The 3-Step System That Saved Me From Doing $15/Hour Work as a $500/Hour Executive
I was doing quotes and answering phones in my own business while my company slowly died.
Here's the exact 3-step system I wish I'd used to break free from the trust trap (and how you can implement it starting today).
The $500/Hour Problem
After getting burned by employees, I made a costly decision: I'll just do everything myself.
Result? I spent years doing $15/hour administrative work while my business declined because I wasn't doing the $500/hour strategic work only I could do.
Sound familiar?
The 3-Step Delegation Recovery System
After selling my business and getting back into coaching, I developed this system for business owners trapped in the same cycle:
STEP 1: The 80/20 Task Audit (Do This Today)
List everything you did yesterday. Next to each task, write:
- H (High-value: Only you can do this)
- M (Medium-value: Others could do this with training)
- L (Low-value: Anyone could do this)
Goal: You should be doing 80% H tasks, 20% M tasks, 0% L tasks.
Most trapped business owners are doing 20% H, 30% M, 50% L.
STEP 2: The Trust Rebuild Framework (Week 1-2)
Don't delegate everything at once. Use this progression:
Week 1: Delegate one L task with a detailed checklist
Week 2: Add one more L task, create a simple reporting system
Week 3: Delegate first M task with training and oversight
Week 4: Evaluate and expand based on results
STEP 3: The Control Without Micromanaging System
Create these three things for each delegated task:
1. Process Document: Step-by-step instructions
2. Quality Checklist: What "done right" looks like
3. Reporting Schedule: When and how you get updates
This gives you control without hovering over people.
Real Example: How This Worked
Client Sarah (design firm owner) was doing her own scheduling and billing - about 15 hours/week of $20/hour work.
Using this system:
- Week 1: Delegated appointment scheduling with detailed scripts
- Week 2: Added billing processing with quality checklist
- Week 3: Trained assistant on client follow-up procedures
- Week 4: Sarah gained 15 hours/week for actual architecture work
Result: 30% revenue increase in 90 days because she was finally doing design-level work.
The Psychology Behind Why This Works
The reason most delegation fails isn't because people are incompetent - it's because we don't give them the tools to succeed.
When you provide:
- Clear processes (they know what to do)
- Quality standards (they know what success looks like)
- Regular check-ins (they feel supported, you feel informed)
People actually want to do good work. They just need the framework.
Your 24-Hour Challenge
Do the 80/20 Task Audit today. I guarantee you'll discover you're doing at least 3-5 tasks that someone else could handle.
Pick the easiest one and delegate it this week using the framework above.
The Bigger Picture
This isn't just about delegation - it's about remembering why you started your business in the first place.
You didn't become an entrepreneur to answer phones and do data entry. You started your business to create value that only you can create.
Every hour you spend on low-value tasks is an hour stolen from your real purpose.
If you're ready to break free from the trust trap and get back to doing CEO-level work, I've created the Navigator Launchpad specifically for this challenge. It will help you to figure out what you are doing and provide coaching to get you back on track.
We launch September 16th - first 25 people get access for $97. Sign up for the Limited Founders Group today! http://NavigatorLaunchPad.com
But start with the 80/20 audit today. Your business needs you to be the CEO, not the entire staff.
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What's one task you're doing that someone else could handle? Share it in the comments - let's help each other identify our delegation opportunities.
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