An Outsourcing Analogy

by ShayB
24 replies
I have a hard time outsourcing my personal projects. I feel like I can do everything better myself, so I do it all myself.

But as I was buying coffee this morning, it hit me.

I have worked in retail stores where I was the manager. I called the shots. The owner was free to have multiple stores (and make more money) because he hired people (like me) to run his stores. Those owners were wealthy, played golf, and had little stress (that I could see).

But I have also worked for owners who always worked by my side. They micromanaged. They were limited because they could only work a certain amount of hours. They were limited financially. They worked 6-7 days per week. They stressed. It was miserable. In some cases, they made (after expenses) even less than I did.

The person serving me my coffee was an employee. The owner would probably do a better job of running the store, but he was free to do other things because he outsourced.

I have a dozen niche blogs. I do not post on them nearly enough because I do not outsource. I did use PLR material once, but then did not do so again. (Again, because I felt I could do things better myself.)

So, in order to take my personal business (not my ghostwriting business, obviously) to the next level, I need to start outsourcing.

That was the most educational cup of coffee I have ever bought.
#analogy #outsourcing
  • Profile picture of the author TheCren
    Good thinking, Shay. I have wanted to outsource the majority of my business since I started marketing. I simply don't have the money to do it right now. Your thoughts here are what I feel about outsourcing. Sometimes (maybe most of the time) the addage "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself" appears to be true from our perspective, but that doesn't mean it's the most profitable solution.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736068].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bminor
    Hi Shay,

    what you describe is probably one of the bigger problems in outsourcing. Especially when you outsource tasks you do well yourself. I have made this experience myself that it was almost impossible to satisfy me with regards to quality. And I realized that it was not always because the content delivered was crappy but because my standards were too high.

    I guess one solution to this could be to outsource tasks where quantity is more important than quality. Like in your example of reguarly posting to a bunch of blogs. If there is the one or other post of minor quality this would not hurt your business (and you can always edit some points yourself).

    But if e.g. you want to publish an ebook under your own name you better make sure it's really good.

    Klaus
    Signature

    Complete Understanding and Successful Application Of A Subject Depends On Knowing The Terminology
    www.internetmarketing-dictionary.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736070].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by bminor View Post

      Hi Shay,

      what you describe is probably one of the bigger problems in outsourcing. Especially when you outsource tasks you do well yourself. I have made this experience myself that it was almost impossible to satisfy me with regards to quality. And I realized that it was not always because the content delivered was crappy but because my standards were too high.

      I guess one solution to this could be to outsource tasks where quantity is more important than quality. Like in your example of reguarly posting to a bunch of blogs. If there is the one or other post of minor quality this would not hurt your business (and you can always edit some points yourself).

      But if e.g. you want to publish an ebook under your own name you better make sure it's really good.

      Klaus
      And this is my dilemma.

      I am a writer. I pride myself in my work.

      I have my own style and I like for readers to "get" me when they read my blogs.

      I think I may take a baby step and outsource my blog posts by using PLR and rewriting it. I have done that once before and it really did save me a lot of time.

      Eventually, I would like to hire someone to write the posts and maybe even maintain my blogs.
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736078].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Devon Brown
    So.... where do you buy your coffee from? I think I need some of that if you come up with a great idea/post like you did!
    I'm lucky to have began outsourcing from the beginning and it has cleared up my schedule for many other things that I'd like to do on a personal level (such as visiting WF).
    Good luck to you
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736074].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by Renegade Success View Post

      So.... where do you buy your coffee from? I think I need some of that if you come up with a great idea/post like you did!
      I'm lucky to have began outsourcing from the beginning and it has cleared up my schedule for many other things that I'd like to do on a personal level (such as visiting WF).
      Good luck to you
      LOL It is a gas station right down the road from my house.

      They sell the extra-caffeine-supercharged coffee.
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736084].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      I just got to this point myself realizing I just don't have time to do it all - or if I try to I just become my own slave.

      My biggest issue now is finding people I trust to do tasks for me. It's hard to give up things when you have learned to do them yourself. And like you say with the style you have - it is near impossible to find a way to totally replicate it.

