Isaiah O’Connor

a 12 minute read

As mentioned in my "Re-Boot" post, I attempted to tackle too much simultaneously, leading to an overload that forced me to prioritize. Unfortunately, content creation became a casualty of my ambition. It could have been worse; I've witnessed individuals losing their health and families due to unchecked ambition, a fate I'm determined to avoid.

Entrepreneurial Tendency

Based on personal observation rather than hard data, I've noticed that individuals with an entrepreneurial inclination often exhibit this tendency. The desire to pursue numerous ideas simultaneously is in our nature. While this trait is not inherently negative – as generating ideas and thinking on your feet are crucial – there's a potential pitfall of becoming overly enthusiastic and taking on too much.

The metaphor "biting off more than you can chew" vividly illustrates this situation. It conjures an image of taking a massive mouthful of food out of hunger and the appeal of the taste. However, this approach is counterproductive; attempting to handle too much at once impedes your ability to chew, swallow, and derive nourishment. It increases the risk of choking, and this can be detrimental, even lethal.

Critical mistakes

How did I find myself in such a precarious situation? One significant oversight I made was neglecting to fully comprehend the multitude of roles I juggled as a business owner, content creator, husband, and father – a glaring work-life balance issue. Rather than neglecting the essentials, my miscalculation lay in underestimating the total workload associated with running my business.

I failed to fully grasp the workload associated with tasks such as accounting, marketing, sales, taxes, and hiring, which are integral to the smooth operation of my business. Amidst these crucial responsibilities, I added tasks like video editing, audio editing, and text editing. Concurrently, I aspired to be a present and supportive dad and husband, dedicating quality time to my family. To boost my income, I also took on additional freelance jobs.

Another critical mistake I made was succumbing to panic. The pandemic drastically slashed a substantial portion of my income, coupled with my wife going on sick leave, amplifying our financial strain. Faced with an urgent need for additional income, I reacted like a starving man presented with a large meal – I attempted to consume as much and as fast as possible. In other words, I endeavored to tackle everything simultaneously to compensate for the loss, and in doing so, I metaphorically choked.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit, A Blessing and a Curse

Certainly, possessing an entrepreneurial spirit can be both a blessing and a curse. On the positive side, an entrepreneurial spirit often brings creativity, innovation, and a drive to explore new possibilities. It's this very spirit that fuels the constant desire to improve and expand, providing a foundation for significant growth and success in the long run.

However, on the downside, this same entrepreneurial energy led me to consistently make the mistake of attempting to introduce new ideas to enhance my business without solidifying one section at a time. This pattern persisted not only in my current venture but also in my previous balloon business. The panic I experienced during the pandemic exacerbated this tendency, leading to challenges in managing the various aspects of my business effectively.

Temptation of Rapid Growth

Naturally, the primary goal as an entrepreneur is to establish robust systems and assemble a supportive team to alleviate some of the workload. However, the temptation often lies in the desire to grow and expand rapidly, a pursuit that can stretch your financial, emotional, and energy resources to the breaking point.

While the instinct to accelerate growth is understandable, it's crucial to strike a balance. Building a solid foundation with efficient systems and a reliable support team is a strategic approach that can sustain long-term success. Rushing the expansion process may lead to overextension and compromise the overall health of the business. Ultimately, finding the right pace for growth ensures that both the entrepreneur and the business can thrive sustainably.

Solution: Take Smaller Bites

So, what's the solution? Well, that's the easy part: take smaller bites as you work. Focus on mastering one thing at a time. If you want to start a blog, that's great. Get proficient at writing and posting on a schedule. Maybe you can also include an audio podcast. I believe you can easily manage both without it becoming overwhelming. However, before you venture into adding video on multiple platforms, that's another significant leap forward. From my experience, it's a step you probably shouldn't take unless you have a lot of spare time or financial success. That way, you can begin building a team around you, including an editor and accountant, so you're not trying to take on everything at once.

