If “I don’t have time to train” is your go-to excuse… read this
- MJ Rosario-Malubay
- Jul 20
- 5 min read
Can you be honest with me for a minute? 🤔
When was the last time you closed your laptop or turned off your phone, and thought,
“Wow, I actually feel lighter than when I opened this thing”?
If that question made you pause or worse, laugh in that “haha… but also help 😭” kind of way, you’re exactly who I wrote this for.
Because here’s the brutal truth👇
A lot of founders aren’t running businesses. They’re running themselves ragged.
You’re juggling every Slack ping, every invoice, every half‑finished launch like some kind of entrepreneurial octopus, and wondering why scaling feels so hard. 😑
So let’s talk about it.
Let’s unpack the REAL reasons you’re still holding all the strings and why letting go feels like such a battle.
(And heeeyyy, while I’m serving you some tough love here, I’m also serving solutions. There’s always a way forward! 😉)
Ready? Let’s dive in. 👇
1️⃣ Fear of losing control
You’ve nurtured this business from Day 1.
You know every login, every client quirk, and exactly how the invoices should be filed—so the thought of someone else touching the backend? Feels… ITCHY 👀
Example 1:
Maybe you’ve drafted an email, hovered over “send to VA,” and then… just did it yourself because the idea of “what if they mess it up?” made your chest tight.
Example 2:
Or that time you tried to hand over calendar management, only to double‑check every meeting invite because you couldn’t not. 🤷♀️
💭 Why this happens: Your business feels like an extension of you.
2️⃣ “I can do it faster” syndrome
You could delegate it but it feels quicker to just do it yourself.
Until “quick” turns into 11PM and you’re still in ClickUp with a snack you didn’t even want. 🙃
Example 1:
You stay up late rebuilding a slide deck again because training your assistant feels like it would take too long.
Example 2:
Your VA offers to schedule your posts, but you think, “ugh, it’ll take me five minutes,” and suddenly it’s midnight and you’re still fiddling with hashtags. 😑
💭 Why this happens: You’re wired for momentum, and delegation can feel like a pause.
3️⃣ No time to train
You picture week-long SOP bootcamps, never-ending screen shares, and your inbox quietly exploding in the background.
Example 1:
You’ve caught yourself saying, “I’ll document this next month when things calm down.” Spoiler: next month never comes. 😅
Example 2:
A contractor asks, “Can you walk me through your workflow?” and you panic because… what workflow? It’s all in your head!
💭 Why this happens: You’re stuck in maintenance mode—everything feels urgent.
4️⃣ Sticker shock
Hiring feels like a cost, not an investment until you’re crying into your coffee thinking about how many hours you just lost to fixing a checkout link. 😭
Example 1:
You look at OBM rates, close the tab, and tell yourself you’ll revisit it after the next launch. Then the launch wipes you out.
Example 2:
You whisper, “I’ll just save money and do it myself,” while secretly wishing you could clone yourself.
💭 Why this happens: You’re used to equating value with doing, not delegating.
5️⃣ Past bad hires
One wrong fit in the past can leave scars.
That VA who ghosted? That contractor who dropped the ball mid‑project?
Now? Delegation feels like a game of emotional roulette. 🎲
Example 1:
You’ve interviewed someone and felt your stomach knot, remembering the last time someone disappeared with half your content. 💔
Example 2:
You’ve said, “It’s easier if I just handle it,” even though it’s not easier—it just feels safer.
💭 Why this happens: You were hiring reactively, not strategically.
6️⃣ Trust gaps
Your inner perfectionist whispers, “No one will care as much as you do.”
So you hold the reins tighter, even as your shoulders ache. 😮💨
Example 1:
You rewrite captions in your team drafts, not because they’re bad but because they’re not exactly how you’d say it.
Example 2:
You triple-check a task that was perfectly fine because trusting others still feels like a risk.
💭 Why this happens: You’ve tied high standards with doing it all yourself.
7️⃣ “I need to be bigger first”
You keep waiting for some magical revenue milestone before you bring in the help you already needed three quarters ago. 🤔
Example 1:
You’ve told yourself, “Once I hit X revenue, then I’ll hire,” but you’re already overwhelmed at your current level.
Example 2:
You imagine scaling systems later… but “later” has been your plan since 2022.
💭 Why this happens: You’re trying to earn both rest and support.
8️⃣ Decision fatigue
Choosing, vetting, onboarding; it’s just more decisions for a brain that’s already fried. 🍳🧠
Example 1:
You scroll OBM profiles, close the browser, and whisper, “Not today,” because you can’t make one more choice.
Example 2:
You’ve avoided hiring simply because the thought of posting a job description makes you want a nap.
💭 Why this happens: You’re already running at capacity. One more decision feels like too much.
9️⃣ Unclear vision
You’re busy, but when someone asks, "What do you need help with?" Crickets. 😅
So you hit pause… again.
Example 1:
You’ve stared at a blank doc trying to write out your “roles and responsibilities” list and ended up alphabetizing your spice rack instead.
Example 2:
You’ve said, “I’ll know what to delegate when I get clarity,” but clarity only comes when you start delegating.
💭 Why this happens: You haven’t had the space (or support) to step into visionary mode.
💔 Ouch. That was a lot, wasn’t it?
If you’re nodding (or laughing through the sting), know this:
I see you. I’ve been you, and you’re not broken—you’re just OVERLOADED.
These are not flaws. They’re signals.
Signals that your business is ready to outgrow this version of you that does it all.
🌱 Here’s the good news: There’s always a way forward. Sometimes it’s free:
✔️ Batch your processes.
✔️ Start small with delegation.
✔️ Create one SOP this month, not ten (this is NOT a race).
And sometimes, it’s time for paid support—bringing in someone like me, your friendly neighborhood OBM, to help you build the systems, lead your team, and give you back the headspace to actually lead. 🖐
👉 Ready to see what that could look like?
You can start with a one‑off strategy session to map your next moves or dive into ongoing OBM support if you’re craving a true right‑hand partner.
And hey—if a fellow CEO/founder popped into your mind while reading this, pass it along.
