In a perfect business world, the small business, and the small business owner, would do nothing but sell. The small business wouldn’t manufacture anything, wouldn’t send bills, wouldn’t fill out forms, wouldhn’t read and sign leases or contracts, wouldn’t do any administration. The small business owner wouldn’t do any such business chores because they don’t add value. Such chores consume money and time.
The perfect world is unrealistic. The perfect world is problably an impossiblity. But managing your business to get to the perfect world is a good guideline. The small business owner should only do those core activities that get and keep customers; do only those activities that give the customers what they want, when they want it.
Consequently, you must keep your busines lean and simple. Any necessary activity that you, the owner, can’t do well must be done by someone else. Any function not core to your business must be done by someone else. Hiring others to do things is how you increase your span of work, how you get leverage. Your leverage levers include delegation, outsourcing, consultants, outside experts, temp workers, interns and retired grandparents.
As much as possible, as much as affordable, use the leverage levers.
Leverage yourself and your business to grow and to succeed.
