A Lonely Place

Many of us strive to develop a reputation as “The Expert” in our field.

Nothing wrong with that; it’s a proven strategy for building a successful business.

There’s really only one drawback to this approach: you can’t scale the expert.

This means that if you ever decide to have people work for your company doing the same thing that you do, you’re going to have some clients that aren’t going to be happy. After all, they do business with your company because they want the expert (you) on the jobsite, and someone else isn’t going to be you.

If you are lucky enough to find an employee that could pass as you, doing things the way you do them and putting on a show in the same way that you do, odds are that they’re not going to be your employee for long.

Often, being the best means coming to grips with the fact that it’s a lonely place to be.

To be a champion, compete; to be a great champion, compete with the best; but to be the greatest champion, compete with yourself.

Matshona Dhliwayo

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