Are you a small business owner, consultant, speaker or coach that still ‘does it all’ in your business?
If you are, you’re not alone.
When we start out running our own business, we inevitably have to wear all of the hats from administration to sales and everything in between.
As we start to build our business, some of these tasks can take over time that would be better spent working with clients … you know, the ‘revenue’ part.
But it can be difficult to get started.
Your business is your baby. When you build it from the ground up, it can be difficult to bring in someone to help you with certain aspects of it – not just from a control standpoint (or lack of control!) but also from the perspective that you now have to ‘manage’ other people who are involved in your business.
This is often the thing that keeps people from seeking help when they need to get it. But the fact is that without support, your business is not going to be able to grow quickly and successfully.
So … where do you start? Easy. With a wish list (doesn’t that sound FUN?) … a Virtual Assistant Wish List!
The VA Wish List will allow you to strategically plan what it is you need help with, and will also help you plan when you can bring that type of support into your business. Here’s how:
1. List all the things you do in your business. This means everything. If you need to ‘follow’ yourself around your business for a week or a month to build this list, do it. You’ll be surprised at what’s on it!
2. Indicate what you don’t like to do, or what you don’t do well. These are the things that you should get support around immediately.
3. Indicate things that you know you will eventually need to get help with if you business gets very big very quickly. These are the things you should plan to get support with ‘at some point’ (then set that point!)
As you look over your list, really think about:
1. How easy it is to delegate – can you call someone now to help you (ie bookkeeper, housekeeper)
2. What procedures do you have in place – if you have to explain your ‘way’ of doing things to people, do you have it written down? If not, how easy is it to do that?
3. Rank each task as most important to ‘get off your desk’ – by knowing what you need to get rid of fastest, you can free up valuable time quickly so you can focus on bringing revenue into your business right away (*and that could pay for your outsourcing!)
It’s as simple as that. Write it all down so you can look at it. Pat yourself on the back for all that you are doing in your own business. Then get moving to get help where it makes sense. You will not only free up your time to make more money, but you will also establish yourself as a growing business owner who recognizes that no one can (or should) do it all alone.
Don’t wish for support – build a Wish List and get it. For more information about working with a Virtual Assistant, visit my blog at www.yourvamentor.com/blog
