WAKEshine

It’s good to be clear on which things you do that nobody else can do.  Don’t overestimate it.  Don’t underestimate it.

Most of your resources should be applied to things only you can do.  When you spend hours working on a task that somebody else (internal or external) can do for fixed cost/time, you are like one of those proto-airplanes–you know, those old machines with a huge engine and fifteen wings, bouncing up and down trying to fly.

In one of my first programming jobs, my manager recommended purchasing a $250 software library that would help us connect dialup users.  I said "Spend $250?  I could write it myself in a week!"  It took me a while to realize that a week of my time would cost him more than $250, and that purchasing the package was a much more productive way of accomplishing the task anyway.

And don’t make the mistake (as I did) of judging worth in terms of coding hours.  There’s also testing, maintenance, and upgrades.  Purchasing the package gave us a complete solution that we could plug in and forget about.  I wasn’t the one who had to keep up with changing technologies…the company that provided the software did that.

If you find yourself spending lots of hours working on something that is not the goal of your company, and is the goal of some other company (or companies), take advantage of their dedication to that field.  Buy their product and focus all of your resources on your field.

Don’t underestimate the power of intense focus on what it is you do–on the areas where you shine.  That keeps getting reinvested and continues to grow.

Remember the cost of doing things "for free."  It’s taking time away from what you do best–where you add value.

"But what if I can’t afford it?"

Very good question.

Are you maximizing your whole range of resources?  Can somebody do it for you as a favor? Can you do a side job (in your specialty = continued growth and connections) to raise the money?  Can you take on an investor?

Otherwise, you are saying that the only resource you have available is time–and plenty of it.  This is not usually the case.  Don’t burn your most precious resource–apply it to your unique gift.