Even Founders Drop the Ball Sometimes
Welcome to our Friday Founder series—real talk from inside We Lead Out. Every week, we share what’s working, what’s not, and the lessons we wish someone had told us earlier.
The Assumption: Founders Always Deliver
You’ll hear it everywhere: founders are supposed to be relentless. Miss a deadline? Not an option. Drop the ball? Never. Truth is, even the best systems can’t immunise you from real life.
Getting Sidelined and What Slipped
The last few weeks, I got floored by several stubborn winter bugs. Most of our business runs on rails now: our client delivery, our back office, even the way we onboard new projects. But marketing? That’s still a work in progress. I’d set a goal to post every week, share our learnings, keep the engine warm. The reality? The blog post didn’t go out on Thursday. The LinkedIn draft sat, untouched, for days. That’s the gap: automation will save you from most emergencies, but not all of them.
What Worked: Real Delegation, Not Just Systems
Here’s where it gets better. Because Clancy and I have worked hard to set up true co-ownership (not just on paper), he just picked up the reins. Workshops went ahead, clients were looked after, and deals moved. Our ops model did the rest. I was able to actually stop. Not just power through and make things worse.
The Un-remarkable: The Business Kept Moving
I wish I could say it was a crisis. Honestly? Nobody noticed except me. The “missed” blog post didn’t crash anything. Clients were fine. Our engine of proposals, delivery, and follow-ups kept humming. Proof that all those hours automating and documenting actually pay off.
The Bit That Stung: Dropping the Content Ball
What actually surprised me is how much it bugged me to miss our marketing rhythm. As a founder, you’re always fighting for visibility and momentum. Missing a beat, even for a good reason, feels like breaking a promise, even if only to yourself. That’s the new lesson: automation is your friend, but you still need backup plans for the human stuff.
Takeaway: Automate the Boring, Trust Your People for the Rest
So here’s my advice: automate everything you can, especially the admin and delivery stuff. But when it comes to the parts that need a human voice, like content and relationships, build in backup, not just workflow. And don’t beat yourself up when you miss a step. Progress, not perfection.
Final Thought
Have you built a business where you can actually step away? What have you automated, or wish you could? Any tips for not letting marketing fall through the cracks? DM or comment, I’d love to swap ideas (and maybe share some of our shortcuts).
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