Short term fix or long-term solution, why outsourcing could be the way forward for your business.

If you had to fix your washing machine or an electric fault, would you call a professional?

My dad fixes literally everything. He once changed the back wheel of my battered suitcase while I was visiting for a few days! So, when it comes to DIY, I kind of feel like I owe it to him to at least give things a try. Inevitably, I end up buying random tools, getting really frustrated, sometimes hurting myself or breaking something. … and finally calling a DIY expert in a panic to come and fix my mess. Apart from wasting precious time that could have been spent productively, what have I achieved? Nothing.

The big difference between my dad and I is that he actually CAN fix things. He’s had years of training and experience. He knows what he’s doing.

The same applies to your business.

There are a number of specialist skills required in the day to day running of a successful business, especially one that is looking to scale up. You may have the skills but not the time or you may have the time but not the skills. Either way, getting someone who knows what they are doing to support will undoubtedly help you with the day to day and ultimately clear the path for your long-term vision and goals to become a reality.

Some examples of tasks that can be easily outsourced include: proofreading, copywriting, sales and marketing (including social media presence) but also email management, diary management and customer liaison.

These are just some examples, you may have different needs depending on the nature of your business – your requirements may be purely seasonal meaning that you have no need for a full-time employee, in which case it would be much easier to have a VA you can call on as and when you need the extra support.

Is going away or taking a break from your business something you can only dream of? Having someone reliable to support you will allow you to take a break knowing that your business and your clients are well looked after.

If you’ve always proudly operated as a “one-man band”, please rest assured that outsourcing does not take away from what you have achieved as an entrepreneur, in the contrary, it will enhance what you have accomplished and save you valuable time (and energy) to help you focus on moving forward. Peter Drucker who was once described as the founder of modern management summarised this very well when advising entrepreneurs to “do what you do best and outsource the rest”.

Have a think – what tasks can you outsource to free up precious time?

What would you prioritise or do differently if you had more time?

Get in touch here to discuss how we can work together.