As Bruce Lee once said:

While an immensely powerful concept, it proves challenging for entrepreneurs, particularly those bootstrapping. The crux of the issue lies in the necessity, especially in the initial stages, to wear multiple hats in the business—handling accounting, marketing, hiring, and more. With this juggling act, one becomes accustomed to managing several tasks simultaneously. The temptation arises: why not add a few more? It's an alluring prospect, especially when thinking, as I once did, "If only I can take on one more thing, perhaps I'll finally secure the funds to start hiring help." However, this approach doesn't pan out. If you lack the resources to ease the load at present, adding more to it only amplifies stress. Overloading any capacity, be it mental or physical, tends to lead to a breaking point.

Navigating the Challenge

How do you navigate through this challenge? If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stretched too thin, take a moment to pause. Breathe and assess your current situation. If uncertainty persists, seek guidance from a friend, mentor, or within a business group. Sometimes an external perspective can provide valuable insights. Consider whether there are aspects of your workload that are not contributing positively, perhaps even acting as a drain on resources—both in terms of money and the time and mental energy required to manage them.

As a friendly reminder, at the time of writing this, I have established a private Discord server and a Facebook group where you can connect with me and other like-minded individuals for support. While access to the Discord server comes with a nominal fee of $5 per month, the first week is free, allowing you to seek assistance without financial constraints.

Comprehensive Evaluation

When conducting your evaluation, jot down the details. Examine your written business plan, if you have one, and articulate your business model. This not only provides clarity on your current situation but also facilitates seeking input from others. Extend this practice beyond your business to encompass your life outside of it. It's crucial to scrutinize the entire landscape. For instance, my wife and I observed a challenge—exhausted kids causing us to become exhausted parents. We traced it back to an excess of extracurricular activities for our kids, leading us to reevaluate and cut back on commitments. This example illustrates that the issue may not be confined to your business alone.

Once you've obtained an overview, examine every aspect of your commitments and initiate the process of reducing the load. The primary methods for achieving this are cutting out certain tasks and seeking assistance from others. It's advisable to commence by strategically cutting things out rather than haphazardly. Without a plan, cutting the wrong elements can lead to complications.

Optimization

Consider my experience with my late grandma's computer nearly 30 years ago. Loaded with bloatware and unnecessary applications, I removed them to enhance performance. However, when she attempted a similar process, deleting vital system files, the computer malfunctioned, necessitating repairs.

This cautionary tale applies to business—trim the excess but safeguard the essentials. In the context of my content creation model, I've recognized the potential for incorporating some video content, such as interviews and live streams, but not weekly. It would be overwhelming for me consistently, so it will complement my content creation rather than dominate it.

Another strategic move is hiring help. Evaluate your budget to identify areas where spending can alleviate the load. While my content creation budget is limited, I foresee hiring an audio tech to handle podcast editing and posting, allowing me to focus on recording and other tasks. The same principle applies to other areas such as accounting, marketing, and sales. 

Integrating Modern Tech

In our modern age, automation, and AI present valuable options to alleviate stress. I'll delve into this topic in a future post. Leveraging these modern tools can significantly reduce the burden. Take this blog, for instance. I start with a rough draft, then utilize AI to refine it—cleaning up grammar, and spelling, and enhancing readability. While reviewing the draft, I make adjustments. Employing AI not only allows me to present a well-polished product but also saves me hours. This combination of delegation and modern tools exemplifies a strategic approach to managing the workload effectively. Just remember AI is just a tool and can struggle sometimes, it took me several revisions on this post running through AI, as it kept changing things I did not want to change and making some rather odd suggestions. 

Closing Thoughts

In closing, my entrepreneurial journey has shown me the risks of taking on too much at once. The challenges, especially during the pandemic, made it clear that trying to manage everything simultaneously can lead to stress and burnout. The key takeaway is to focus on one task at a time, seek help strategically, and establish a balance for sustainable success.

Remember if you need some help and you feel overwhelmed, you can join our private discord server through Patreon for free for 7 days, and it is only $5/month after that!

Your Friendly Neighborhood Entrepreneur
Isaiah O’Connor.

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Until next time, I have been,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Entrepreneur,
Isaiah O’Connor