Outsourcing experience with "Burn Your To Do List"?

I don't know anything at all about that particular outsourcing service, but in my experience outsourcing can be a lot of trouble - until you find the right people. That can take a while, though. I can't think of a lot of things in my life that have caused me more headaches than outsourcing to the Philippines, for example, but now that I've finally found decent people who produce month after month and don't waste my time with disappearances, lame excuses and lies or hand me stolen work etc I'm pretty happy. It's definitely been worth it as I couldn't have built my business to where it's at without outsourcing, but God damn has has it been a veritable goldmine of absolute frustration - and some wasted money too.

My tip if you are looking for full time people like I was: Expect to spend a fair bit of time finding the right person.Try someone, and if it isn't working out then give them the axe. Then, try someone else, axe them and continue looking. You'll probably find yourself going through ten, twenty or more people before finding someone that you can work with over time. Then you will treat them well like you would any employee, and pay them what they're worth, because you REALLY do not want to lose them.

Going through 2 people is normal.

When I hire I might get 200 applications, shortlist about 25 of those who show they will do a little bit of work and want the job (like spending 10 minutes to answer a specific question).

Normally get it down to 2-3 from that. From those maybe one might stick out. If not rinse and repeat.

Keep rinsing and repeating until I get someone good. You get out what you put in.

If it was easy to magically outsource and have your business on auto-pilot we'd all be rich overnight. Finding talent is a difficult part of your business, but one that is vital to scaling. It won't come easy.

That example is for something easier like writing articles. When it comes to more complex tasks its even harder.

I sometimes literally go through over 1000 companies/individuals when hiring to find the right person.

"Burn Your To Do List" is a service provided by Rachel Rofe, I'd suggest contacting her if you are experiencing less than stellar results.

Contact - Burn Your To Do List

She's a well-respected marketer so I`m sure she'll do what she can to help you.

Bill

Hi,

haven't used the service before, so no thoughts about it.
There are some mixed reviews here on WF, that you find via a short Google search (just use site:warriorforum.com). I don't want to point to one specific thread, but would recommend, as mentioned above, to contact the owner of the service (View Profile: Rachel Rofe).

What I also found on a really quick search was this buddy:
burnyourtodolist.com - Website for Sale: Burnyourtodolist Outsourcing Membership Site $280,000 plus per year

It might be that the side was sold and that Rachel wouldn't be in charge anymore. As said, contact here to get a definite answer.

Best
Sven

I was with BYTDL from the very start in December 2009. Rachel and her entire team were wonderful. Very helpful, very responsive to customer needs, very flexible.

Infact, the main reason I willingly paid my recurring fee and accumulated LOTS of credits each month was because of certain KEY Staff members who had earned my absolute trust and confidence. My intentions were to use the BYTDL way into the distant future.

I stayed with the service until July 2010. The Primary reasons I left were:

1. The (pending) sale of the site, which left me anxious as to whether the level of service I was accustomed to would continue under new ownership
2. The recurring payment set-up AND loss of all credits at cancellation was a STRONG disincentive for me to continue since I had no idea what the service would be like under new ownership, and the longer I stayed with the membership the GREATER would be my loss in accumulated credits should new ownership not live up to my expectations.

In the defense of BYTDL, let me say this.

The PRINCIPLES behind the BYTDL system are sound and there is certainly a HUGE demand for such a service. However, where I feel BYTDL went wrong is with the lack of transparency with the sale of the site and the strict policy of canceling ALL credits and pending work upon cancellation of the membership.

To date I do not know if the site was actually sold or not, and if it was sold, WHO the new owner is, what are his/her plans for the BYTDL service, and how does that affect me as a longstanding customer? These are the kinds of questions that require answers in order for me to maintain the same level of confidence I had months ago.

And another crucial fact is this. Life happens!!! And even though someone may be forced to cancel membership for a few months, there is no reason they would not RESUME membership whenever their circumstances would allow.

To cancel all pending work and all accumulated credits seems like "punishing" a client who could potentially be a most loyal and longstanding client.

In my case, I had over 50 credits in my account and they were all canceled and tasks which I had pending were never completed. I had every intent of renewing my membership once I was CONVINCED that the new ownership would continue the same level and quality of service I was accustomed too under the original BYTDL team.

If Rachel is still involved with BYTDL in anyway, I can only hope that she takes this into consideration. She worked HARD to build the business and secure LOYAL customers for the last 9 months and she now risks losing it all. That's a pity. Having lost more than 50 credits, there is little chance that I will resume membership at BYTDL ever again.

I will however, be on the lookout for any service that can IMPROVE on what BYTDL initially intended to do...i.e. provide a quality yet affordable outsourcing services to online entrepreneurs, I will be on the lookout for a service that values and REWARDS customer loyalty, rather than take it for granted by rigidly enforcing rules and policies that harm longstanding customers.

I would be willing to pay a premium, for such a service!

Great information again. Thank you all.

Thanks

great info thanks.