Comments on: Hiring your first inspired helper

By: Vicky White

Vicky White — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:49:11 +0000

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!

By: Vicky White

Vicky White — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:42:09 +0000

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!

By: jennifer

jennifer — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:37:01 +0000

@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.

By: Grace

Grace — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:36:31 +0000

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

By: Vicky White

Vicky White — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:47:40 +0000

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?

By: Susan Fuller

Susan Fuller — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:33:23 +0000

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

By: jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:30:14 +0000

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. : )

By: Mark Silver

Mark Silver — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:54:29 +0000

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

By: Bridget Pilloud

Bridget Pilloud — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:53:31 +0000

LOVE your advice here! especially project-based help!