| If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone | | | | clients - then I would be able to get some help." |
| say "I know I need to delegate some of this | | | | When, exactly, are you going to work with those |
| stuff, but I can't afford to do it right now. I need | | | | new clients? You have no time! |
| more clients first." - I would be a very rich | | | | You think you need to increase your capacity for |
| woman. | | | | serving your clients before you increase your |
| Look, I get it. Cash flow is tight. Every cent is | | | | structures. But, you have no additional capacity. |
| going back into the business. Credit is so tight you | | | | And you will have no additional capacity until you |
| are even putting in your own money to keep | | | | revise your structures! |
| going from time to time. Taking on an extra | | | | One hour of work by a good virtual assistant, or |
| expense makes no sense. | | | | bookkeeper, or intern will usually give you back 5 |
| But let's really look at it. You are working your | | | | hours of your own time. (Both the time it takes |
| heart out in your business. You spend your days | | | | to get the task done and done well, plus the time |
| networking, working with clients, developing | | | | you spend worrying about it.) |
| relationships, getting your job done. | | | | I remember when I hired my first part time |
| And you are spending your nights and weekends | | | | assistant. I was really worried about being able to |
| doing your bookkeeping, keeping your papers filed, | | | | afford her. I initially committed to 10 hours per |
| sending out invoices, typing cards into the | | | | month of her time, and I put that amount of |
| database, creating your newsletter, sending thank | | | | money aside. My deal with myself was if I didn't |
| you notes, making phone calls, and on and on and | | | | generate at least enough work to cover her time, |
| on. | | | | I would not continue. |
| And if you are not spending your nights and | | | | I don't know about you, but paying someone $25, |
| weekends that way, you are worrying about all | | | | $50, even $100 an hour (for an expert) in order |
| that stuff needing to get done, and feeling guilty | | | | to have 5 to 10 more hours in my day or week |
| and overwhelmed, and thinking you are a hopeless | | | | is well worth the effort. Every single time I have |
| case because you are so far behind on that. | | | | expanded my underlying structures my business |
| If you remember to have lunch it is only because | | | | has increased exponentially! |
| you scheduled a lunch meeting. You have given up | | | | Right now, for every dollar I pay a virtual |
| on having a full night's sleep. And you can barely | | | | assistant or other team member, I am making |
| remember what a day off feels like - it has been | | | | back about 20 times that in increased business. |
| so long. | | | | So now, when I really want to increase my |
| And you are convinced everyone else is doing it | | | | capacity for new business I look at what else can |
| better. | | | | I delegate? |
| You are already working at or over capacity. And | | | | Works every single time. |
| yet, you think that "if only I could get some more | | | | |