To Delegate or Not?

If you're a small business owner or entrepreneur then you've probably struggled with this age-old question: 'Do I delegate or do it myself?'

In the beginning of a business, we may delegate but we often feel we have to do everything. There are many reasons for this way of thinking and they are as follows:

1. We don't have the money. (this is a valid reason)
2. We don't have the time to teach someone else.
3. We don't really know what we should delegate to someone else.
4. We're too busy to even realize we need to hand off some of our work.
5. We feel independent and want to 'go it alone.'
6. We don't want to give up control (this is a huge one that people fear)

There are other reasons we hold off on delegating but these are the most common reasons.

Relinquishing control is the most challenging habit because we often feel that 'no one can do the task as well as us.' We're afraid that if we hand the job to someone else, they will lose the clients, waste the resources, make us look bad, make the company look bad, etc.

Nothing could be farther from the truth (if you hire right from the start)

All the most successful companies in the world only experience success when they stop doing everything themselves and they delegate the things they hate, don't enjoy, don't have abilities for and so forth.

Ever notice how some companies bypass others? It's got to do with the team they hire. They look for talented, intelligent people who have the same philosophies and a passion and desire to build the company. These people have skills and abilities that their employer doesn't have.

That's right, never hire someone exactly like you or you will miss out on new skills.

Another reason small biz owners hate to delegate and hand jobs to others is because they feel they don't have money to do so.

I have felt this way at times because honestly, I hardly had the money to pay myself. This is where you sometimes have to be creative.

If you're a coach, you might barter and trade your coaching with someone who does website design, etc. See how you can offer your products and services in exchange for other things you need.

I caution against just a straight barter. It's better to pay for something and have the other person do so as well so there is an exchange of money. This way, you will feel abundant and will attract more money.

Being too busy to delegate can be like a double-edged sword. You need to have someone take on the work and yet you're too busy to give them things to do. It's kind of like driving your car and the gas gauge light comes on to tell you that there's only one sixteenth of a tank of gas left but instead of driving to a gas station, you decide you're too busy to slow down and refuel. Instead, you keep on driving and eventually run out of gas and are overly late for that meeting.

Sometimes pride gets in the way and we feel independent and think we should do everythng ourselves. That might be okay for a short spell; it's good to know how all areas of your company work, but after a while, playing a Lone Ranger will make you irritable, sick and you'll lose the passion for your business. You need to delegate so you can do what you do best and bring in revenue.

Finally, sometimes we don't even know what we should delegate. If you know you need to give work to someone else (signs are: frustration, losing revenue, not doing what you're gifted at, etc.) but don't know what work to hand over, you must have a plan.

Start by writing down every single thing you do in your business.

For example, you might read and answer email, send faxes phone clients, follow up with new clients, handle marketing, do book-keeping, etc.

Study your list, think about the talents you have that bring you money and then eliminate things that frustrate you, take you away from making money, take too long to do, you don't really know how to do them and so forth.

Try to only focus on things that are creative and bring you revenue, credibility, clients, etc.

If money is a huge issue, contract out. Get a virtual assistant or an employee to come in to your company and work a set amount of hours per week or month. This is a very viable way to run a company.

For example, you may only need a book-keeper for a few hours per month. Why hire someone full time if you don't need them?

When deciding to delegate or not, ask yourself what your time is worth. If you're charging $100 an hour for a service and your books are draining your time, it may be worth your while to hire that book-keeper for a few hours a month so you can take on more clients and make more money.

Take this week and think about where you might bring an expert into your company. I wish you well and feel free to email me your ideas at: info@escapethepace.com


Lisa "Small Biz Stress Buster"

Lisa Rickwood, "Small Biz Stress Buster," is a small business coach, visual artist and author of Escape The Pace: 100 Fun And Easy Ways To Slow Down And Enjoy Your Life and co-author of Power & Soul: 42 Successful Entrepreneurs Share their Secrets for Creating the Business and Life of Their Dreams. She helps small business owners ‘master stress for professional and personal success.’ Get your FREE e-book, 5 Critical Actions That Hurt Your Business and Add Stress to Your Life…and How to Escape Them by visiting: http://www.escapethepace.com/

'The More People I Meet, The More I Like My Dog." (Bumper Sticker)

I'm not sure where I first saw that bumper sticker, but being a dog lover, I thought it was funny although I internally disagreed with it. (I like people)

Fast forward about 20 years...20 years of advertising sales, retail sales and working with the general public. Okay...I still like people but I really like my dog -

What you can learn about a dog and how to apply it to business:

1. Dogs are reliable: You can count on them - they're loyal. Is your staff dependable, do they treat customers with respect? Do your staff arrive on time, do their job well? Or, are there problems? How does reliability fit in your business? Can you deliver your product or service on time and to the best of your ability?

