Can We Really Outsource Everything?

by tpw
79 replies
Can We Really Outsource Everything?

In short, NO.

The long answer is not so obvious.

As the Internet matures, we are finding more opportunities to outsource those tasks that we need to do in connection with our businesses.

Many newbies assume this to mean that we can literally outsource everything, but we cannot.

We can outsource:
  • Website design
  • WordPress blogs
  • Graphical Design
  • Programming
  • Link Building
  • Article Writing
  • Article Syndication
  • Blog Commenting
  • Social Media
  • Report Creation
  • PPC
  • Advertising
  • Order Processing
  • Follow-up
  • Mailing List Management
  • Mailing List Content Creation
  • Darn Near Everything

But there is one thing that can never be outsourced, and it is the one that most newbies want to outsource...

And this is where most people fail, who start an online business...

People want to outsource that one thing that can never be outsourced...

There are tons of people who ask within this very forum each and every day, how they can outsource the one thing that can never be outsourced...

They say, "But I want to pay someone to do that for me..."

They believe that because that is the one area where they are the weakest, they can surely hire someone to do that one task for them...

But this one task that everyone wants to outsource is the one that no one can do for you but you...

What is this one task that can never be outsourced?

You tell me...

I will comment further when someone eventually hits the nail on the head...
#management #online business #outsource #outsourcing #tasks
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Maybe... making a WF post with the title "Can We Really Outsource Everything?" - I don't think you can outsource that one!
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  • Profile picture of the author CShark
    I guess it's your business plan. Please let me know.

    Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author KyleLogue
    Maybe the better question would be "Do you want to outsource everything?" Sometimes part of the fun is doing it yourself... cheaper too lol
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    • Profile picture of the author Christian Little
      Originally Posted by KyleLogue View Post

      Maybe the better question would be "Do you want to outsource everything?" Sometimes part of the fun is doing it yourself... cheaper too lol
      Cheaper but not necessarily better. I, for example, can't do any kind of design even if my life depended on it lol.
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      • Profile picture of the author KyleLogue
        Originally Posted by Christian Little View Post

        Cheaper but not necessarily better. I, for example, can't do any kind of design even if my life depended on it lol.
        Lol true. Some things are better outsourced.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by KyleLogue View Post

      Maybe the better question would be "Do you want to outsource everything?" Sometimes part of the fun is doing it yourself... cheaper too lol

      Actually that is not a better question...

      When you have no money, your only option is to do it yourself...

      If you have the money, you have a choice of increasing your productivity by buying the time of others...

      Your time should be worth X number dollars... That number is based on the number of dollars you can produce in an hour...

      If someone can do a certain task for less than you can do it, then you should outsource...

      And if there are certain tasks you enjoy more than others, then you can outsource those things you don't enjoy...
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      • Profile picture of the author KyleLogue
        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        Actually that is not a better question...

        When you have no money, your only option is to do it yourself...

        If you have the money, you have a choice of increasing your productivity by buying the time of others...

        Your time should be worth X number dollars... That number is based on the number of dollars you can produce in an hour...

        If someone can do a certain task for less than you can do it, then you should outsource...

        And if there are certain tasks you enjoy more than others, then you can outsource those things you don't enjoy...
        So I guess if you're rich or talented... you're set
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        • Profile picture of the author tpw
          Originally Posted by KyleLogue View Post

          So I guess if you're rich or talented... you're set

          You don't even have to be rich...

          You just have to understand the value of your time, and make a determination how you can spend money to be able to increase your productivity at a profit...
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        • Profile picture of the author paulie888
          Originally Posted by KyleLogue View Post

          So I guess if you're rich or talented... you're set
          This isn't true either. The world is rife with talented millionaires blowing their money on foolish ventures, thinking that money is the only factor needed to become more successful. A fool is soon parted with his money, so money alone isn't going to make you become successful, whether you outsource or not.
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      • Profile picture of the author Christian Little
        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        And if there are certain tasks you enjoy more than others, then you can outsource those things you don't enjoy...
        The problem with outsourcing is finding somebody that can A) do the work, B) do a good job, and C) are affordable. It's really hard to find somebody that can meet all 3 of those requirements.
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      • Profile picture of the author 4Frankie
        OK Being a real green newbie - yes I have to do almost everything - but after you get established (mean make some money) then will be great to have freedom of time as well as money. Still would do the things I enjoy and find fun with.

