The most difficult aspect of being an entrepreneur is letting go, delegating tasks to others. The entrepreneur has nurtured the idea from inception, to concept, through the rigors of selling the idea to investors, struggling with build out, opening and finally moving the enterprise toward profitability. Each step is a learning process whether it’s the first location or the fifth. The struggle has given the entrepreneur a sense for the nuances of what works for the concept and what does not. This “sixth sense” can at times create an insular perspective, one that does not allow for creative thinking by others for the concept. This of course is a recipe for stagnation. Specialization of labor comes into play here. The concept is growing, flourishing, and developing. Handling all the tasks yourself has created stress because you are starting to spread yourself very thin. You are spending inordinate amounts of time on tasks that clearly are not providing the most benefit to the restaurant. You have reached the proverbial fork in the road. Now is the time to start delegating.
Delegating for most early stage entrepreneurs is very painful. I can categorically state that you will become much more comfortable with delegating as you go on and move to other entrepreneur projects, however you will not believe me. This is your baby, your dream, your restaurant and you are not letting go. Letting go involves Maslow’s hierarchy of needs because everyone needs to feel important and valuable. Entrepreneurs identify themselves with their projects because they put so much of themselves into it. Letting go creates feelings that you are no longer relevant. The restaurant does not need you any more, your expendable. What will you do with your time? Fear grips the entrepreneur because they are use to making a hundred decisions a day. If they let go no one will come to them and ask for their opinion. Their linear world becomes non-linear very quickly.
The only way to grow and grow you must is by the leap of the faith known as Letting Go!
