The One Metric Most Solo Operators Ignore (And Shouldn't)
Most solo operators track revenue closely. Fewer track the number that actually predicts whether revenue holds up: how much of the business runs without them.
Call it dependency. If every dollar that comes in requires you personally to deliver it, sell it, or approve it, you do not have a business yet. You have a very demanding job.
That is not a criticism. It is just the starting point for almost every solo operator. The question is whether you are moving away from it or settling into it.
The metric worth watching is simple to state and uncomfortable to calculate: what percentage of your revenue could still happen if you took two weeks off with no email?
For most solo operators, the honest answer is close to zero. That number is not a verdict on the business. It is a starting point for figuring out what needs to change.
Moving that number takes documenting the decisions only you currently make, then handing pieces of them to a process, a tool, or another person.
Track it quarterly. It will tell you more about the health of your business than almost any other number you are already watching.
David Mayne
David works with solo operators and small business owners on the systems and decisions that let a business run without needing them in every transaction.
Practical insights on business growth, mentoring, and leadership from the MayneStreet team.
www.mayneadvantage.com
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