# The Key Skill Every Entrepreneur Must Master for Startup Growth
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Chapter 1: Understanding Entrepreneurial Skills
Entrepreneurs juggle a multitude of responsibilities, but only one skill stands out as essential for scaling their ventures.
I was in a discussion with a group of aspiring founders when one of them raised a question: "What skills do entrepreneurs typically excel in?"
"Quite a few," I replied without hesitation. "Entrepreneurs often work in small teams, which means they need to handle various tasks and be competent in many areas."
However, as soon as I finished speaking, I realized my answer was clichéd and unhelpful.
The same founder interjected again, clarifying, "I meant what specific skills I should focus on developing now to become a successful entrepreneur in the future. Are you suggesting I should aim to be good at everything?"
I chuckled, recognizing that my initial response missed the mark. While it's true that entrepreneurs wear many hats out of necessity, ideally, they should strive to excel in just one crucial area. This essential skill is often the last one to be acquired, making it difficult to appreciate its importance.
The Most Critical Skill for Startups
When asked to compile a resume, many entrepreneurs face challenges defining a set of standard skills. For instance, I recently submitted a resume for a grant application, and the final product made me seem completely unhirable. My "skills" section included multiple programming languages, web design, database management, and proficiency in the entire Adobe Creative Suite. I also noted my experience with various complex SaaS platforms, Google and Facebook advertising, social media marketing, and multiple CMS platforms, along with numerous other random skills I had acquired over time.
As I reviewed my lengthy list, I couldn't help but laugh. The reason I possess such a diverse skill set isn't because I excel at any of these tasks or am suited for professional roles in them. It's simply that my entrepreneurial journey has forced me to learn many skills due to limited resources.
To be clear, I'm not exceptional; most entrepreneurs find themselves in the same boat. However, this multitude of roles often leads to mediocrity. How can one truly excel when time is a scarce resource?
As a result, entrepreneurs frequently perform tasks poorly. While their work may not hinder growth, it rarely achieves excellence. This is why entrepreneurs aspire to delegate as soon as possible, hiring individuals who can perform these tasks more effectively. Thus, the most vital skill an entrepreneur must master is the ability to hire the right talent.
The Challenges of Hiring
Picture yourself as an entrepreneur who has just secured your first million-dollar funding round. Congratulations! You've finally got funds to hire others to help with the workload you've been managing solo for years.
This seems like fantastic news until you realize you lack experience in hiring, making it the one skill you've never actually practiced.
To make matters worse, you've been intricately involved in every facet of your business since its inception, developing your own methods and practices. This can become problematic when you discover that your hires will approach tasks differently. You might find yourself thinking, "This is all wrong! I'll never find someone as competent as I am!" After all, your efforts have brought you to this point of securing funding—doesn't that mean you were doing something right?
Not necessarily! In fact, it’s likely the opposite is true. The ways you have been operating as a busy, overextended founder were probably just average (at best!). While your methods may have worked for you, true experts in the roles you’re hiring for will almost certainly have their own, possibly superior, approaches.
The friction between your methods and those of your new hires can be stressful and uncomfortable, which may lead you to hesitate when it comes to hiring. When you do make hires, you may find yourself micromanaging, trying to force them to conform to your way of doing things.
Don't let this happen!
The individuals you bring on board should make you feel a bit uneasy as they introduce a level of expertise and professionalism that your startup has been lacking. This discomfort is beneficial; it's exactly what your growing company requires. The sooner you refine your hiring skills, the faster you can scale your startup.
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The first video, "The #1 Skill Every Entrepreneur Needs", discusses the fundamental abilities that entrepreneurs should cultivate for success.
The second video, "The Two Skills Every Entrepreneur Needs To Succeed," highlights essential skills that can significantly impact entrepreneurial success.