Stop Being “The One”

You don’t have to learn everything, do everything, be everywhere, control everyone!

When we are smart and we have done so much of the work building and maintaining our businesses already, it is often easier (at least in the short term) to just do it ourselves. What I am certain of is, it is not easy forever, and it does not support growth.

Here’s an example:

The business world is filling up with AI. AI, Generative AI, and now Agentic AI. Do we learn it? Do we implement it in our businesses? Do we even need it? I learned a long time ago, that I am capable of learning software, well enough to teach it to others. I had written hundreds of user manuals for different types of software. Then, when I started my business, I learned everything I could about all the software I could use in my business. I was able to do everything my self. But, what I couldn’t do was grow. I got to a point where I had no capacity to learn anything new, for me, nor take on any new work, for the business.

If you keep being “The One” in your business – the only one that can do that ‘certain something’ – you cannot grow, and you have not created something with longevity. Without longevity, you are less likely to have something of value to sell.

So, as my mom would say, “Stop It! Stop it Now!” No, really, stop being ‘The One’ and start building the value, so some day, you can make a different decision, and sell your valuable business.

P.S.

Agentic AI? – Google AI says this is an AI that “[has] the capacity to act independently, make decisions, and take initiative to reach a goal rather than just reacting to outside forces.” Maybe it can help me do more too, but I’ll get someone else to implement and manage it?

“This article is 100% original content – The articles you read in this newsletter are created by Barb Stuhlemmer, not by AI, even if it acts independently to reach goals.”