What have I always hated about “work?” The consistent answer is being in tactical hell. I’m guessing you feel my pain. Being able to not only strategize, but tactical deliver is considered a huge differentiator in the workplace and in the solopreneur world. You don’t just think, you do.

But isn’t tactical hell… hell?

In the corporate environment, knowing the nitty gritty details and being able to execute them, is valued. Perhaps it even helps you with job security in some positions. When you become known as the go-to person for X, Y or Z, then your stock in the company goes up as well.

But how do you move past paying your dues with tactical delivery and transition into strategy and leadership?

I have worked at various small and large companies across the U.S. One of the most mind-boggling things that is consistent throughout all of them, is senior leaders, dealing with the tactical BS – constantly. Directors, VPs, and above wanting to stay intimately connected with the tactical delivery of their scope of responsibility.

It’s hard to let go of the actions and activities that made you successful to begin with. Letting someone else take over the details and delivery of your ideas is never easy.

But how can you successfully lead or be a strategic visionary, if you are so caught up in the little details? How is this scaleable as you move up?

I often find that people at the manager or director level who have a difficult time advancing up when they want to, are usually in tactical hell. It makes sense right? They are seen as being “in the weeds” and “deliver-ers” – neither of which are strong selling points to take on additional responsibility.

Wanting to execute on your own does ensure that things are done and done your way, but where does that leave you? In tactical hell and on a stalled out career path.

Solopreneur Tactical Hell?

As a solopreneur, I’ve been struggling with this more than I care to admit. In fact, it took reading an article several times and my friend Melani to say it to me about five times (subtly and then not so subtly because I refused to listen), for it to really set-in.

I’ve been building my business to leave me consistently in tactical hell, seemingly forever.

Not with everything I do, but with a few “activities” that tend to take up 80% of my time. For example, on my other site, I work with a lot of coaches and solopreneurs, helping them launch their products, courses, books, and websites. (I know – did I just double-agent secret life you? Don’t worry, I’m working on bringing it all under one roof). What I “sell” to select clients, is being able to hand over their idea and have me deliver the tactical components without a worry. And I truly love doing it.

It’s been a great differentiator for me. I help them deliver an idea into action (and making money)… but it’s me delivering. It’s me rolling up my sleeves, handling all of the minute details, and living in tactical hell.

Just like in the corporate setting – it’s not scaleable.

How will I work with 100x coaches/solopreneurs when my time is not infinite, but the details still take time? How will I be able to strategically plan my own business if I’m also looking in the weeds and not at the big picture?

It’s not going to be easy to move out of tactical hell. It never is. It’s a risk, a jump, a leap of faith, that you are more than your current differentiators. It’s not a light switch, it won’t happen overnight, and there will probably be a small part of tactical hell always left in the work we do.

What can you move past, grow beyond, stretch yourself to – outside of tactical hell? What would be possible then?