The Costly Mistake Most Solopreneurs Make Without Realising It
Discover what it is and how to avoid it for exponential business growth
“I’ll do it myself.”
If you’re a solopreneur, you’ve probably said or thought this more times than you can count. It’s natural to want to take charge and handle every aspect of your business—after all, your success depends on you, right? But what if this mindset is actually holding you back?
It might feel empowering to be the one at the helm of every task, from bookkeeping to marketing to customer service.
However, this all-hands-on-deck approach can quickly become a double-edged sword, draining your time and energy while causing you to miss out on critical opportunities for growth.
We’ll explore the hidden costs of trying to do everything yourself and reveal how successful solopreneurs can sidestep this pitfall by mastering the art of delegating to AI and automation.
The Allure of Doing It All
When you’re just starting out as a solopreneur, doing everything yourself might seem like the most practical option. Maybe you’re trying to save money, or perhaps you believe no one else can do the job as well as you can. These are valid concerns, but they can also lead you down a path that hinders your growth.
Let’s break down why this “do-it-all” mentality is so tempting:
Cost-saving: When funds are tight, hiring help might seem like a luxury you can’t afford.
Control: There’s a certain level of comfort in knowing you have a hand in every aspect of your business.
Pride: It’s your business, your baby—you want to be the one shaping it.
While these reasons make sense on the surface, they often ignore the bigger picture. The reality is, doing everything yourself can actually be more costly in the long run.
The Hidden Costs of Doing It All
Time Drain
Time is your most valuable asset as a solopreneur. Every minute you spend on tasks that don’t directly drive your business forward is a minute lost.
When you’re bogged down with administrative work, social media management, or other time-consuming tasks, you’re not focusing on the big-picture strategies that could propel your business to the next level.
Could you be creating new products, building relationships, or strategizing for growth instead of updating your website or handling customer inquiries?
If the answer is yes, then it’s time to reconsider how you’re spending your hours.
Energy Depletion
Your energy is finite.
By spreading yourself too thin, you risk burning out.
When you’re trying to juggle too many tasks, the quality of your work can suffer. Not only does this affect your business’s output, but it also takes a toll on your mental and physical well-being.
Ask yourself:
Are you feeling more stressed than inspired? If the tasks you’re handling are draining rather than energising you, it’s a sign that something needs to change.
Missed Opportunities
Perhaps the most significant cost of trying to do it all is the opportunities you miss out on.
When your time and energy are spent on low-impact tasks, you’re not able to seize high-impact opportunities—like networking, seeking collaborations, or innovating in your field.
Successful solopreneurs would’ve mastered the art of focusing on what truly matters and letting go of the rest.
By doing so, they’ve positioned themselves for greater success and faster growth.
The Power of Delegation to AI and Automation
So, how do successful solopreneurs avoid the pitfalls of the “I’ll do it myself” mentality?
They delegate!
Specifically, to AI and automation.
Delegation isn’t about shirking responsibilities; it’s about being strategic with your time and energy, and today, technology can do more than just lighten your load.
It can transform your business.
Let’s explore how you can start leveraging AI and automation effectively.
Identify High-Impact Tasks
Begin by determining which tasks have the most significant impact on your business’s growth. These are the tasks you should focus on personally.
They might include strategic planning, content creation, or client relationships—anything that directly contributes to your business’s core objectives.
However, consider what tasks AI or automation could handle more efficiently. For example, AI can analyse data trends faster than you ever could, freeing up time for strategic decisions.
Automate Repetitive Tasks
Repetitive tasks are the bread and butter of automation. Think about tasks that eat up your time but don’t necessarily require your unique expertise.
Automation tools can handle things like:
Email marketing: Tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit can automate your email sequences, freeing you from manual sends.
Social media scheduling: Platforms like Typefully or Hootsuite allow you to schedule posts in advance, so you’re not tied to your social media accounts all day.
Invoicing and accounting: Tools like QuickBooks or FreshBooks can automate invoicing, expense tracking, and even some aspects of tax preparation.
By automating these tasks, you can reclaim precious hours in your day.
Leverage AI for Enhanced Productivity
AI tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can handle more complex tasks, like content creation, customer support, and data analysis.
Here are a few ways you can leverage AI:
Content generation: Tools like ChatGPT, Jasper (formerly Jarvis) or Copy.ai can help you draft content quickly, from blog posts to social media captions.
Customer support: AI-driven chatbots can handle basic customer inquiries 24/7, ensuring your clients receive timely responses without you needing to be online.
Data analysis: AI can process and analyse data faster than any human, providing you with actionable insights that can guide your business strategy.
Ensure Seamless Integration
When implementing AI and automation tools, it’s crucial to ensure they integrate seamlessly with your existing systems.
Many automation tools offer integrations with popular platforms, so make sure everything works together to avoid creating more work for yourself.
For instance, connecting your CRM with your email marketing software can automate customer follow-ups and lead nurturing, creating a smoother workflow.
Monitor and Adjust
Automation and AI aren’t a set-it-and-forget-it solution.
Regularly monitor their performance and adjust settings as needed to ensure they’re meeting your business needs.
This might involve tweaking your email sequences, updating chatbot responses, or adjusting your social media posting schedule based on engagement data.
Free Up Time for Strategic Growth
Ultimately, the goal of delegating to AI and automation is to free up your time so you can focus on high-impact activities that drive growth.
Whether it’s innovating, expanding your network, or refining your business strategy, the time you save by automating routine tasks can be reinvested in the areas that matter most.
Embracing a Tech-Driven Growth Mindset
Delegation to AI and automation isn’t just a tactic—it’s a mindset shift. It requires you to trust technology, let go of control over certain aspects of your business, and invest in long-term growth over short-term tasks.
Look at it this way: the cost of not automating could be the very thing that’s keeping your business from reaching its full potential.
By embracing AI and automation, you open the door to new opportunities and allow yourself the freedom to innovate, strategise, and grow.
Final Thoughts
The “I’ll do it myself” mentality is common among solopreneurs, but it’s also one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. The cost isn’t just in time or energy—it’s in the opportunities you miss by spreading yourself too thin.
You need to focus on high-impact tasks and delegate the rest to AI and automation.
By following their lead and asking yourself the right questions, you can start to identify the tasks you should automate, freeing up time and energy to take your business to the next level.
Growth doesn’t come from doing it all yourself, it comes from doing what matters most.
So, what tasks will you automate today?
Also check out some of the Mega AI Prompts available at Solopreneur Code.
I always delegate. If someone is very good at something, whatever it is, he will be in charge.
- Johan Cruyff
Interesting Substacks I Read This Week:
How I Make $500 a Day Selling Ebooks Online and How You Can Too by
Viral Note Template #2 (This Note Got 209 Likes) by
The Ultimate Guide to Pricing Psychology by
Overview: Substack Notes Boost Networking Events by
What Is A Minimalist Side Hustle by
And I love this Note by
:Entertain with your personality
Educate with your advice
Inspire with your stories
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Anfernee
One more point is to partner with others so that you can build together and go further.
Great tips.
Thanks for sharing my post ☺️
I'm one that can't delegate anything, I like to control things way too much 🫣