| Part I: One man's grunt work is another man's | | | | One person completely runs my web-based |
| brilliance. | | | | software, Assessment Generator. Another person |
| I confess: hiring my first assistant made me feel | | | | runs my Coaching Millions Club. A third person is in |
| legit. | | | | charge of generating traffic to my web sites. A |
| I was tired of not being taken seriously by my | | | | fourth person runs my live events. |
| family, and this gave me an opportunity to say, | | | | Not everyone is a key driver, and sometimes |
| "She works for me." It was definitely a status | | | | they just don't want to be. Recently I had to let |
| symbol in the beginning. But then I learned it was | | | | my bookkeeper go. The guy just didn't get it. |
| much more! | | | | Any time I'd ask him to do something that did not |
| My assistant submitted articles, took care of my | | | | fit his traditional "job description," he'd turn it back |
| web sites, and handled customer support, and a | | | | to me. He knew that my goal was to be 100% |
| few other things, which took her about 15 hours | | | | free from any bookkeeping tasks, but wasn't |
| a month. I felt tremendous relief knowing that I | | | | willing to go the extra mile. I kept searching for |
| could give away the tasks I dreaded to someone | | | | someone else and finally discovered an amazing |
| else. Everything was going great! | | | | team of local bookkeepers, whose primary |
| Then my assistant decided to take a one-week | | | | mission was to liberate small business owners |
| vacation and I found myself stuck doing all of her | | | | from the hassles of bookkeeping. This team |
| work myself. This did not feel good at all, and I | | | | communicates with vendors, keeps track of |
| certainly didn't want to be in this position every | | | | deadlines, and makes sure I stay worry free at all |
| time my assistant went away. So a few months | | | | times. Now, that's a key driver! |
| later I hired a second assistant, asked my first | | | | Having the right people on your team opens up |
| one to train her. | | | | unlimited opportunities in your business. You start |
| Today I have a team of eleven people. They | | | | operating from the "sky is the limit" attitude and |
| include virtual assistants, writers, designers, | | | | achieve moreresults you've ever thought possible. |
| marketers, and coaches. I used to feel guilty | | | | Before I met Audrey, I couldn't imagine doingmy |
| about delegating. "If I didn't want to do something, | | | | own events. Finding the right location, negotiating |
| why would anyone else want to?" I thought. Then | | | | with the hotels, managing the event itself - it all |
| I learned that someone else was totally happy to | | | | seemed so overwhelming. From the moment I |
| do what I dread doing myself. Some people love | | | | spoke with Audrey, I knew I could do anything |
| designing, other people love playing with numbers, | | | | my mind conceived! |
| and many people would prefer handling tasks than | | | | So how do you build your "dream team" and |
| trying to come up with a vision and ideas. | | | | grow your company beyond any limits? I |
| In other words, one man's grunt work is another | | | | identified seven types of activates your team |
| man's brilliance. | | | | must be able to handle. I am not saying you |
| Part II: Hiring Key Drivers and Why Your Team | | | | should have seven people on your team. Nor am |
| Members Must Own Their Results | | | | I telling you to hire your entire team at once. I |
| George McFly from "Back to the Future" said, "If | | | | am simply suggesting that all of these activates |
| you put your mind to it, you can accomplish | | | | must be taken care of at some point in every |
| anything!" | | | | business. Either you are doing these yourself, or |
| Well, what if I don't want to put my mind to it? | | | | they're not being done at all, which most likely has |
| What if someone else can put their mind to it | | | | a limiting impact on your cash flow and revenue. |
| much faster, easier, better, and they'll actually | | | | Here they are: |
| enjoy every minute of it? | | | | 1. Administrative (customer service, web site |
| Why do it yourself when someone else can do it | | | | maintenance etc.) |
| for you? Most importantly, are you really going to | | | | 2. Creative (design, writing, editing etc.) |
| do it, or just whine about not having enough time | | | | 3. Marketing (PR, internet marketing, social media |
| to do it? | | | | etc.) |
| In addition to outsourcing my business accounting, | | | | 4. Sales (in-house, affiliate, strategic alliances, etc.) |
| I also have my bookkeeper do my household bills. | | | | 5. Service delivery (coaching, consulting, training |
| I put everything into one envelope and ship it to | | | | etc.)6. Technical (computers, network, web |
| her via UPS three times a month. She sends me | | | | hosting, programming, e-commerce etc.) |
| the checks to sign and I am done! | | | | 7. Professional contractors (accounting, legal, |
| A cleaning lady comes to my home once a week | | | | event planning etc.) |
| to clean the entire house. I've had her for almost | | | | There are two more types of activities I thought |
| five years, and at first she came once a month, | | | | I'd mention - these may not seem essential to |
| then twice a month, then finally I decided to stop | | | | your business success and profitability, but I can |
| worrying about keeping my house clean and | | | | tell you they've made a huge difference in my life: |
| asked her to come weekly. It used to take me | | | | 8. Mentoring (business coach or mentor) |
| three hours just to clean my kitchen, while it | | | | 9. Personal (house cleaning, chef, concierge, |
| takes her about two and a half hours to clean the | | | | shopper, image consultant etc.) |
| entire three-story house! I'd be crazy to do it any | | | | This afternoon I was signing checks - about 20 of |
| other way, she's a pro! | | | | them ranging from $20 to $2500 in the amount. |
| Many people talk about delegation as an important | | | | "That's a whole load of money!" I thought to |
| skill to master in your business. I take it a step | | | | myself. We could have our entire household |
| further, which helps me create true peace of | | | | supported every month using this money! |
| mind and continue building a world-class company. | | | | So why am I paying so much to other people? |
| Delegation to me does not mean that you | | | | Because I want a life...I want to be able to wake |
| continue managing the project you delegate. My | | | | up on Friday, have coffee, and take a ride to a |
| goal with any project is to make it worry-free | | | | beautiful park nearby with my husband, and know |
| and completely remove it from my mental space. | | | | that my company - products, customers, web |
| If I still have to stay on top of it and make sure | | | | sites, and partners - are all taken care of. That's |
| everything gets done, then I really haven't | | | | why I don't mind paying a ton of money to the 8 |
| delegated it. Remember, "that's not why I built | | | | people on my "dream team!" |
| the castle." | | | | Getting paid 50% of something is better, than |
| To be able to fully delegate a project or a part of | | | | doing 100% of everything myself. sooner you |
| your business, you must have the right people on | | | | adapt this thinking to your own business, the |
| your team. These are the people who will own | | | | sooner you'll become free from the chains of |
| their project and their results. I call them "key | | | | your business. |
| drivers." A key driver likes to understand the | | | | Having a great support team helps you unlock |
| desired outcome and the resources available, and | | | | your business growth opportunities like never |
| takes it from there to drive it to the finish line. | | | | before! |
| Most of the people on my team are key drivers. | | | | |