10,000 Hours

The hidden cost of trying to do it all.

Author

Michele Kasl
September 15, 2025

"In your thirst for knowledge, be sure not to drown in all the information."

Anthony J. D’Angelo


I could cut my own hair.

In fact, I did once. I was seven. Armed with safety scissors and misplaced self-confidence, I hid in my room and chopped my bangs like a tiny Edward Scissorhands.

Shockingly, my parents noticed. 😂 

[ When you're seven, I guess you don't have the motor skills to pull off symmetry. ]

And yet, decades later, I still catch myself falling for the allure of DIY:

“I could probably just do this myself.”

Taxes? … Sure. I’ll just YouTube the entire tax code this weekend.

Plumbing? … It can’t possibly be that hard to reroute a bathroom.

Legal contracts? … Just grab a GPT prompt and wing it.

We’re surrounded by tools that promise to make us experts at everything. Instantly.

As crazy as my examples seem, with the advent of AI, it’s easy to be convinced that we should do it all ourselves.

***

And that’s the thing we’ve forgotten with all the “quick wins” and “AI everything”:

Experts are experts for a reason.

They’ve spent years spotting patterns, making mistakes, researching and refining their craft, tweaking and iterating.

They’ve seen what works (and plenty of what doesn’t) in the real world.

They know when to break the rules and when to follow them.

They make really frickin hard stuff look way too easy.

***

In my own world of expertise, it’s super easy to devalue creative when you’re staring at an AI tool that spits out “ok-ish” designs and copy.

But the real difference between DIY and expert-created?

Trust.

An expert-built brand doesn’t just look polished — it makes people believe you faster, recommend you sooner, and remember you longer. So you’re the first name that comes to mind when results matter.

Even more critical, you might not see the negative effects of DIY until you're out there trying to get noticed.

[ And left sitting alone wondering why no one’s taking you seriously. ]

***

So why do we keep trying to tackle hard stuff we’re not qualified to do?

Blame DIY culture. Blame social media. Blame the gurus. Whatever.

Then get on with it already, and start trusting the experts around you to actually grow your business.

Now more than ever, real confidence hires the web developer. Trusts the copywriter. Invests in the marketing strategist. Works with the business coach. Relies on the accountant.

Not because you’re incapable of hacking something together on your own — but because you know the value in letting someone who’s logged their 10,000 hours do what they do best.

Every hour you spend trying to do someone else’s job is an hour you’re not doing yours.

Stop trying to be good at everything.

Start building a business that respects time and expertise. Including your own.

***

And if you’re ready to put down the safety scissors and build an industry-leading brand, schedule a time to chat. My virtual door is always open. 😉

Most people guess.
Smart founders study what works.


Pete Boyle from Growth Models cracked the code behind Noom, Morning Brew, Agora & more — and he’s handing you guys his playbook.

Four juicy deep-dives into how 8-, 9-, and 10-figure brands actually grow; with smart, proven systems you can adapt and apply.

Including:

✅ How Noom uses “belief flipping” in onboarding to boost engagement (and make customers want to pay)

✅ How Agora treats content like a sales asset and flips the newsletter model on its head

✅ The gamified referral system that helped Morning Brew scale to 7 figures (and still works in 2025)

Want a marketing expert to help you grow faster? Grab this.

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Heads Up! The links in our “Victory Points” section are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase. I only share games I genuinely love and KNOW you’ll enjoy too. Pinky promise. 😉
 

Victory Points

By: Mike Shary
( my board-game-loving, copywriter extraordinaire and mentor, Dad ❤️ )

A cluttered wall tells a story of wasted potential. In Art Society, that story is yours … unless you learn how to make space for what truly matters.

You and up to five other aspiring collectors compete to fill your gallery with the finest art, curating a personal exhibit that will turn heads, win prestige, and avoid embarrassment.

Each round, everyone bids secretly for the right to choose from a set of available artworks. The better the painting, the higher the competition, and the more pressure to fit it into your shrinking wall.
 


Test your creativity with Art Society

 
After winning a bid, you must immediately hang the chosen piece in your gallery grid, rotating and positioning it without overlap or waste. Some paintings grant bonuses for placement, while others require specific arrangements to score. But if you run out of room or hang too many pieces with poor aesthetic, your reputation takes a hit.

Art Society rewards foresight and restraint. Just because you can grab a large, flashy piece doesn’t mean you should. The best galleries aren’t filled to the edges; they’re arranged with elegance. Sometimes the smartest move is to take a smaller piece that fits perfectly into your long-term layout.

This isn’t just a game about taste. It’s a lesson in branding, aesthetics, and vision. Your wall becomes your message. A few intentional choices can elevate your reputation. But one poorly placed painting can leave everything feeling off.

Art Society reminds us that success doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from designing better.

Make it a great week! 🙌

If you’re ready, here’s a few ways we can work together:

Want a website that converts casual browsers into clients? Let’s talk. In just 15 minutes, I’ll tell you exactly what’s holding your brand back — and how to fix it.

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