One of my friends doesn’t believe in paying someone to do anything he has the ability to do himself.
I joke with him that if I worked to that mantra I wouldn’t make any contributions to anyone else’s coffers – being so talented and all!
But back in reality, business outsourcing really does make the world go round. Why outsource? Not only is it the ideal way for us soloists to run our businesses, but, philosophically, it’s our obligation. The circle of cash.
I’m a public relations consultant and I make my living by people outsourcing their public relations needs to me.
To make sure I have enough time to focus on handling my clients’ PR (and my own), while meeting the diverse needs of a thriving business, I stick to my knitting… and outsource the rest.
The businesses of my accountant, lawyers (share the love), book-keeper, cleaner, graphic designers, printer and photographers all benefit as I focus on my own strengths and they theirs.
I certainly don’t want any of them DIYing their public relations.
On the home front, I follow my own advice. My role is clear and my strengths are obvious. I’m the mum. I
outsource cleaning and ironing (deliriously happily), pay extra at one of those quaint service stations where they
still pump the petrol for me, have met many of the Jim’s team and like to ensure the fruit shop delivery people
stay employed. I’ve thought about buying a flash coffee machine for home, but my commitment to sticking to my
strengths (a la drinking coffee) and outsourcing the rest (that would be the actual making of the coffee) prevents me.
Such commitment to an economic ideal!
At home I do the things no one else can – the mothering. At work, I use the same rationale. I’m in PR. I do the PR and leave a growing army of specialists to handle what they do.
And my world is humming along nicely and so I hope are theirs.
Outsourcing makes all of our worlds go round.
“ Outsourcing makes all of our worlds go round. ”
Karen Morath of M Power consults, trains, speaks and coaches in public relations, personal effectiveness, life balance and all things empowering.
