What They Never Tell You About DIYing Your Business (Until It’s Too Late)
I’ve been thinking a lot about the DIY threshold lately—specifically, how pushing past it can actually hinder your progress rather than help it.
If you’re anything like me—stubborn, resourceful, and deeply independent—then you probably take pride in figuring things out yourself. You know you could hire help, but why would you when you can just “learn one more thing,” “watch one more tutorial,” or “invest in one more tool” to get it done yourself?
I get it. I live it. And lately, I’ve been experiencing it firsthand with my own social media. I can manage it flawlessly for my clients, no problem. But when it comes to my own? I hit a wall. Resistance. Frustration. Why is this so hard for me when I do it so easily for others? Is it personal? A mindset block? Who knows. What I do know is that I’ve reached my DIY threshold.
“You can't see the picture when you're in the frame.” — Les Brown
The Day I Learned the Hard Way
Let me tell you a little story about the moment I really understood this concept.
When I first bought my house, we had a sewage problem (yes, this story is going exactly where you think it is). The main drain was clogged, meaning no flushing toilets, no showers—nothing. It was bad.
But I grew up in a DIY household. My dad remodeled houses, tackled every problem, and never called in professionals unless absolutely necessary. Naturally, I thought: I’ve got this.
Armed with tools, determination, and a very willing (read: unsuspecting) best friend, my partner and I went to battle with the main drain. Hours later, all three of us were covered in sewage, exhausted, and no closer to fixing the problem. Even my dad—the DIY guy—came out, assessed the mess, and finally said, “You need to call someone.”
And guess what? The moment we brought in an expert, the problem was solved in under an hour.
The Big Flaw in the DIY Mindset
For creative entrepreneurs, course creators, and membership hosts, this exact pattern plays out all the time. You hit a problem and think:
✔ I’ll figure it out.
✔ I’ll take another course.
✔ I’ll buy another tool.
And before you know it, you’ve spent more time, money, and mental energy than if you had just hired an expert in the first place.
Worse, the online business space is designed to tempt you into staying in DIY mode—especially with AI making everything “easier.” We could DIY everything now… but does that mean we should?
“You can't read the label from inside the bottle.” — Source Unknown
3 Signs You’ve Crossed the DIY Threshold
Not sure if you’ve hit your own DIY limit? Ask yourself:
1️⃣ Is this taking way longer than it should?
2️⃣ Am I spending more money on tools/courses than I would on hiring help?
3️⃣ Am I procrastinating on my real priorities because I’m trying to figure this out?
If you answered yes to any of those, you’re past the threshold.
And this is where my own growth is happening—I’ve realized that just because I can do something doesn’t mean I should. My zone of genius is in helping creative entrepreneurs scale strategically—not spending hours second-guessing my own social media strategy.
Where Are You Stuck?
So, my challenge to you: What’s your "sewage drain" moment?
Where are you resisting calling in an expert when it could save you time, energy, and money?
The sooner you recognize your Expert Threshold, the sooner you’ll free yourself to focus on what actually grows your business.
Leave a comment: What’s something you’ve been stubbornly DIYing instead of outsourcing?
P.S. I’ve since hired a social media manager, and the relief and progress have been incredible. Sometimes, stepping outside the frame is the best way to see the full picture.
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