      Best you can do is search for someone to do something well enough that you can live with it.

      I agree, if you want to grow your business you eventually need to outsource or automate as much as possible.
      Signature

      "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736129].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        It seems to me that the writers are having the hardest time with this issue.

        I don't have a problem at all outsourcing web design or other tasks - I have no choice. I can't do it.

        But the writing - which is usually the most time-consuming part - well......

        Plus I still write for others. I love to write. But I use most of my writing time working on the projects of others. They outsource to me.

        Decisions, decisions.....
        Signature
        "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736146].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rapidscc
    Hi Shay,

    Hope ur doin well.

    You're right about outsourcing. Frankly, I myself am planning to do it in the near future.

    There's really no such thing as a one man army, and ten or twenty hands is definitely better than two even if just for bookmarking :-)

    So my two cents here is, if you can afford to outsource, go ahead. Even if you're just starting, who knows, doing so could put you on the shoulders of giants, and it's the nearest thing I know to a shortcut.

    :-) Omar
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736082].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Lindsay Brynn
    Shay I have the exact problem as you. I'm running several niche blogs and I like to write in them myself. I realize that it will never truly expand if I keep doing all of the writing myself. At the same time most of them are not making huge amounts of money. I mean I really like that they are paying for several bills and I would love to keep having them pay bills instead of going into outsourcing. I still know it is the answer though

    I came to this realization when I was trying to do everything in my life myself. I had my first child at the beginning of 08 and I stay at home with her and do everything for her - I'm also doing marketing for a local company AND do all of my own marketing and writing. In addition I noticed that my house was starting to look terrible! So I finally outsourced that part and I have a cleaning person come in every two weeks. So I guess I've started somewhere.
    Signature
    Lin Writes - Quality E-Book & Article Ghostwriting Service.

    $7 WSO: PLR Rights to 100+ Wordpress Themes!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736104].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kentaiwan98
    Yes, we have the same problem running our REAL offline business that way! It's tough to give up that part... we've not managed it yet.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736173].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    What a day for you to post this thread. This morning when I finished everything I needed to do and shut the computer down I looked around and it was getting daylight outside. I haven't had a real day off in weeks, my house is a mess, my truck is filthy and I had to do a load of laundry before I could get dressed. This has to stop. Not exactly what I had in mind the first time I came here and read how rich I was gonna be by working 10 minutes a day. Thanks for the wakeup call Shay. I'm goin' to the beach.

    Tom
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736305].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Peggy Baron
    Yes, yes, yes!
    I love it Shay. You summed it up so nicely in your original post.

    While it's true, it is hard when you know you can do it better yourself. I'm a writer too and that's my sticking point as well.

    What I'm doing now is making sure it's all me on my own blog and using quality PLR and ghostwritten articles for the rest. I do end up going over all of it like a good editor should. I've promoted myself from writer to sometimes writer but mostly editor.

    Thanks,
    Peggy
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736378].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      This thread really has me thinking.

      (I am never buying my coffee anywhere else. Seriously)

      Is there anyone here who makes six figures who does NOT outsource?

      I don't really want exact numbers about what people are making, of course - I am just trying to help others (and myself) understand.

      I would imagine that the leverage needed to reach an impressive income would require outsourcing. IMHO, the higher the income, the more outsourcing done? :confused:

      Sort of like adding stores in a chain of stores?

      ETA: And the flip side - if you do NOT outsource, are you automatically putting a ceiling on your income, right from the start?

      Am I off-base?
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736398].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Riddle
    Shay,

    There may be a mindset change when you go from the concept of outsourcing to team building.

    On paper its the same thing, someone else handles parts of what you need done.

    From a mindset change its HUGE !


    Mark
    Signature
    Today isn't Yesterday, - Products are everywhere if your eyes are Tuned!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736442].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by netmalls View Post

      Shay,

      There may be a mindset change when you go from the concept of outsourcing to team building.

      On paper its the same thing, someone else handles parts of what you need done.