        :confused:Still curious what the one thing is unless - its people personality power - public relations - without having contact with anyone it wouldnt it be boring?

        Thanks for great post. Roll on when can afford to some outsourcing!!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author greatseoservice
    Are you refering to income?
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  • Profile picture of the author oldwarrioruser1
    The will/desire to get things done. Taking action.

    You can literally outsource every aspect of getting a website done and on out to the market, but you have to take the step to get it done?(take the step to get it outsourced?)

    idk it sounded good in my head.
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  • Profile picture of the author Colin Palfrey
    The idea, concept or plan behind a new idea can never really be outsourced, and must come from within.

    I suppose the simple answer would be...vision.

    Cheers,
    Colin Palfrey
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  • Profile picture of the author JackPowers
    You can actually outsource everything, that's how big companies are run. You've got the shareholders paying other people to do everything from cleaning to CEO'ing. You can outsource creativity and micro management.

    I don't think you want to outsource your leisure time though.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    [DELETED]
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  • Profile picture of the author oldwarrioruser1
    Can you outsource customers? lol

    I mean.. you get someone to mail for you.. that doesn't grt. customers tho..

    hmmm

    edit: or maybe sells, but thatd be the same as customers..
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    You cannot outsource your business’ management.

    And you have to be very, very careful whenever you outsource whatever; you must trust your provider.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    Originally Posted by tpw View Post

    In short, NO.
    Yes actually, you can.
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  • Profile picture of the author oldwarrioruser1
    I'm trying to outsource the answer to this question but I can't find anyone with a reasonable price.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sonja
      Business plan/model :confused:

      Just guessing....lol

      You really got me on this one....come on spit it out already.

      I just got my nails done and I'm sitting here biting them waiting on you!
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    • Profile picture of the author Roy Penrod
      Well, I can't read your mind, Bill ... guess I'm not a Jedi yet. Yoda's gonna be so pissed. :-)

      But there are too very important things I don't think you can outsource. Colin already said the first one ... VISION.

      The second is PASSION.

      So what's your answer, Bill?

      Roy

      P.S. Just noticed the emphasis you put on one task in your original post. Hmmm, task. I've got to go with making decisions. I think you could call that a task.
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      • Profile picture of the author frankpure
        but to me, everything can be outsourced but the condition is you outsource to whom. honest people will not steal your idea while smart people will.
        if you really want an answer to your question, maybe it is the mind. you can not outsource your mind to others.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Everything can be outsourced except responsibilty, one of the core skills of true leadership.
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      • Profile picture of the author Gail_Curran
        Learning or the acquisition of knowledge?
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        Everything can be outsourced except responsibilty, one of the core skills of true leadership.
        Your answer is the best one, MYOB... with the minor mention that responsibility isn't a "task" as such. Even leadership can be outsourced -- I know companies that have done it.
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        • Profile picture of the author tpw
          Originally Posted by Steven Carl Kelly View Post

          Your answer is the best one, MYOB... with the minor mention that responsibility isn't a "task" as such. Even leadership can be outsourced -- I know companies that have done it.

          I agree with both of you, but I ran out of Thanks buttons.
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          • Profile picture of the author myob
            LOL! Blaming someone else for your failure can not be outsourced, although many try.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fun to Write
    Okay, I'll play

    Time management?
    Focus?
    Business model?
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  • Profile picture of the author Thaddaeus T. Hogg
    What is this one task that can never be outsourced?
    Well now, the one thang what can't be outsourced is goin to the potty! That thar is somethin you have to be doin yourself. You DO need an outhouse though!
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      How about initiative? Someone has to get the party started...

