The Competence Trap: Why Doing Everything Yourself Feels ‘Easier’

The competence trap and why doing everything yourself feels ‘easier’ | high achiever mindset & control freak tendencies A deep dive into delegation and burnout, perfectionism and control, and why delegating is hard even when you know you “should.” Discover how to stop doing everything yourself, protect your energy, and refocus on high‑value work without burning out.

What You'll Learn:

• Why the “competence trap” keeps smart, capable people stuck doing everything themselves even as their responsibilities grow
• How your brain’s craving for certainty and quick closure makes delegating feel stressful, slow, or “not worth it”
• The hidden link between high achiever mindset, perfectionism, and control freak tendencies that silently drive burnout
• A simple way to spot where solo execution is killing your strategic focus and creating chronic overload
• How to reframe delegating so it feels less like “lowering standards” and more like multiplying your impact
• Practical micro‑steps to start letting go at work without feeling irresponsible or anxious
• A 3-part reflection exercise to decide what ONLY you can do, what you SHOULD do, and what you MUST stop doing
• How to design one tiny experiment this week to start breaking your personal competence trap

Episode Content:

• 00:00 - Why doing everything yourself feels easier (at first)
• 04:12 - The competence trap explained: how your brain rewards control
• 09:30 - High achiever mindset, perfectionism, and control freak tendencies
• 15:18 - The hidden costs of solo execution: overload, missed growth, and burnout
• 21:40 - Why delegating is hard: uncertainty, trust, and identity
• 27:05 - How to spot your personal competence trap in daily work
• 32:50 - A simple framework for what to own, share, and let go
• 38:30 - Tiny steps to start delegating without panic
• 44:10 - Weekly experiment: one small action to escape the competence trap
• 48:55 - Final reflection prompts and next steps