As an entrepreneur, one of the most important lessons to learn is understanding your capacity to get things done. It takes practice, it takes patience, and it takes perseverance. Whether you’re in business as a solo entrepreneur, or in a partnership with more than one person – it is critical to take a non-biased view of your strengths and weaknesses (surprise! we all have them) and understand how to leverage them for the benefit of the business. Knowing what you’re great at and what you need help with will allow you to adequately take on the proper tasks when maintaining or growing your company or brand.
Capacity is defined as, “the maximum amount that something can contain or produce.” Plainly, one’s ability to be effective, meet commitments, or deliver complete tasks when agreed upon. I suffer from the “I can do it” bug and my wife often reminds me I’m human and not able to do everything or please everybody. Do a thorough evaluation of your time and understand the difference between capacity vs willingness (Hi Jewelle Daquin!). Taking too much on your plate can quickly cause confusion, the company to suffer from missed deadlines, and your reputation to be shot as someone who can’t or doesn’t deliver. Be honest; it is ok to say no, sometimes. A simple way to understand your capacity is to check your daily schedule or calendar before committing to something or someone. Understanding your 2-to-3 day window and being able to recall your schedule at a moment’s notice is critical in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
With open honesty about your ability to commit, you can avoid unnecessary arguments or miscommunication. Accordingly, if you’re asking someone to take on a task, consider the time of day, their dealings, their capacity to deliver, and their strengths and weaknesses before even asking.
