I came across this article on bcentral as of late and have to say that this fits most of us perfectly, or i know it does me.

http://www.bcentral.com/articles/krotz/128.asp?cobrand=msn

I myself have trouble often letting go of the reigns and delegating responsibilitys to others within our company. While a couple of years ago i would have thought this as a pleasant trait, i realize today that, it is in fact not. Unfortunately, us as owners NOT managers, it is fairly hard turning over our blood sweat and tears to somebody whos ideas and workstyle are uniquly different from our own.

Id appreciate any feedback from any business owners out there what their feelings on this article were and whether they too suffer from this problem.

To be honest, i read the article and was initially a little freaked out. It basically profiles me almost to a 'T'. While my company is not huge, i do find that i fall victim to the following specifically:

1) "Entrepreneurs like to micro-manage everything"
2) "Entrepreneurs are typically risk-takers," says ArLyne Diamond, a psychologist and management consultant in Santa Clara, Calif. "In the rush to get it done, they don't have the patience to manage people."
3) "They prefer to do everything themselves."

There are many oter points, but right off the bat, i felt like those were right on! Keeping this in mind, however, i do understand the importance of the next quote:

"But as a business grows, most entrepreneurs must stop doing what they love, hire others to do it and then oversee results. Once the money, technology and deal are in place, the job becomes coordination and improvement, Oviatt says. Those are very different skills."

Letting go is essential. Hiring others to 'do it better then we can' is so important! What always seems to bring this home is something i heard once: "Aces in Places"

At any rate.... At least of we are conscience of these issues, it can only help! Thanks for bring this article to our attention. It is actually quite thought provoking :)

IMHO two of the main thoughts as an owner should be:
[list=1]
What are my best skills?
Am I able to develop some of the skills mentionted in the article?
[/list=1]

If you fail for no 2, hire people to do it for you and stick with the things you are best at.

Good article! To explore the ideas a bit further, try

The E-Myth Revisted, or

How to Make Your Business Run Without You : Streamline Your Business Operations to Pave the Way for More Business, Bigger Profits, ...

both available at Amazon.

Brandon

I resemble that article.

That article is me all around. If and when the day comes where I expand (hopefully sooner than later) I'll have to learn to trust someone else with my same philosophy on how the business should be run.

I guess that I have an advantage there, starting as a partnership. :)

Actually, I feel micromanaged sometimes. :(