How To Properly Exit the Cockpit
The art of leverage
If you don’t properly exit the cockpit, your plane will crash and burn.
We all want to harness the magic of leverage.
Stepping out of the operator role and allowing the machine to run itself.
But this is a privilege that is reserved only for those of us that know when, where, and how to give up control.
This is the framework that will help you seamlessly pass the reins.
When
Before you offload any tasks, you have to do them yourself.
There can’t be any portion of your business that you’re not familiar with.
When you prematurely pass responsibilities onto someone else, there are two major risks that enter the picture:
You expose yourself to being taken advantage of.
You delegate the wrong assignments.
Both of which can be detrimental.
You need to know how every lever, button, and switch functions within your machine.
Only after you’ve attained complete operational fluency in every aspect of your business, are you ready to step away from certain roles.
Where
The first items that should be taken off your plate are those that you dread the most.
It’s impossible to be great at anything you hate doing.
After you’ve worn every hat in your business, you’ll have clarity on what you enjoy, what moves the needle, and what you’re least equipped to handle.
Let someone else adopt any position in which you’re not the best player.
Removing these jerseys from your back allows you to focus on excelling in the areas that your business needs you most.
How
Once you’ve reached the point in which you’re ready to sub (substitute) in the star players, you have to be sure that you provide them with a playbook to follow.
The talent that you hire—no matter how skilled they are—will not rise to the height of your expectations or goals; they will fall to the level of your systems and training (Archilochus / James Clear).
After you’ve constructed a rock solid foundation, the blueprint to the remainder of the skyscraper must follow.
Without detailed protocols and directions, no will know what to do or where to go.
The business that runs on auto-pilot; the portfolio that manages itself; these are the luxuries that every entrepreneur and investor strives for.
Nearly all of our energy and efforts are allocated toward reaching the point in which we can take our foot off the gas, while still moving full speed ahead.
The misstep occurs when there’s a lack of preparation leading up to the passing of the baton.
This framework fixes that.
It will help you recognize the right moment, identify the exact areas, and understand the necessary systems, that must accompany your exit to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
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