Let Someone Else Do It!

When you become self-employed, you automatically become the �Chief, Cook, and Bottle Washer.�

In other words, you do it all.

You do the bookkeeping, buy the paper clips, market your business, and you even provide your business’s product or service.

But you’ll better at some tasks than others and there are some tasks that you’ll just hate to do.

Fortunately, there is someone out there who likes doing what you hate-or what you do poorly. And, for a fee, they’ll be happy to do it for you.

So � let someone else do it.

The payoff? Your productivity increases and you have more time to do the things you enjoy.

Most people will quickly hire an accountant or tax preparer to prepare their taxes if that is an area in which they have little expertise.

That payoff is obvious. The work is time consuming and tedious for most non-tax people. A competent tax pro will get the job done quickly and efficiently. Best of all, in an area where the consequences for getting it wrong can be huge, his expertise will ensure that the job gets done right.

Then there are additional benefits. If there is a problem, many will represent you before the tax authorities. And your tax pro can advise you on tax questions and strategies.

So the money spent is a bargain and the decision to hire his services is easy.

The same logic applies to other areas. If you find it difficult to write good copy for the postcards and letters you use for your direct mail campaigns, consider hiring a copywriter.

If you hate keeping your books, hire a bookkeeper. Or at least buy decent accounting software and hire someone to help you set it up properly.

These days, virtual assistants can work on specific projects or handle everyday mundane tasks. And you won�t even have to carve out a place in your bedroom home office for them.

And if there is too little money available, a business consultant can help you grow your business.

Outsourcing can be applied to less desirable aspects of the services you provide to clients.

Here is an example from my own business, Faces & Fortunes.

Faces & Fortunes is a party entertainment company set up to provide caricature entertainment, among other things, at parties and special events in the Philadelphia area.

Artists go onsite and draw live quick sketch caricatures of the party guests.

Marketing for party clients has brought some people wanting to commission a single caricature drawing for gifts or illustration.

These drawings are done in the studio and are much more time intensive than quick-paced party caricature. I don’t enjoy this type of work and, for a variety of reasons, I prefer not to take this business on.

However, my friend Marlene, an illustrator, does it well and enjoys it.

So, I created an arrangement where she takes on the commission requests. It lets me offer an additional service to my clients and it gives her additional work.

You can see the page I created for her on my Faces & Fortunes website.

It’s a win-win situation for all of us.

So, let someone else do it. Money you spend will more than repay itself in greater time for you-and a fatter bottom-line.

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