Are you struggling with growing your business? Do you look around at your colleagues and see them calm, relaxed, and enjoying life?
Meanwhile, you are bogged down with a huge to-do list. Is this what you had in mind when you become an entrepreneur?
No? You are not alone.
The difference between you and your free-spirited colleagues is how they put into action the secret of growth and prosperity.
The secret? They learn how to delegate.
What are some of the myths that stop us from removing the tedious tasks off of our plate?
- You cannot afford to hire someone
- You do not have time to teach someone how to do something because you can do it better and faster
- You want to learn how to do it yourself
Do any of these sound familiar?
Well, let's break down these obstacles and see if they are valid limitations or obstacles.
Myth #1: I cannot afford to hire anyone
Recently, I attended a delightful networking event where the speaker talked about using our time wisely. The presentation boiled down to this question: "Start valuing your time at $500 per hour, then ask yourself, 'Can you hire someone to do this task cheaper?'"
A great idea, but I can assure you as a UX Web Designer, I do not charge $500 an hour!
However, after thinking about this idea a bit more, I decided to put together a calculator where I can input MY numbers. Now I can calculate real projects and clearly see if I should or do it myself or delegate it.
Myth #2: I do not have time to teach anyone because I can do it better and faster
It is true. You probably run your business better and faster than anyone. However, today, you just promoted yourself to CEO. Your first order of business is building a procedural handbook. The next time you send out an invoice, post an ad, or update your website, write down exactly what you did. Use Evernote to tag each note with "Policy" "Admin" "Policy" or "Marketing" for the corresponding procedure. Finally, share it with your contractor or VA. BOOM! ou are now a CEO.
Myth #3: I want to learn how to do this task myself
Learning a new skill is exciting. It is one of my favorite parts of being an entrepreneur. However, the new skills we want to learn do not always contribute to the bottom line. Instead, use your ambition as a motivator. Start by delegating one 1-hour task. Use that 1-hour to enjoy that webinar you wanted to attend. Feel confident that your business is still running without you.
Remember, keep your eye on the ball. What could you do with the time you create by giving up the reigns? Spend more time with your family? Expand your business? Taking responsibilities off of your plate begins to sculpt the life and business you want.
For more tools and resources visit my Ultimate Entrepreneur's Toolkit to Increase Business and Work Less. Included are tools for both delegating and automating your business.
What is it: Evernote has a wide array of uses. Think of it as a searchable notebook. You can take notes, make lists, and save scanned receipts and invoices. Tag the document, or note, with a keyword(s) that makes sense to you, then search for it anytime. The notes are stored in the cloud, which means you can access them anywhere.
What is it: The Start
What is it: Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. In one glance, Trello tells you what’s being worked on, who’s working on what, and where something is in a process.
What is it: MailChimp is an email management tool. You can send beautifully designed emails, manage your email list, and monitor the effectiveness of your email campaign.
What is it: eSignature is a simple to use electronic signature application, by Adobe. Just upload your document, drag and drop the signature box, and send. The recipient clicks to apply their signature.
What is it: Slack is a team collaboration tool. Ideal for remote groups or staff. Organizations such as Vox Media, The Associated Press and The New London Times all use Slack. Think of Slack as a virtual office. The "channels" within the virtual space are like conference rooms. Slack integrates with many more popular applications such as Trello and Google Drive.
What is it: Formally Google Docs, Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service created by Google. It allows users to store files in the cloud, share files, and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with collaborators.
What is it: I saved the best for last. If This, Then That is a free web-based service that allows you to connect everyday apps and devices. When you connect two apps or devices in IFTTT it is called a Recipe. For instance, there is a recipe that automatically posts a note from Evernote to a Trello board.
The Ultimate Entrepreneur’s Toolkit to Increase Business and Work Less