Relying too much on one person or solution in your life or business is a recipe for disaster. People’s lives change unexpectedly, and if you don’t have backups in place, chaos could result. I best understand this idea through my personal experiences in business and family life. 

The Fragility of Relying on One Person

In business, I've witnessed firsthand how dangerous it is to rely solely on one person for key tasks. People are unpredictable. Their circumstances change, which might lead to them becoming unavailable, and when that happens, it can throw everything off balance. For example, relying on a single team member who knows the ins and outs of a particular process can lead to problems if they leave. That's why I always have multiple people trained for each role. Redundancies are key, allowing for flexibility and sustainability.

However, the clearest example of this principle in my life isn’t from business; it’s from parenting. My wife and I learned the hard way that relying on a single babysitter was risky. Over time, life changes for them—whether it's school, family issues, or personal commitments—and they become unavailable, which disrupts our routine. Our solution? Always have two babysitters. One can handle most of the hours, and the other can fill in when needed. This ensures we’re never left scrambling for childcare. 

Just like in business, in parenting, you need systems that account for life's unpredictability. Redundancies are the backup that helps you stay afloat when things don't go as planned.

Scaling and the “Who Not How” Framework

Building a system of redundancies directly ties into the "Who Not How" framework, a concept popularized by Dan Sullivan. It’s simple yet powerful: instead of asking "How do I do this?" ask "Who can do this for me?" We live in a world where information is freely available—if you want to know how to do something, you can look it up on YouTube. But that’s not where the real value lies. The key to personal or professional growth is finding the right person to do the job, someone who can do it better and faster than you.

This framework is not just for business but also for your personal life. Take babysitting again as an example. It’s not about how I can do it all myself but rather about finding the right people to take on these tasks, allowing me to focus on what I do best. It’s about leverage, whether that’s human capital or systems that save you time and energy.

The Power of Prevention

Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," fits perfectly with building redundancies. By putting the right systems and people in place early, you can prevent many problems. Think of it as building a strong foundation to withstand life’s inevitable disruptions.

The same principle applies in business. If you rely on just one system or one person, you're setting yourself up for failure. But by having backups and building in redundancies, you're safeguarding against problems and positioning yourself to scale efficiently. The “who” is the prevention. It’s the strategy that helps you avoid headaches and scramble-mode responses later.

The One Thing

Gary Keller’s book, *The One Thing*, also touches on this. The core idea is to focus on the one decision that makes everything else easier or unnecessary. In both business and life, this often comes down to asking yourself: what is the one thing I can do now that will reduce complexity later on?

Building a team of reliable babysitters is a prime example of this. It simplifies my life, removes stress, and makes me more present in my work and family life.

Conclusion

Success isn’t about trying to do everything in business and life. It’s about finding the right people, building systems, and planning for the inevitable by creating redundancies. The "Who Not How" framework and the prevention principle are powerful tools for achieving this. Whether it's managing your team or your household, the lesson is clear: surround yourself with the right people and always have a backup plan.

Focusing on who can help you achieve your goals'll free up your time and energy to focus on what truly matters—whether growing your business or spending more quality time with your family.

Takeaway: Stop trying to do everything yourself and focus on finding the right people to take on important tasks. Build systems and redundancies that allow you to thrive even when life throws you a curveball.