizing your To-Do List does not mean you are incapable but rather, smart in the sense that you know your business well enough to do what’s best for it. Click here to see some of the tasks you can outsource.
As entrepreneurs, our business is our baby.. from conception, to birth, to actually raising it to success. That’s why without a shadow of a doubt, I trust that you only have the best intentions for your business. And as far as best intentions go, letting go (as in with anything, including matters of the heart, and that haircut you’ve been sporting since lord knows when) is one of the best decisions you will ever make for your ‘baby’.