The Trap of Doing It All: How This Mindset Limits Your Earning Potential

When you first start your business, every penny counts. You find yourself doing everything you can to maximize your earnings per hour while keeping financial outlays to a minimum. At this stage, it's common to take on tasks that are far below your pay grade. But since you don’t have to write the check for someone else to do them, it feels like the right choice.

As you gain experience, you move into what I like to call the "busy work" phase. You're working long hours, but when you break it down, you're not earning the per-hour rate you'd like. You know you should be charging more or focusing on higher-value tasks, but it's hard to break out of this cycle.

Eventually, you start to get pickier about the work you accept and the rate you charge. This evolution in your thinking can take months—or even years. Much of it depends on whether you're advancing in your business or falling into the 'E-Myth' trap, where you feel the need to control everything.

We’re seeing a similar conversation on LinkedIn right now about Founder Mode—a scenario where a business can only grow to the limits of its CEO because they refuse to let go of anything. Many of us fall into this trap because we believe that only we can care enough for our clients, that only we can deliver the level of service that keeps them coming back. The customer bought from YOU, so it’s YOUR reputation on the line, right?

But this mindset ensures that you either become a slave to an exhausting work week, trying to do all the things, or find yourself limited by your own capacity to control everything.

Many people hire someone they feel like they can trust, chuck it all into their laps and head on down the road, then wonder why it fails when the person hired doesn't get the job done the way they thought...

So, what’s the alternative?

Consider what happens when you build a relationship of trust with others—be it administrative support staff, account managers, or referral partners. I’ve learned to recognize my limits and surround myself with great people who support me. They often do better work on certain tasks than I do. By leveraging their strengths and creating opportunities for them, I’ve significantly increased both my earning capacity and the value I provide to my clients.

Remember, clients are paying you to solve problems, not to micro-manage resources. When you let go of the need to control everything, you open the door to greater opportunities, increased earnings, and a more sustainable work-life balance.

Tune in next week to continue this conversation, I believe HOW you build the relationship of trust is as vital as WHO you build the relationship with...