      Even if you do manage to outsource everything else, you still have to do the outsourcing at some stage.
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  • Profile picture of the author theory expert
    Banned
    Actually Christian you can outsource the things you mentioned. It is called hiring human capitol. I believe Colin is correct you can't outsource the implementation ideas of your plan because someone has to put together your concepts. Even if you don't know your plan fully you need an idea of how to make it work. Now with that said, I bet you my life the OP mean the one thing you cannot outsource is your marketing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Christian Little
      Originally Posted by janok View Post

      Now with that said I bet you my life the OP mean the one thing you cannot outsource is your marketing.
      Sure you can. The company I've been working with for the past 4 years does that - they're essentially a marketing agency for a single client.
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      • Profile picture of the author theory expert
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Christian Little View Post

        Sure you can. The company I've been working with for the past 4 years does that - they're essentially a marketing agency for a single client.
        I don't disagree with you. I just was playing genie figuring the OP meant you cant outsource it. I guess we all will find out shortly what he means.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by janok View Post

      you need an idea how to make it work

      There you go...

      In my mind, I had the one word pegged as, Leadership.

      But you hit the nail on the head.

      You can outsource:
      • Management
      • Business Plan
      • Decision Making
      • Marketing
      • Etc.

      Before you, I think Colin was the closest with, Vision.

      You have to have a Big Picture understanding of your business, and you must be able to see how each individual task contributes to the end goal of making profits.

      A manager knows how to make it work, yet a leader knows how to direct all persons in the process to get the job done.

      I think the person who inspired this most posted a question a couple months ago.

      He knew he needed to do link building and he wanted to outsource the entire process. And he wanted his Filipino crew to figure out everything for him.

      But his outsourced personnel would never know what kind of links and where to place them, until the person who hired him told him what to do.

      The person hiring the outsource crew must tell them what they are expected to do, and how it is expected to be done.

      And without that Leadership, all outsourcers are like a chicken running around with their head cut off.

      The outsourced crew knows they should be doing something, but what exactly are they expected to do? They are waiting for their boss to tell them what to do, and yet in many cases, the boss is just as clueless...

      If the boss doesn't know what and why, any outsourcing will result in wasted money and broken dreams.
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      • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
        Bill,

        Good thread.

        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        In my mind, I had the one word pegged as, Leadership.
        Actually, in a previous offline life, I have outsourced leadership - they're called 'Project Managers'. Although it's true that someone has to manage the managers.

        Depending on your business model, one task it would be almost impossible to outsource is networking. That's always going to be important for some folks.

        Personally, I'd have a hard time outsourcing ultimate control. I suppose that's a bit like leadership, but without the staff.


        Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author oldwarrioruser1
    Bill I was thinking Leadership the entire time, I just wanted the game to continue >.>
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by LegitSells View Post

      Bill I was thinking Leadership the entire time, I just wanted the game to continue >.>

      I did too, but I wanted to lead by example to show the right way to bait conversation.
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    • Profile picture of the author Gail_Curran
      A lot of people come here and want someone to tell them what to do. In other words, they want a BOSS to direct them in running their own business. Maybe it's a hard mindset to change.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by Gail_Curran View Post

        A lot of people come here and want someone to tell them what to do. In other words, they want a BOSS to direct them in running their own business. Maybe it's a hard mindset to change.
        This basically falls under the same area as leadership/vision. They want to be spoonfed everything, and essentially just want to pay money to someone to get all this done for them. They're not taking real ownership of their business, what they're really wanting is a turnkey or franchise operation where everything is dumbed down, and very little (if anything) is required from them other than money.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    If anyone hasn't read "The Leadership Challenge" by Kouzes and Posner, I highly suggest it. I actually use some of the concepts in my seminars. In fact, for one company last year I actually did a 9-month, once-a-month, four hour seminar series based on the book.
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    • Profile picture of the author caseycase
      Originally Posted by Steven Carl Kelly View Post

      If anyone hasn't read "The Leadership Challenge" by Kouzes and Posner, I highly suggest it. I actually use some of the concepts in my seminars. In fact, for one company last year I actually did a 9-month, once-a-month, four hour seminar series based on the book.
      That is such a great book. I used to help teach a course where we used it as the textbook. Still have my copy. Now I think I need to pull it back out and read it again!
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
        Originally Posted by caseycase View Post

        That is such a great book. I used to help teach a course where we used it as the textbook. Still have my copy. Now I think I need to pull it back out and read it again!
        It is a tremendous book, no doubt. It really helps illustrates the difference between managers and leaders.
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  • Profile picture of the author theory expert
    Banned
    Originally Posted by JackPowers View Post

