Outsourcing aspects of your business shouldn’t be seen as failure. Rather, procuring the help of people who are better at doing those jobs than you are could be the key to your success.
If you were to ask your neighbour ‘what’s your biggest challenge in life?’, chances are that the answer would have something to do with being time poor. Let’s face it – it’s the first world problem of the century.
It is to my delight that I read in the paper on the weekend that outsourcing of household tasks has reached new proportions, as time-poor families seek help to keep on top of the daily tasks that keeps the family unit running like a well-oiled machine. The benefit of course is that they get to spend more time with the family and they don’t miss out on the things that are really important to them.
My question is, if we can ask for help with our cleaning, laundry or bill paying at home, why can’t small business owners ask for help with similar tasks – like bookkeeping or filing?
I have a theory – it might be crazy, but I think it hits the nail on the head.
In my experience, it seems to me that small business owners think that if they can’t be everything in their business, from the bookkeeper to the marketer to the worker, then they must be failing. There seems to be a very ill-conceived idea floating around out there that if they can’t do everything that is required for their business to run successfully themselves, then surely they are doing something wrong.
Let me debunk this idea once and for all: it simply cannot be further from the truth.
In fact, the only way to succeed in your business is to start outsourcing or delegating the stuff that you are no good at, so you can concentrate on doing what you do best. Generally, that’s selling yourself and doing the actual work. The more time you have available to sell and do the work, the quicker you are going to grow your business.
Let’s look at a very successful, prime example – Richard Branson. Not once has he attempted any of his business ideas without enlisting the help of others who he knew were better than he at particular things (bookkeeping, marketing etc). And now, the Virgin empire has over 200 companies under its famous brand.
He also has a fantastic lifestyle – and no, I am not talking about living on his own island – I am referring to all the time he gets to spend with his family and generally doing the things that he really enjoys. He has nailed the optimal work/life balance.
So the next time you are thinking of trying to do everything yourself, stop. Give outsourcing or delegating a go.
