I love summer – it is my favorite season. I love the long, lazy days in the breezy sunshine… the smell of the BBQ… the sounds of kids playing in the water.
When the sun is shining I want to be playing not working.
As a business leader, there is a TON to get done. I could swear my to-do list is a perpetual motion machine. But my marketing and customer service is getting done – and done very well! – even while I play.
Someone once asked the former president of Coca-Cola: What is the number one skill required for success?
What do you think he said? Communication skills? Strategic thinking? Intense focus? Nope.
He said, with absolute conviction: “What separates those who achieve from those who do not is in direct proportion to one’s ability to ask for help.”
Are you surprised? I’m not. To those of us who have felt the intense pressure of high ambitions and a fast pace – and reached out for help – this makes a LOT of sense.
When we set up a strong network of support around us:
- 1. We make fewer mistakes and waste less time on the learning curve – because things get handled by the people who do those things best.
- 2. We free up time, energy and attention to do the things we do best – our unique abilities that attract more business, pay bigger rewards, and feel great in the process.
- 3. Several things get done at once!
When I started my business 13 years ago, it took me 8 months to hire my first support person – and that was 8 months too long! Along the way, I continued to grow my team, and I don’t know where I’d be today without my powerhouse of support – my virtual assistant, bookkeeper, web whiz and wordsmith. (But I know I wouldn’t be heading out for a long weekend get-away!)
Listen, the Lone Ranger syndrome is a deadly one. Trying to do it all yourself can kill your motivation, momentum, even your business. I see this over and over with my clients. So, why do people have such a hard time with the idea of hiring some specialized help?
Here are the most common excuses I hear:
- 1. Finances – “I can’t afford it.”
- 2. Time constraints – “I’m too busy to stop what I’m doing and find/train the right person.”
- 3. Fear of letting go – “No one knows my business like I do, so no one else can do things as well or as fast as I can.”
- 4. Uncertainty – “Do I really need to hire someone yet? I don’t know if I’m ready for that much help.”
- 5. The unknown – “I don’t know how to go about finding someone, what skills they need, or how to train them. Where do I even start?”
Sound familiar? I have heard these comments more times than I can count – heck, I’ve even used them myself.
But if you really want to have more free time and get more results with less effort, it’s time to acknowledge these larger truths:
- 1. You can hire as little or as much help as you want (and can afford). If finances are tight, start small. As soon as you free up some time and energy, and you devote more to your money-making activities, you’ll be able to afford more help.
- 2. Most people wait until they’re completely stuck before they seek outside support. By then, it’s much more challenging to bring a new person up to speed and create the results you’re looking for. If you do the hiring work now, before you’re desperate, you can create a strong foundation for your business to grow on. As every savvy business owner, you have to do what’s important – not just what’s urgent.
- 3. Concerns that “an outsider’s” work won’t be up to par have immobilized many young businesses. But with the right screening tools and hiring process, that risk can be greatly minimized.
- 4. With a little research and the right resources (like the Hire Vision e-book noted below), you’ll be able to figure out exactly what you need – and exactly how to find it.
- 5. If you want to get to the next level, understand that even a little help can translate into effortless results and a LOT of extra time for you. With the ever-expanding field of freelancers and part-time options, an assistant doesn’t have to be a full-time commitment.
Don’t wait until you’re drowning before you call for help. With a little (or a lot) more help, you can refocus your attention on the activities you really love, and the ones that that really pay.
Ask yourself these questions:
- 1. How much time could you free up if you hired someone? And better yet, what could you do with it?
- 2. How incredible would it feel to know that the drudgery, maintenance, and minor details of your business are being expertly handled for you?
- 3. What would you do differently if you had a capable professional at your disposal? Keep a notepad by your computer and start building a list of everything you’d like to hand off. Go ahead, dare to dream!
- 4. How would it feel to walk into your office, knowing you only need to focus on the things you do best – the things you love to do?
Professionals who work with reliable, capable support people have more time and energy – and sanity! – to contribute to their business, their family, and everything else they care about. It’s called leverage! When you offload the drudgery, you give your natural brilliance a chance to shine.
If you’re still feeling hesitant to hire some support, it’s time get honest with yourself. What fears are holding you back? Write them down, and take a good, hard look. As valid as they may be, see if you can find ways around them. For every problem there are many solutions… you just have to hunt for them.
Don’t you owe it to yourself (and your loved ones) to make your life a little (okay, a LOT) easier?
This summer, set yourself up to accomplish way more in less time – by leveraging the power of a T.E.A.M… because Together Everyone Accomplishes More – and profits go through the roof!
P.S. Are you ready to find more support for your business, but you’re not sure about the next steps? Relax… we have just what you need to find the right people, get them up to speed, and experience a new level of success.
Building a Hire Vision: How to Find, Hire and Empower Exceptional People will answer all your questions about the hiring process – even the ones you didn’t know you had! Complete with forms, step-by-step instructions, and the voice of experience, it’s the only book you’ll need… find out more!
BONUS - Along with the purchase of your ebook, Hire Vision, receive a 60-day free trial to get started with Email Marketing, with one of the most powerful and effective marketing tools available for businesses today.
PLUS - The first 10 people who purchase the Hire Vision ebook will also receive a FREE personal consultation from Gail to identify the ‘Top 3 things that will help you sell more’. Value $150.00