    You can actually outsource everything, that's how big companies are run. You've got the shareholders paying other people to do everything from cleaning to CEO'ing. You can outsource creativity and micro management.
    True but unless you are a child star like the Olsen twins were, or like the Jackson kids are currently, everything cannot be outsource when you control your money. Even an investor has to make a decision where to put his money. Whether that be with an investment manager, a lawyer, uncle jim, or, individual private investments. If a rich person says, "my cousin larry handle of my financial stuff", then he made the decision to hand over his money to cousin larry who has read an ebook on how to be a financial guru. Ultimately, it is the rich persons money, and. he made the choice to invest it through his cousin.

    Someone said the word "decision making", maybe that is the word we should have used for the one thing you cant outsource.

    Originally Posted by Steven Carl Kelly View Post

    Your answer is the best one, MYOB... with the minor mention that responsibility isn't a "task" as such. Even leadership can be outsourced -- I know companies that have done it.
    I guess it really boils down to what word you want to use to define to answer this thread. We all agree that you can't outsource decisions, we're just choosing to use different terms to express it. The term leadership wouldn't have been my choice of word either. However, the OP did a good job of explaining why that word was the word he was looking to use as an answer to this thread. I suppose we can live with it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
      Originally Posted by janok View Post

      I guess it really boils down to what word you want to use to define to answer this thread. We all agree that you can't outsource decisions, we're just choosing to use different terms to express it. The term leadership wouldn't have been my choice of word either. However, the OP did a good job of explaining why that word was the word he was looking to use as an answer to this thread. I suppose we can live with it.
      I do NOT agree. You CAN outsource decision making. Decision making and leadership are NOT the same things at all. A great deal of decision making is management, not leadership.
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      • Profile picture of the author theory expert
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Steven Carl Kelly View Post

        I do NOT agree. You CAN outsource decision making. Decision making and leadership are NOT the same things at all. A great deal of decision making is management, not leadership.
        :rolleyes: surely you agree, maybe you want to call it responsibility. We are on the same wave length you just think of decision making and leadership as something different. Whatever you want to call what I posted previous that is the definition we'll use. I choose to call it decision making. It best suits and translate in my mind until I hear something that replaces that and translate better. Sure you can outsource decision making, but, who makes the decision to set the business up the way it is run in the first place? Reason why I mentioned things the way I did in post to Jack.

        Tomato is spelled the same regardless.
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
          Originally Posted by janok View Post

          surely you agree, maybe you want to call it responsibility. We are on the same wave length you just think of decision making and leadership as something different.
          No, I really don't agree. I don't want to bog down a good thread too much, but decision making and responsibility are NOT the same thing, not the same thing at all. They aren't even close. That's not something that I think, it is a pure fact.

          I can hire people to make decisions for my business, in fact I already do that. But ultimately as the business owner I am responsible for the result of another person's decision because it is my business that is affected.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by janok View Post

      We all agree that you can't outsource decisions, we're just choosing to use different terms to express it.

      LOL

      We can outsource "most" of our decisions, just not all of them.

      Once we know what to do in context of making our businesses profitable, we can teach others how to do our jobs and make our decisions for us.

      But ultimately, we hold the final decision as to whose decision-making we will trust to keep our business running smoothly and profitably.
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      • Profile picture of the author myob
        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        LOL

        We can outsource "most" of our decisions, just not all of them.

        Once we know what to do in context of making our businesses profitable, we can teach others how to do our jobs and make our decisions for us.

        But ultimately, we hold the final decision as to whose decision-making we will trust to keep our business running smoothly and profitably.
        And always use that trusted decision maker as the "fall guy" in case the final decison goes awry.
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    outsourcing is great and 90% of my businesses are outsourced. that is why I have time to come in here and post *insert cheesy grin here*

    But with delegation comes responsibility. You still have to mangage, and make sure they are doing their job and you are making money from the activities that our outsourced. it is not an easy job at all. Some outsources know IMers are looking for them and can scam, and other just are lazy and do not perform the jobs you ask them.

