Am I a lazy git or someone who's got it sussed?

[Steve Roberts]

Over the last five or six years I've built up my company by having a philosophy which has worked well for me. Specifically "I only employ people who are better than me". Equally, I have learned to delegate all the day-to-day stuff to about eight managers (who, remember, are better than me!)

As such, nowadays I'm really not that necessary in my business, in the sense that it doesn't make much difference whether I go to work or not. I generally do, because I enjoy encouraging people and focussing on the "direction" of the company. Anyway, I was chatting to a friend of mine about this tonight and he called me a "truly lazy git". Personally, I can't much see the point in owning a business and working 80 hours a week and ending up having a heart attack! To me, the whole point of being in business is to "liberate me" rather than "capture me".

[Astaroth]

It can work but becoming too remote from the business can cause problems if one (or more) of your managers ups and leaves or decides to enact their own agenda.

Working for a multinational in some ways is the same for our Exec. There is no way that they could do the 100% hands on management and so they have to delegate and realise that those who they deligate to will frequently deligate it further down the line.

There is a total style difference between out CEO and Chairman. The CEO realises she cant know everything about everything (though boy does she try to) but will really drill down into the detail on parts - half the time I am sure it is to ensure the detail exists rather than a need to do it. Our chairman on the other hand doesnt want to know anything more than if it is going to plan - occasionally he will ask a Q on a presentation but it is normally as it happens to be something he is interested in rather than because it is a key part of the presentation.

[KM-Tiger]

............... whether I go to work or not. I generally do, because I enjoy encouraging people and focussing on the "direction" of the company..............
Sounds to me that you are doing what you should be doing.

Congratulations if you got it to that!

[Faith28]

Steve, in my opinion you've got it sussed. Your business has become a product in its own right and should you want to sell it on then you can because it does not depend on you anymore and therefore is transferrable...should you wish to do so.

Well done...I look forward to the day I can say the same! :lol:

[fastfences]

You're onto it, Steve. The reason we employ people is to do the work that we want done when we can't do it. If we can get the job done better, then we've done brilliantly!!
Cheers, Nigel

[refreshious]

yeah, I think you've got it well and truly sussed you lazy git ;)

[clairemackaness]

Well done, a man after my own heart

[Steve Roberts]

Well done, a man after my own heart
Do you carry a donor card? ;)

[clairemackaness]

Very funny!

[MinuWeb]

Specifically "I only employ people who are better than me". Equally, I have learned to delegate all the day-to-day stuff to about eight managers (who, remember, are better than me!)

Richard Branson does exactly the same.

[SillyJokes]

It's certainly a situation that I aspire to.

At the moment it is a way off but only because that's the way I want it. I can certainly see it for the future. However, like yourself I still enjoy working in the company - what else would I do with my time?

[theMBA]

Steve,
Sounds sussed to me. Me - I'm worse than a wage-slave. I have a full-time job plus a busy family life and a business venture as well - I wonder where there's any psychological space in my life for ME!
I envy you, and aspire to being in your position.