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Sticking with Priorities

In Michael Gerber's E-Myth Revisited, the author discusses the myth of Entrepreneurship, and why many who venture into opening their own business are not Entrepreneurs, but people who were really good at a task, thought they could do it better than the person they were working for, and so started their own business doing that task. A plumber becoming a contractor, a chef becoming a restaurateur, a CPA opening their own accounting firm. These people are still the tacticians, but not business people, and most of their businesses end up failing. An entrepreneur is a business person, and focuses on improving the business, not fixing the toilet. 

I see this in leadership positions as well, people who were really good at their craft get promoted in hopes of helping others who are really good at their craft. But being good at something, and leading others towards that thing, are very different skills. Look at professional sport coaches who were players of that sport themselves. Many played at a high level, but were not superstars. Many were role players at best, spent more time watching then playing, but learned and absorbed so much they are able to teach it. Often those who are the most gifted at a task have a hard time bringing it down to the level others need to improve. 

Also, life priorities need to be in alignment with decisions of leadership roles and responsibilities. The next step up the chain may seem exciting, and come with pay and benefit improvements, but at what cost. Saying yes to that new role means saying no to what? In that role are you going to be able to do the work that fulfills you? Will that new role take you away from your family more often? Will the time of the new role impact you ability to take care of yourself?

Knowing your priorities and purpose, knowing your passions and what brings you fulfillment is needed for making those tough decisions. It will lead you from setting yourself up for failure, or causing the health of your relationships and those around you to deteriorate. Are you best served as the doer, making your biggest impact there? Or do you have the skills and ability to step back from that role, and moving into that of the vision setter, supporter, and leader of the doers?

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