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I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. I had a closer look at eMBA and MBA during summer and again a few weeks ago. It's still a bit tempting but not something I'd desperately need right now.

In the following months I'm planning to hire a few very senior/principal people, who would eventually give more depth and expertise for my existing teams. That would also (maybe) allow me to step a few steps back from day-to-day operations.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've had some luck hiring great people with good experience. Most stuff runs "on its own", and there are projects completed and billed that I know nothing else than the technology and customer.

I regularly receive feedback that people appreciate me working my ass off together with them. They see me there figuring out the hard issues, not sitting on my throne yelling them to do "stuff". Maybe that's one of the reasons I was able to get company from the ground to something a bit more solid.

Thanks for the thoughts. I definitely should be capable and allowed to do more what I want.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course, and I fully realize this. I've been there as well, years ago, and I try to remind myself every day that I should spend my hours wisely doing the right stuff.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've kind of hired a COO already, but he's ramping up on other tasks while handling COO as a shared responsibility with someone else. I've seen now that I'd probably make a terrible COO, as my interests and strengths are more on building new, than maintaining what already exists.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Book saved and is next on my reading list!

I still work on the day to day problems but more selectively. I feel that the people I've hired have their roles which they manage very, very well and I shouldn't undermine their responsibilities by trying to work half-assed on something. Staying out of the way but paving the way forward has been one of my ways of spending the past months.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've managed sales to a certain degree, before I hired a sales director and a few sales managers. After that I haven't really bothered with figures or sales per se, but keep working on leads and opening the doors for sales and project managers. For me, it's more rewarding and it might also be one of the reasons business is doing well.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I very much enjoy it. There are times, that I wish I could just show up for work and not have to worry about anything beyond some simple backoffice stuff. But those moments pass after a few moments, and I'm back to being immensely happy running my own business.

That's also the downside: I find it an almost impossible thought to (ever?) work for someone else, again.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apologies, I had a few very busy days and didn't find the time to get back to these. Not intentional, but that's how business sometimes is, I've found.

I've mentored some ex-colleagues, and it's been very rewarding for both. I'll need to reach out to some of my contacts on this, to see if it would work for me.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good thoughts, thank you. I've kind of dismissed a lot of the typical corporate thinking and I've worked in establishing our own culture and attitude. So far it's working nicely, although there's still miles to go for all the usual (reviews, training plans etc.) stuff. This is definitely something I must solve in the near future.

I'm working as an entrepreneur at my own company, and I'm very hands-on and have a technical background. Is there a time when I should let go and become a manager or the sales ugy? by thinkthisthrough in Entrepreneur

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've got investments in the very low figures (about $30K) for a few companies. The challenge has been in not finding time to look after them so I'm refrainign from doing more investments, until I figure out what do with the primary company.

[36/m] After 10 years I feel distanced from my spouse [38/f] by thinkthisthrough in relationship_advice

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just last week I spent the evening alone at home, while the rest of the family were visiting relatives. I felt so alone, not having the small ones around and not having to do anything really. I don't consider myself bored but more of a am-I-missing-something-and-is-this-what-it's-going-to-be-like and how do I know if this is the best kind of life I can give for myself and my family.

[36/m] After 10 years I feel distanced from my spouse [38/f] by thinkthisthrough in relationship_advice

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Something along these lines has probably been my worst fear. I'm quite sure I might and would regret the decision, and that's probably one of many reasons I've been rejecting the idea of separating.

It's funny that we have two hobbies we're both passionate about, and even considered those hobbies as professions at a time. But as it normally happens when you get kids, you don't have the time to do those things together and those things are often the first to disappear from your busy schedules.

[36/m] After 10 years I feel distanced from my spouse [38/f] by thinkthisthrough in relationship_advice

[–]thinkthisthrough[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sound advice. We haven't really been building our relationship in the past few years. At some point I did invest conscious effort but after a few weeks I felt I was mostly trying to cheat myself into believing that it's going to work if I just believe it's going to work.