As an entrepreneur, you’ve likely been flooded with business advice from various sources or have done your own research along the way.
However, not all advice is worth following. I learned this the hard way.
There are many misconceptions about what it takes to succeed in business. One of the biggest is the idea that you have to work yourself to exhaustion and sacrifice everything else in your life to reach your goals. But in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. So let’s clear up these myths and guide you toward a better path to success.
1- You need to do everything yourself
When you’re just starting a business, handling everything on your own might seem logical, but it greatly limits your growth if you keep relying only on yourself. There are only so many hours in a day, and you can’t do it all.
It feels reassuring to do everything yourself because you’re in control of the outcomes. “If you want something done right, do it yourself,” as the saying goes. But this mindset often does more harm than good. By trusting others and being strategic with your work, you can accomplish much more.
Consider your everyday tasks, like processing orders, sending emails, or creating new listings. These tasks are necessary to keep your business running, but if you’re always focused on these low-impact activities, when will you have time to concentrate on the high-impact work that will really drive your business forward?
“I’ll do it when I get time… Once things calm down… I’ll get to it soon…” Sound familiar? I used to tell myself the same things.
But when you’re doing everything on your own, that “extra time” never magically appears. You just get more and more buried in the daily grind.
Focus on working on your business rather than in it.
Of course, you want your business to be the best it can be. That’s why many entrepreneurs hesitate to delegate tasks to others—they worry that no one else will do things exactly as they would.
But while some see this as a drawback, others view it as a chance to grow. Let’s face it, you might be an expert content writer, excellent at customer service, or a brilliant strategist, but it’s unlikely you excel at all three.
Instead of trying to master everything, find skilled people to fill the gaps. This takes self-awareness, but once you start delegating tasks that aren’t your strengths or the best use of your time, you’ll see better results across the board as each area of your business is handled by those best suited for it.
Remember, you’re the best person to lead your business—not to replace yourself. But the more tasks you can delegate, the more time you’ll have to focus on taking your business to the next level.
2- You Have Ultimate, Unlimited Freedom
One of the biggest reasons people start their own business is for the freedom that comes with being your own boss. Many of us have dreamed about the joy of not having anyone tell us what to do, and we’re eager to make that dream a reality.
But eventually, the freedom we craved at the start of our entrepreneurial journey can become overwhelming.
What we want to do each day and what we need to do to be productive often don’t align.
For instance, I’d love nothing more than to work from the comfort of my living room sofa, with the TV on in the background. But I know that if I did, I’d be lucky to get even 10% of my work done. I’d be too distracted, unable to get into “the zone.” I’d probably end up working late into the night, missing out on quality time with my family.
What begins as freedom and flexibility can quickly turn into a lack of structure, poor time management, and slipping standards.
Bring structure back into your routine.
To succeed and grow your business, you need solid structure and discipline.
You still have plenty of freedom—freedom to manage yourself and choose how and when you work. But self-awareness and honesty are crucial here. What helps you work at your best? When do you have the most energy? What are your biggest distractions?
Use this insight to create a routine that works for you, not against you. This way, you can ensure you’re giving your best to your business and making the most of every hour in the day.
3- Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth
We’ve all seen those inspiring stories about individuals who started their companies from scratch and turned them into massive successes all by themselves. It’s true—entrepreneurship often attracts those who crave independence, control, and responsibility over their professional lives.
This fierce independence has its perks. It sharpens your problem-solving and decision-making skills and fosters a strong sense of accountability. And if you’ve built a business on your own, no one can question your dedication.
However, there may come a point where you hit the limit of what you can achieve on your own. Many entrepreneurs believe that the responsibility to grow their business rests solely on their shoulders. For some, their business is like their baby, and the thought of entrusting it to others feels risky. But this is where independence can become a stumbling block.
Be open to sharing your vision.
To elevate your business, it’s crucial to recognize when you need help and take action.
Would eBay be the $35 billion company it is today if founder Pierre Omidyar had insisted on working alone? Or would IKEA have over 460 stores worldwide if Ingvar Kamprad had stuck to selling furniture door-to-door by himself? In most cases, the key to unlocking your business’s full potential lies in building a team that shares your passion.
Think about all the aspects of your business that need to function well for it to thrive—customer service, marketing, sales, content creation, shipping, quality control, and more. You can’t be everywhere at once, nor can you muster the time and energy to grow your business all on your own.
Instead, seek out people who are just as passionate about your business as you are. It might seem unlikely, but trust me, they’re out there. And when you find them, welcome them with open arms.
If you ever feel like you’re losing your independence or control, remind yourself of your core purpose. You will always be the key decision-maker, and the ultimate authority remains with you.
4- Hard Work Will Always Get You Ahead
From a young age, many of us have been taught that hard work is the key to success—“anything is possible if you work hard enough.” While this is a positive message and can be true in some cases, it often leads to unrealistic expectations about entrepreneurship.
We all want to succeed, so we brace ourselves for the hard work required to achieve it, which often means long hours.
A recent Gallup poll shows that 49% of self-employed workers put in over 44 hours a week, and 26% work more than 60 hours a week. If hard work (through long hours) guaranteed success, these business owners should be thriving, right?
Unfortunately, the statistics don’t support this. Only about one-third of businesses make it to their tenth year.
So, how can we improve our chances of success and get better results from our efforts?
Work smarter, not harder.
The phrase “work smarter, not harder” might sound cliché, but it’s crucial for your business.
The issue with working excessively long hours is that you eventually reach a point where the extra effort yields diminishing returns. I once worked over 100 hours a week, but my business wasn’t progressing. The toll on my mental and physical health, as well as my personal life, was significant. It wasn’t until I learned to value time and apply simple techniques to achieve more with less effort that things turned around.
Now, I work a maximum of 35 hours a week, am no longer stressed or burned out, and my business is a successful, multi-million dollar venture.
In my experience, long-term success comes not from the number of hours you work, but from the quality of the time you invest. It’s about making good decisions daily and having the time and energy to make them effectively.
Autosterea is committed to supporting dedicated entrepreneurs by connecting them with top virtual assistants. Book free 30 min discovery call with our expert team to begin, and we’ll match you with a dedicated professional who will help you stay organized.
Or why not give a skilled virtual assistant a try for free today?
Ready to take control of your time? Get in touch with us, and we’ll hook you up with a dedicated pro who’s ready to tackle those time-consuming tasks.
Book free 30 min discovery call with our expert team to begin, and we’ll match you with a dedicated professional who will help you stay organized.
Or why not give a skilled virtual assistant a try for free today?
