“No one can do it like I can.”
If you’ve ever thought this, or said it out loud, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common beliefs among high-achieving entrepreneurs. And it’s also one of the most dangerous.
Because even if it’s true, it doesn’t matter.
The 80% Approach
Dan Sullivan, co-founder of Strategic Coach, has a simple framework that’s transformed how I think about delegation:
If someone can do a task at least 80% as well as you can, delegate it.
Not perfectly. Not exactly the way you would. Just 80%.
Why? Because your genius (the work that only you can do, the work that gives you energy) is too valuable to spend on tasks that others can handle.
The Hidden Cost of Doing It All
For many years, I did everything rather than delegate. I was afraid others wouldn’t get things done the way I did them or do them as well.
But no one can sustain growth without help. Every hour I spent on something in my frustration zone was an hour stolen from my genius zone.
The result? Burnout. Resentment. And a business that was limited by what one person could carry.
The Greatness Trap
This is one of the Greatness Traps I talk about in Goodness over Greatness: “No One Can Do It Like I Can.”
It looks like high standards. It feels like dedication — but it robs others of ownership and burns you out in the process.
The Challenge
What’s one task you’re holding onto that someone else could do at least 80% as well?
What would happen if you let it go this week?
The answer might be the first step toward working in your strengths, and building a team that thrives without depending on your involvement in everything.
