The Boring Truth About Business Success

Running a family business is tough.

Especially when creativity is your strong suit.

You’ve got ideas.

You’ve got vision.

But someone’s got to keep the lights on.

Someone’s got to do the boring stuff.

Creative vs. Practical: Two Sides of Success

Your accountant loves spreadsheets.

They thrive on balance sheets and budgets.

You love ideas.

Brainstorms. Big-picture thinking.

To you, their work is tedious.

To them, your ideas can seem impractical.

Here’s the thing: you both need each other.

The numbers keep the business alive.

The creativity gives it purpose.

A successful business isn’t one or the other.

It’s both, working in harmony.

The Danger of Mismatched Roles

Now think about this:

A younger family member joins the business.

They’re full of energy and ideas.

What do you do?

You hand them the “boring” jobs.

Payroll. Compliance. Admin.

The stuff no one else wants to do.

But here’s the problem:

Their creativity starts to die.

They feel trapped.

The business loses their potential.

It’s like asking a painter to fix a car.

Sure, they can try.

But you’re wasting their talent.

Choosing the Right Person for the Job

The best leaders know this:

Put the right person in the right role.

Don’t assume someone can do something just because they’re family.

Skills and temperament matter.

Not sure how to decide?

Get help!

Hire a retired HR professional.

Find someone to moonlight for you.

Even if you’re a small business, it’s worth it.

The cost of getting it wrong is too high.

Learn From Proven Strategies

The same principle applies to your strategies.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

In fact, the best results come from this rule:

• Spend 70% of your resources on what works.
• Allocate 20% to adjacent ideas.
• Experiment with 10% on something new.
• 
  

Creativity doesn’t mean constant novelty.

It means improving what you’ve already got.

Why “Boring” Matters

The basics are boring for a reason.

Because they work.

Your accountant might obsess over saving a few pounds.

You might find it dull.

But those savings keep your business running.

So respect the boring stuff.

It’s the foundation for your creativity to shine.

The Bottom Line

Family businesses thrive when everyone plays to their strengths.

Creativity is vital.

So are the numbers.

Don’t let the wrong person do the wrong job.

And don’t abandon what works because it feels repetitive.

The boring truth is this:

Success isn’t about doing something new every day.

It’s about doing what works.

Over and over.

And that’s how your creativity can truly flourish.