There’s a massive difference between owning a business and having the business own you.
It’s easy to get trapped in the day-to-day operations, especially when you’re passionate about what you do. But when you find yourself stuck in the grind—doing everything yourself—you’re not just running a business. The business is running you. It’s a cycle that’s hard to break but essential to escape if you want to grow.
Bill Perkins, hedge fund manager and poker player (yes, this Bill) gets it. He calls it the secret to building an empire: “I love to fire myself.” It’s not just a catchy phrase; it’s a mindset shift. He continues, “You want a pizza, Parlor? You can make pizza. You want to be Pizza Hut? You cannot be that person.”
Let’s break that down.
The Trap of the Entrepreneurial Grind
When you start a business, especially if it’s born from a passion or a skill you excel in, it’s tempting to do everything yourself. You think: “I can handle this. It’s quicker. It’s easier. I’m the only one who knows how to do it right.”
The problem is, you end up buried in tasks, wearing all the hats, and eventually, you can’t see the forest for the trees. You’re too close to the fire—literally. You’re managing, producing, answering emails, fixing problems, juggling numbers. You’re overwhelmed, and while you’re busy putting out fires, your growth stagnates.
This is where firing yourself comes in.
Firing Yourself to Create Space
Think about it like this: if you’re the one flipping pizza, you’re never going to open that second location. You can’t scale if you’re locked into the kitchen. If your business is dependent on your constant presence, your ability to expand is capped.
Firing yourself doesn’t mean stepping away from your business entirely. It means stepping away from the small tasks that keep you trapped and empower others to step into those roles. It’s about creating a system where the business can thrive without you micromanaging every aspect.
The Power of Delegation
One of the most challenging aspects of being a business owner is learning to delegate. But here’s the truth: to grow your empire, you have to trust others. Letting go of the need to control every decision allows you to free up time to focus on what truly matters—strategic vision, new opportunities, and leadership.
You can hire the right people, build a team that understands your vision, and empower them to make decisions. The more you fire yourself from those everyday tasks, the more time you have to innovate, to dream, and to grow.
It’s About Mindset: Stop Owning Your Business—Let It Own You
This mindset shift is crucial. It’s not just about stepping back from the day-to-day grind—it’s about realizing that your business is a machine that should run with or without you. And the only way to get there is to fire yourself from doing the things that keep you in the weeds.
It’s about creating systems that allow you to work on your business instead of in it.
How to Start Firing Yourself?
- Identify Your Key Roles: What parts of the business can you let go of? What tasks do you find yourself doing just because it’s easier than teaching someone else? Those are the first areas to delegate.
- Build the Right Team: Hire people who are aligned with your vision and can take on responsibilities that will allow you to focus on the bigger picture.
- Create Systems: The more structured your business is, the less dependent it will be on you. Build processes that allow for smooth operation without constant intervention.
- Take a Step Back: Look at the big picture and think long-term. What’s the future of your business? Are you working toward the freedom you imagined when you started?
The Empire Mindset
So, why does Bill “love to fire himself”? It’s because he understands that building an empire requires space—space for new ideas, for growth, and for a team that’s empowered to lead. You can’t do that if you’re caught up in the weeds. The sooner you step back from the oven, the sooner you can start opening more doors—and that’s how you build a true empire.
Salima
Just me thinking out loud over here