      From a mindset change its HUGE !


      Mark
      I really love this concept.
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[737339].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author elle56
    It's true that writing does eat up a lot of time. I can't afford to outsource just yet as I am not really making a lot of money from writing. What I do is not to overload myself with projects, that's one. On the flip side however, I end up losing opportunities because I'm not flexible with my time.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736691].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mary Green
    Great story. I agree once you know your business its a lot easier to do the work yourself, though it is more stressful. I offer blog posting if you want to contact me about posting to your sites for you. Don't you just love it when have an epiphany like that?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736701].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Clyde Dennis
    Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

    Another way to think about outsourcing is to look at it as literally buying time.

    Why is that some folks seem to have 48 hours in each day? Take a close look. It's because they've managed to figure out a way to leverage the time of others. Either by paying for it outright or some other method.

    However you look at it, more time equals the opportunity to make more money.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736795].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Lindsay Brynn
    Shay, it will depend on what your income goals are. I can't comment on the 6 figures since I'm not there.

    I think if your goal is to bring in a few thousand per month to make a good living it is probably quite possible.

    But many people are very focused on expanding and expanding and outsourcing will definitely come into play.

    I still like the idea of mostly doing everything myself and don't care so much that it limits me because I think I'm doing well so far. I do think I might start playing around with PLR though to spend things up.
    Signature
    Lin Writes - Quality E-Book & Article Ghostwriting Service.

    $7 WSO: PLR Rights to 100+ Wordpress Themes!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[736825].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
    Shay there's only 24 hours in a day and though you feel you can do it better yourself, you don't have the TIME. Or you will be making too many sacrifices like staying up till 5am or neglecting your blogs. (I'm bad at that) So just bite the bullet and outsource for your blogs and you can focus on your ghostwriting. You can always edit or change the articles/posts you've outsourced too. Glad you learned you need to outsource. If you have a lot of projects/blogs/etc it helps a lot. And it will give you more TIME and relieve some STRESS.
    Signature

    siggy taking a break...

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[737151].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ecoverartist
    Hi Shay,

    I have this exact same problem. I feel like nobody can write with my same "voice" so I want to take care of it all. I've recently started outsourcing more things (coding-wise, not writing-wise) but I'm going to have to bite the bullet like Valerie said and loosen up a bit on being the perfectionist and get some other points of view in my blog.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[737214].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BigHef
    Great thread this - the main theme I've got out of it is how much easier it is to outsource when you really trust the people who do the job for you.

    In my personal experience, outsourcing articles was always so much easier when I had trustworthy writers doing them - it makes you think why don't I always outsource.

    But then you get the 1 or 2 bad apples and it makes you want to never outsource again cos they haven't saved you time at all - they've just cost you more!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[737326].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Paul Reid
    Shay - Congratulations!

    I had a similar experience a while ago, and now every aspect of my business is about trying to remove myself from the equation. I think it was Robert Kiyosaki who said that you don't truly own a business until you can leave for 2 weeks and make the exact same amount of money as you would have if you were there, you only have a job.

    By removing yourself from the equation, which is my ultimate goal, you can hire someone who is as good or better than you at something, often a specialist, to do the work for you whilst you worry about other stuff. I'm conviced the more I outsource (to hard workers) the more money I make.

    An example. I'm pretty good with PPC, can make good money from it. However I am happy to pay top dollar for great PPC management, because a) The amount of money I save in reduced click costs and save in increased conversion rates as a result of a true expert more than pays for the service costs, and b) I don't have to worry about it, so I have a whole chunk more time. Thus ROI skyrockets!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[737346].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Okay, more coffee. Same gas station. Different cashier.

      This is the epitome of a bad employee. She talks on the phone, doesn't talk to the customers, and she generally annoys the hell outta me.

      BUT

      She still makes the owner money.

      Maybe the owner could do a better job than she does. (Okay, I know he could.)

      But having her there is still better (for him) than having him working there.

      So even if your outsourced project is not exactly the way you would do it yourself, it is still more efficient than doing everything yourself.
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[750579].message }}

Trending Topics