2. Dogs like to have fun: If your business isn't any fun, why do it? Okay...some of you have to for the moment - there's no quick alternative. But when you get the chance, see how you can infuse some fun into your workplace.

For example, even after the 'politically correct' way of being emerged in the corporate world, my former boss at a newspaper, downloaded un-politically correct comics and we laughed our heads off on Monday mornings. What a great way to start the week!

3. Dogs know when to play hard and go for a nap: If you're 'burning the candle at both ends,' you're not going to be having fun, and you're not going to be F-U-N. After you complete a huge project, you owe it to yourself to 'goof off' and do something fun.

Go for that hike, bikeride, swim - read, do yoga, hit the spa, have a night out with the guys...do something to blow off steam. We're all too serious and it hurts our bodies, minds and spirits.

4. Dogs like exploring: Stuck on a project, feeling 'in a slump,' or stressed out? Go exploring. You can travel out of town, visit another city or armchair travel online. Get out of your head and environment and see what others are doing.

My dog, Ricker, is 'an escape artist,' and loves to run away so he can see new things in the neighbourhood (and chase cats). When he comes back home he's happy, exercised and ready to do whatever a dog needs to do.

5. Dogs are creative: If a dog wants a bone, to chase a cat or to escape, he'll find a way. When you consider that the average dog has the intelligence of a five year old, that's pretty smart - quiet a bit of knowledge in that doggie brain.

Creativity is fast becoming something that innovative companies are looking for. If you or your company are creative, you can stand out and attract more customers or clients. How to be creative? Put a creativity box in your business. Ask employees to post ideas based on a company challenge;read a book on creativity, keep a notepad nearby, write in a journal, surf the Net, take photographs, do a crossword puzzle, create the title for a hit song, write a poem, play an instrument. The point is - get your creativity juices flowing. Everyone is creative in a certain way - i't's about thinking differently, solving old problems new ways.

Have fun and remember: 'It's a dog's life.'

Lisa Rickwood, "Small Biz Stress Buster," is a small business coach, visual artist and author of Escape The Pace: 100 Fun And Easy Ways To Slow Down And Enjoy Your Life and co-author of Power & Soul: 42 Successful Entrepreneurs Share their Secrets for Creating the Business and Life of Their Dreams. She helps small business owners ‘master stress for professional and personal success.’ Get your FREE e-book, 5 Critical Actions That Hurt Your Business and Add Stress to Your Life…and How to Escape Them by visiting: http://www.escapethepace.com/

Paris Hilton or Bust!

So now I know society has really gone to the dogs or to Paris...

Even when I don't care or want to know about the infamous, Paris Hilton, the media shoves it in my face - it's at the newsstands, on the evening news and the radio. Newsflash: I DON'T CARE.
Well, I must care because I'm writing about it, but why I'm writing is because I never cease to be amazed at the number of 'well you know' people who commit a crime and don't do the time.

So...after a few days in jail, poor Paris Hilton is allowed to finish her sentence in the comfort of her multi-million dollar mansion with an electronic anklet attached to her ankle. What if the electronic tag isn't covered in diamonds? Poor, poor Paris. I can just hear her saying, "But it doesn't match the rest of my outfit - where's all the diamonds?"

So they're releasing her because she's having a panic attack? What, she doesn't have a solid gold toilet in prison? Poor, girl - that would do me in as well.

It's so sad that she's under house arrest for the next 40 days. Does that mean - she can't leave her mansion to go shopping on Rodeo Drive? Awww, that's sad - what's a girl supposed to do?

Paris was originally sentenced to 45 days incarceration for breaking the terms of a drink-driving probation, but as everyone can see, 5 days was just too long for the poor girl. If it was you or me with this conviction, they'd throw away the key indefinately. Ain't society grand!

Lessons you can walk away with:

• Always look sexy - even when your picture is a mugshot
• Play the victim - you'll receive the first 'get out of jail free' card
• Change your last name to Hilton - you'll always have a place to stay
• Make sure your dog has more diamonds on him than the cost of the average person's home - then you'll feel complete
• Be sure your anklet matches your outfit - you may have to ask for designer anklets in different gemstone colors so the anklet doesn't clash with your stripper outfits.

Am I being sarcastic? Ya think?

There is one great thing about stories like this - they take our minds off the real issues of climate change, Afghanistan, money issues and so forth.

Happy escaping,

Lisa Rickwood - "Small Biz Stress Buster"

Lisa Rickwood, "Small Biz Stress Buster," is a small business coach, visual artist and author of Escape The Pace: 100 Fun And Easy Ways To Slow Down And Enjoy Your Life and co-author of Power & Soul: 42 Successful Entrepreneurs Share their Secrets for Creating the Business and Life of Their Dreams. She helps small business owners ‘master stress for professional and personal success.’ Get your FREE e-book, 5 Critical Actions That Hurt Your Business and Add Stress to Your Life…and How to Escape Them by visiting: http://www.escapethepace.com/