Hiring your first inspired helper
I’m about to do something huge in my business: I’m on the very brink of selecting a person to do work that I might normally figure out how to do myself.
Up ’til now, I’ve worked with a star-studded web designer and a wacky, biz-savvy CPA, but everything else in my business has been done by me and only me. That’s just how things work when you’re a start up.
Happily, things are growing and I’m starting to learn how to prioritize my time and talents. Can I learn to do everything myself? Sure. So can you. But is it advantageous in the long run? It becomes less so over time. So I’m starting to focus on what I naturally do best and planning to delegate what others can do better.
Here’s what I’m not doing
- I’m not using my credit card to hire support – because debt almost never helps a small business owner (just read the stats).
- I’m not hoping. Just hoping won’t help save me time or turn that time into profit.
What I am doing is planning. I have been for a while.
Save up your money
If you are going to bring someone into your business, save up some money to pay for his/her services. This slows down the process a little – but it’s actually a good thing. This time allows you to be thinking about what you’d like that person to do.
While you’re saving up the cash. You can notice and even write down systems that you’re currently using in your business. In addition, this planning will help you come into the conversation informed and purposeful instead of skidding in sideways, pleading for rescue.
Hire for ROI
This is a tough statement coming from a compassionate, loving person. Consider it tough love. If your little business is just getting off the ground, think sense. While it might be nice to have someone answer your emails for you or send twitter marketing messages for you, will you really be able to turn that into additional income? Really?
Speaking for myself, a cluttered creative, that hour of found time will be spent doing nonsense. You know it and I know it. I will chat on the phone a little longer, cut out of work early, and check out photos of my high school friends on Facebook. In other words, unless you’re extremely disciplined (I’m not), that time will disappear and the money you’ve paid someone else will go down the drain.
When I suggest hiring for ROI (return on investment), what I mean is: select a helper for your business that will actually generate income. Especially when you’re a one-person show. While I’m not yet sharing about the project at Inspired Home Office, it will help bring in additional revenue in a way that’s helpful and fun. I know how much it will cost and I have a fairly good sense of how long it will take to earn that money back.
Planning is key.
Hire on a project basis
I use the term “hire” loosely, of course. I’m specifically referring to the act of choosing an independent contractor to assist your business. In the best case scenario, you want an opportunity to get to know your chosen person over a period of time. It’s a little bit like dating.
Is this someone whose work represents your company well? Do your work styles fit? Is your communication together clear and productive? Like dating, it takes time to work these things out and get comfortable.
Sometimes it’s tempting to choose someone who will ride in on their white horse and rescue you. But then you discover that he/she snores or has annoying parents after you’ve committed to forever. It’s awkward – and hard for your business.
Start small. See if you like working together before buying rings and living happily ever after.
838 days ago,
Bridget Pilloud said:
LOVE your advice here! especially project-based help!
838 days ago,
Mark Silver said:
I am SO glad that you addressed this, Jen. It’s been such a road with me, learning about hiring help.
Now we actually have a full-time employee on the payroll, as well as other outsourced goodness, and are considering even larger levels of infrastructure.
But, even if you never get to or want to get to that level of support, learning how to outsource stuff is such a critical skill.
And the project-basis thing- totally dead-on. I’m with you 1000%.
.-= Mark Silver´s last blog ..An Ode to Diapers: Finding What You’re Truly Passionate About =-.
838 days ago,
jennifer said:
Thanks, Bridget and Mark. Noteworthy: Not all helpers will work on a project basis, so it’s a helpful question to ask.
@Mark – Outsourcing. Huge. To me, it feels like, “Um. Can you watch my baby for a while? Can you really? As good as me?” But that feeling is also tempered with, “This is someone who can actually watch my baby better than I can in this specific area. So let go and trust.”
It sure is a dance. : )
838 days ago,
Susan Fuller said:
Congratulations!
I second (or is it third) the project based kudos. After 3 VA’s who never quite had the skills I needed, I gave up and started outsourcing projects…much better.
Then when I started hanging out with some serious internet marketers i discovered that’s exactly what many of them do. Cherry pick the things they want or need to do and outsource the rest. Some are outsourcing article writing, some keyword research, some website intallations.
I’ve been pondering another reason given for project based outsourcing – no one person knows the entire business. Not sure whether I think that’s a good reason or not (still pondering) but I did have to scramble to pick up the pieces when I had to fire a VA.
Until I’m much bigger I’m sticking with project based.
Good luck finding what you need.
Susan
.-= Susan Fuller´s last blog ..New Niche Finder on Stats & Tracking =-.
837 days ago,
Vicky White said:
Jen, this is so timely as I am committed to getting more help with my business. I’m curious about the project based outsourcing piece – I understand I think what you mean – but I’m wondering about those nitty gritty details – making appointments with clients, sending reminders about a class, uploading an audio and emailing clients about it – they’re not exactly project based I don’t think – or am I missing something?
837 days ago,
Grace said:
I think it’s important to understand the results of that credit-card debt report a little more thoroughly.
Incurring debt as part of a business startup as well as in day-to-day operations is not such a terrible thing, in my opinion, and it’s sometimes quite necessary.
See this post from the NY Times on the same topic: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/should-entrepreneurs-minimize-credit-card-debt/
.-= Grace´s last blog ..Me and my work – a personal manifesto =-.
837 days ago,
jennifer said:
@Susan – Yay! Thanks for contributing your $0.02!
@Vicky – Those tasks you’re talking about are exactly what a virtual assistant does. Those inspired helpers are a long-term commitment, so you wouldn’t use one on a project basis.
However, you can work with a VA on a trial basis (say for 3 months) before making a longer commitment. That might be the best of both worlds. Is that clearer?
@Grace – Yup. Spend with caution. Incur debt with caution. Have a plan to pay it back. That’s my motto.
837 days ago,
Vicky White said:
Thanks Jen – yes that’s clear – and thanks for the info about “Comment Luv”
.-= Vicky White´s last blog ..Essential Feng Shui Strategies to maximize the changes you make at a workshop! =-.
837 days ago,
Vicky White said:
Just thought I’d say – I have done project based outsourcing – and mainly found people through Elance to do various things – it’s always worked out well and at a very reasonable rate. You just need to be very clear about what you want – but that’s always true. Hope this helps.
.-= Vicky White´s last blog ..Essential Feng Shui Strategies to maximize the changes you make at a workshop! =-.