Hint: It’s not paying a random person $15 an hour
Last post I mentioned about eliminating some of the admin that has become standard in the “growth/success mindset.”
And how most of it is overcomplicating things leading us to have ridiculous amounts of busywork that keep us from what we want to do.
HOWEVER,
There are times that maybe having someone look at things or do things with or for you that may help a situation. Sometimes you can only simplify so far before it defeats the purpose. It is the whole “becoming inefficient by trying to be more efficient” thing.
This is a fine line to walk. Sometimes you may know the line and sometimes you might need others to guide you to that line.
I speak with many people who want help – in their business and in their life.
I will ask what they want help with and what they want this person to do.
Inevitably all the conversations end up something like this – this is a business example but this applies to the personal ones as well.
Person: “I just want someone to do task XYZ (like marketing, fix my website, handle all my finances)”
Me: “Okay.” Then I ask, “What does that look like for you in marketing? Are they posting, mailing, calling, emailing things that are already created?”
Person: “No, I need them to create them as well.”
Me: “Okay, so do you have a guide for how/what/when they need to create?”
Person: “No, I need them to do that too.”
Me: (This is when I usually say this is not something I can provide and try to point them in the right direction).
“Okay, so you need a professional marketer or an agency who has the strategy planning and insights to create that”
Person: “No, I just want to pay someone hourly to do it for me. I’ll find a kid to do it for me. I don’t need that sort of help.”
Hmmmm…okay.
Same conversation in reference to website updates:
Me: “So what do you want fixed or updated? Do they need to move to a new hosting plan or do you want to? Do you already have a design or do you want a storefront?”
Person: “No, I just want it updated.”
Me: “Okay, so do you have your brand guidelines, a map and a list of what you want updated?”
Person: “How should I know?! They are the website person, they need to tell me. I want it to be updated so it looks relevant.”
Me: (Again stating that this is not something I can best assist with and pointing them in a helpful direction) “Okay, so you need to contract with a designer/programmer who will take you all the way through the steps from concept to completion. That could take anywhere from months to years depending on the amount you want to spend.”
Person: “No, I just want to find someone to make some changes for me. I’ll find some kid to do it for me. It doesn’t need that much.”
Oh, really? Interesting…wonder how that “kid” looks at websites vs. how adults and business people do…but okay…
Same conversation pertaining to finances:
Me: “So what do you want them to manage, are they reconciling accounts, making suggestions on cutting costs, cleaning up categories and financial flow for reporting, or are you looking for more of an accountant who does more of the taxes part of it?”
Person: “Just someone to do my books.”
Me: “Where do you keep your books, is it Quickbooks, Freshbooks or some other software? Can they have access to it?”
Person: “It’s in Quickbooks but I’m not sure everything is really in there. That’s what I need them to do.”
Me: “Where/what is the other stuff?”
Person: “I don’t know, I need them to find it.”
When it requires more effort to sign into your own bank account oline than buy an actual physical car, you want someone who is not you to find all this out and “do it for you?”
Hmmmm…
And then the conversation ends again with, “Well I’ll ask my sister-in-law, nephew, neighbor’s kid to see if they want to do it. I’ll pay them a lower hourly rate and they’ll get experience.”
An awful experience I assure you – on both ends.
It serves both the employer and the employee (or client and contractor) for the employer/client to be specific in exactly what they want – because if they request vague things, they will get vague work.
That’s not to say that there are not amazing people who can help pull the details out and help create/customize the plan for the employer – there are – and they are worth every penny that they charge. And it will NOT be your neighbors kid.
There are tasks and then there are TASKS. The TASKS are the more nebulous, multiple parts and pieces and require thought, experience, time, maturity and bigger picture thinking.
You can hire your niece to upload a photo and schedule it. You hire an expert to get you a marketing plan, schedule which includes graphics, standards and sometimes even creating them. In many cases, you do get what you pay for (and sometimes more.)
Hiring someone to “help” doesn’t help.
Hiring someone to do:
- XYZ (employer defined)
- with ABC guidelines (employer defined)
- for 123 bigger picture (employer defined)
- with FGH skills (employee)
- and MNO experience (employee)
Will give everyone a better experience and a much better return on investment.
Figuring out what help you want and need can be the largest part of getting help (3 out of the 5 are employer based above) but it is the MOST essential and necessary part.
Please for your sake and the others who work with and for you, please do not skip the step of defining what you want done, the guidelines and the bigger picture before reaching out for help – even if it is to your nephew.