    So yes it is good, it is still a bit of work to manage outsourcing teams of people.
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  • Profile picture of the author Colin Palfrey
    I went to look for that gif of the sock puppet eating pop-corn, and got a virus attack.
    I'm not trying to find it again but in spirit I've posted it.
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  • Profile picture of the author pethanks
    There are lots that can never be outsource. And those things are not materials. They can be trust, love etc. You can never outsource them. Those things are spiritual.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    Read "The Four Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferriss. You'll find out that you can (not that you should) outsource things you never thought you could.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by Steven Carl Kelly View Post

      Read "The Four Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferriss. You'll find out that you can (not that you should) outsource things you never thought you could.
      That's an incredibly eye-opening book, and definitely required reading especially for anyone who wants to set up multiple streams of business income, because this is when time becomes a precious commodity, and everything that can be outsourced should be.
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  • Profile picture of the author Diane S
    Creativity
    Motivation

    Well, I see I lost. But it all makes sense now that Bill has explained it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike McAleer
    I love doing things by myself and have not yet had the need to outsource anything. I will be doing that in the future as I expand.
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  • Profile picture of the author mrmanpower
    Monetization. Plain and simple. you have to understand how to monetize to be able to put all the pieces together and outsource everything and still come up ahead.
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7

    We can outsource "most" of our decisions, just not all of them.

    Once we know what to do in context of making our businesses profitable, we can teach others how to do our jobs and make our decisions for us.

    But ultimately, we hold the final decision as to whose decision-making we will trust to keep our business running smoothly and profitably.


    Dear tpw, now you finally said the essential word: trust.

    You must trust all your providers.

    I believe that the right moral lesson should be: yes, you can outsource everything if you can trust all your providers.

    However, it would be wiser if you wouldn’t outsource your business’ management because you are the only one who really loves your business and will never neglect doing everything the right way.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by myob View Post

      LOL! Blaming someone else for your failure can not be outsourced, although many try.
      Sure it can...

      Think "Press Secretary"...:p
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  • Profile picture of the author mello87
    Spot on TPW . Its really quite simple in theory. If you know what you want doing.....Do it! Outsourcers are there to be managed. If you can do this well you are onto a winner. I know im just repeating alot of staple stuff heard in business practice, but alot lose vision of this and get too caught up in individual processes. Just my 2 cents anyways

    Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author Bannaz
    According to Tim Ferris at The Four Hour Work Week, we can.

    However, as we begin to outsource everything, we would start to lose track of what is going on, surely?

    You become managing people who are managing your groups of websites - by giving up so much of your own initiatives, would that be a wise thing to do long-term?
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by Bannaz View Post

      According to Tim Ferris at The Four Hour Work Week, we can.

      However, as we begin to outsource everything, we would start to lose track of what is going on, surely?

      You become managing people who are managing your groups of websites - by giving up so much of your own initiatives, would that be a wise thing to do long-term?
      Well, you'd lose control over the direction of your business, and if you outsource everything you'd be relying entirely on your crew to make all the decisions and to guide its direction. Unless you trust them implicitly, would you really want to do that?

      I suppose a lot depends on the scope and activities within your business - perhaps a relatively simple business could be outsourced like this.

      Paul
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    • Originally Posted by Bannaz View Post

      According to Tim Ferris at The Four Hour Work Week, we can.
      I personally always thought that Tim Ferris is full of it. It's a nice title for a book, but it's not feasible to manage, sustain and grow a business being so utterly detached from it.
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  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    I outsourced everything. It was boring.
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  • Profile picture of the author joytierra
    Definitely I agree. Not all things can be outsourced and need to be outsourced. let's just focus only to those that can be.
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  • Profile picture of the author thegotoguy
    The problem with outsourcing for backlinks or blog commenting is that you look like a spammer. I've tried it myself and the service I paid used the same comment on a gazillion blogs and it was a waste of time and money. I know there are probably better services who provide a more reliable service but I don't outsource that anymore.

    I'm still wondering what the one thing is that I can't or shouldn't outsource! So tell us already! lol
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  • You can -and should!- outsource much of the technical part of your business (design, coding, etc) and much of the management part of your business (order filling, customer support, etc)... but there's one thing you could never outsource and that's the strategical part, or what's the same: the business part of your business :p

    That, my friend, is your duty as the business owner.
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