If You’re Doing Everything in Your Business, You’re Holding It Back

Here’s what we have this week:

Quick Tips: This week’s essentials: skip buying lots with surprise wetlands, let your website work for you (not against you), and automate follow-ups so nothing slips through the cracks.

Story: "When I finally let go, my business took off—how delegating 30 hours of admin work changed everything."

Something New is Coming: Big things are on the way—training programs designed to give people wanting to enter a trade, the skills they need to succeed in today’s competitive market.

Let's dive in.

3 Quick Tips:

1. Always walk a lot before buying—wetlands and easements can hide in plain sight.

2. Your website isn’t a brochure; it’s a tool—optimize it to capture leads, not just look pretty.

3. If you’re not using automation for follow-ups, you’re leaving money on the table.

Let me start by saying: I’ve been there. I thought scaling my business meant working harder, taking on more, and being everywhere at once. I convinced myself that no one else could do things like I could. If you’ve ever felt the same, let me save you years of frustration: I was dead wrong.

Growth didn’t come until I made a tough realization—if you’re doing everything in your business, you’re holding it back. Growth isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing less of the wrong things, better.

Here’s how I learned to get out of my own way, and how you can too.

What Are You Doing That Someone Else Could Do Better?

As business owners, we love to believe we’re irreplaceable. But the truth is, there’s someone out there who can:

• Swing a hammer better than you.

• Crunch numbers faster than you.

• Handle the details you hate with a smile.

The problem isn’t finding these people. The problem is letting go of the tasks you’re clinging to out of habit or pride. Delegation isn’t about being lazy; it’s about recognizing your time is better spent elsewhere.

For me, the game-changer was when my wife quit her job to work in our business full time, to handle all the admin and bookkeeping. She didn’t just take over a few tasks; she took over 20–30 hours of my week. Hours I was spending buried in paperwork when I should’ve been focusing on leading the business.

It wasn’t easy — letting go of control never is — but once I did, everything changed. I could finally focus on buying land, building homes, and keeping clients and investors happy. That’s when the trajectory of our business took off.

So, what tasks are you holding onto that someone else could crush? Be honest with yourself.

What Are You NOT Doing That You Should Focus On?

Once I let go of the day-to-day admin, I faced another tough truth: I wasn’t focusing on the right things.

Every day, we have two choices:

• Work IN your business (putting out fires, chasing deadlines, doing tasks anyone could do).

• Work ON your business (building relationships, planning for growth, leading the charge).

For years, I was so caught up in the weeds that I neglected the bigger picture. I wasn’t planning for growth. I wasn’t thinking strategically. I wasn’t leading.

Your real job isn’t to swing the hammer, crunch the numbers, or chase the next opportunity. Your real job is to focus on the one thing only you can do: Lead.

Scaling is About Systems, Not Hustle

Here’s a hard pill to swallow: Hustling harder isn’t scaling. It’s just burnout with a fancy name.

Scaling isn’t about adding more work to your plate. It’s about building systems that run without you. Here’s what worked for me:

• Processes: Create workflows your team can follow without constant oversight.

• Automation: Use tools to handle repetitive tasks so you can focus on growth.

• Boundaries: Protect your time. If your business falls apart when you’re not there, you don’t have a business—you have a job.

Think of your business as a machine. If one part breaks because you’re not there to hold it together, the whole machine stops. Automations and systems are the grease that keep it running smoothly—whether you’re there or not.

Conclusion:

Growth doesn’t come from doing everything. It comes from doing the right things.

Here are three questions to ask yourself today:

1. What can I stop doing?

2. What can I delegate?

3. What’s the one thing I should focus on that will change everything?

Scaling isn’t about being the hero of your business. It’s about building a team, systems, and processes that make you unnecessary for the day-to-day.

Let go—and watch your business grow.

Your Turn

So, what’s the first thing you’re going to let go of?

What’s the one big thing only you can do?

American Tech Institute

We’re excited to announce that in early 2025, we’ll be offering training programs for people ready to take their careers to the next level. Accredited courses delivered through virtual reality.

The first program will focus on HVAC. This course is specifically designed to help you pass the EPA 608 test. The EPA 608 License is what you need to handle freon in the US.

More courses will be offered in Q1-Q2, including Electrical, Plumbing, and Appliance Repair.

Stay tuned—we can’t wait to share more soon!