You don’t have to go it alone to prove you’re capable.
Entrepreneurs, especially those of us building businesses from experience, often become the person who can figure anything out. Website? Figure it out. Marketing? Figure it out. Bookkeeping? YouTube University.
But being capable doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. The goal isn’t to become better at carrying a heavier load.
The goal is to build a business where you don’t have to carry the whole damn thing.
The Problem: Trying to Run a One-Person Corporation
Many entrepreneurs wait too long to ask for help because they think they should already know how to do it. Or they don’t want to spend money on something they “could” do themselves. Often, they worry that asking for help makes them look inexperienced. This makes it hard to let go of control. (Control freak, party of one, control freak party of one!) What’s worse is that they don’t know what kind of help they actually need.
And finally,keep telling themselves, “I’ll get help when I can afford it.”
The end result is that they’re overwhelmed, stuck, procrastinating, making avoidable mistakes, and spending hours doing things that aren’t actually the best use of their time.
Just a Thought: That’s not independence. That’s an expensive bottleneck.
The Solution: Releasing the Control Freak Mentality
Instead of asking:
“Can I do this myself?”
Start asking:
“Is this the best use of my time, energy, expertise, and money?”
That’s the entrepreneurial shift.
There are actually several different kinds of help we can seek:
1. Expertise
You need someone who knows something you don’t. And that’s OK. You don’t know everything; hire someone who can do the job for you.
Example: A CPA, attorney, designer, SEO specialist, or marketing strategist.
2. Capacity
You know how to do it, but you don’t have the time. Then it’s the right time to hand off the remedial task to someone who does.
Example: Admin work, scheduling, content repurposing, customer service.
3. Perspective
You’re too close to the problem to see the solution. Just think of the forest-and-trees scenario. You’re too close to the problem to see the problem.
I’ll use myself as an example. Last year, I was stuck in a mental rut and needed a different perspective in running my business, so I looked into getting a business coach. And it was a game-changer, not only for my business but also for my life. She taught me to eliminate steps that took too much time and to refocus on my purpose.
Pro Tip: Hire a coach or consultant. Talk to a mentor, mastermind, or trusted peer.
4. Accountability
You know what needs to happen but keep pushing it down the list. Sometimes you don’t need more information. You need somebody asking, “So…did you do the thing?”
5. Emotional Support
Entrepreneurship can be isolating. Having people who understand the journey matters, not just for business, but for staying grounded while you’re building it.
The “Ask for Help” Test
Before you spend another six hours trying to figure something out, ask:
Do I know how to do this? If no → Get expertise.
Do I have time to do this? If no → Get capacity.
Am I too close to the problem? If yes → Get perspective.
Have I been avoiding this for weeks? If yes → Get accountability.
Is this draining me more than it’s benefiting me? If yes → Get support.
Final Thoughts
Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. Honestly, being strong enough to reach for help is the biggest flex an entrepreneur can do. Because sometimes asking is the first step toward solving.
