DUPLICATION - A Business Lesson Learned!

[cd34]

and I think Mark's other point was probably:

it is better to hire a specialist at a task than it is to learn how to do that task yourself in many cases.

For instance, it might be easier to hire a programmer than it is for you to learn how to program.

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by cd34

and I think Mark's other point was probably:

it is better to hire a specialist at a task than it is to learn how to do that task yourself in many cases.

For instance, it might be easier to hire a programmer than it is for you to learn how to program.

Yup, I'd agree that Sparky hit Mark's points on the head

I've done the outsourcing thing with some basic html work...thinking it was more productive to pay someone else to do grunt work rather than doing it myself. Long story, but the short version is...it was a complete and utter fiasco. Not only was the project delivered 90 days late and after fairly extreme measures on my part to extract it...the work was less than 70% complete...AND I had to redo what had been done.

That said, I will indeed jump into delegating various things again...when resources allow and the right individuals can be found. Being self employed is great, but I prefer to own a business where I oversee operations rather than performing them myself.

Sparky's latter point about specialization is another scenario where delegating comes into play. Sure I could learn programming given enough time, yet myself and a partner are currently paying a programmer to develop / troubleshoot / repair a script.

I could also learn how to do slick graphics and design, but that's not my forte' and my time is more productive in other areas. So, I'm currently working with Mark on the redesign of FPP as the job will be done sooner and more professionally then if I did the project myself.

[tickler]

Originally Posted by cd34

For instance, it might be easier to hire a programmer than it is for you to learn how to program.

After 30 years in the systems and programming world, I have seen a lot of people who try to get into it for the money, and they maybe last a year. Not everybody is cut out to be detailed and precise with what they do.

I remember ripping a strip off a CSR at one of the billing companies, because he tried to tell me that the bug with referred WM commisions not being credited only affected my account. If some programmer is writing bad code that says "do this with one account, and do something else with the rest" they should be history.

[Greenguy]

Originally Posted by MarkTiarra

...The usual reasons are:

1) Fear of it not being done to their standards.
2) Logic of "why pay someone else to do what I can do anyway?"...

Originally Posted by cd34

and I think Mark's other point was probably:

it is better to hire a specialist at a task than it is to learn how to do that task yourself in many cases.

For instance, it might be easier to hire a programmer than it is for you to learn how to program.

No, I think he's speaking about things that you can do yourself.

I am a bit of a hypocrite about this, because I do have reviewers & I can review myself, but I can make more money doing other things & paying the reviewers.

I'm also doing work for other people that I know they can do on their own, but for whatever reason, they outsourced it to me, which is fine.

Of course, neither of those things brought in 10 times my original revenue either

How many people remember the mess that was Adult Buffet after James(?) left for a 3 month vacation? Every time I think about not doing it myself, I think of that.

Personally. I'd like to hear Jim's opinion on things.

[Jim]

Originally Posted by Greenguy

No, I think he's speaking about things that you can do yourself.

I am a bit of a hypocrite about this, because I do have reviewers & I can review myself, but I can make more money doing other things & paying the reviewers.

I'm also doing work for other people that I know they can do on their own, but for whatever reason, they outsourced it to me, which is fine.

Of course, neither of those things brought in 10 times my original revenue either

How many people remember the mess that was Adult Buffet after James(?) left for a 3 month vacation? Every time I think about not doing it myself, I think of that.

Personally. I'd like to hear Jim's opinion on things.

I know you would like to hear my opinion on this. As I told you, I am not sure if I was asked by our mutual friend not to mention it or not. So, I will do it without using too many details.

There really is no reason to do much work at all in this business. All you really have to do is to convince a major linklist owner first, that you have many more connections than they do. And, that it would be in his or her best interest to turn over all preselling of advertising and all monies from that linklist to you. And then after avoiding phone calls for several months, and after finally being hunted down, you give that linklist owner a tiny percentage of what is rightfully due to him or her. Thinking back Mark, you know what I mean, right?

The best way to stay in this business by taking their money is to swindle someone so bad that they are embarrassed to bring it to the public eye.

Or I could be a complete idiot and you should just flame the shit out of this thread.

Probably the only thing you said that people who know you would believe you said without some sort of agenda behind it.

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by Jim

The best way to stay in this business by taking their money is to swindle someone so bad that they are embarrassed to bring it to the public eye.

Jim... I remember reading in a recent medical journal that under certain circumstances violence can be used to recover from embarrasment.

These posts were an interesting read and I'd like to add my 2 cents. Maybe not applying directly to this biz because obviously like GG said many sites are run by ma and pa shops chasing every buck. But, after many years and several successful businesses and loosing the one woman I really probably should have held on to, I came to one conclusion which is even for type A personalities who probably need this advice more than any and really has served me well.

The advice is to pay for every single service you can afford to have done for you and doesn't REALLY need to be done by you. Accept that other people are lesser mortals than yourself and might always deliver a slightly less product than you can come up with and incorporate that into the plan. Why? Two major reasons: one is that you as the leader are really required to THINK! Supervise everything you can and let go. Think about how to get the next client, how to grow your company, how to get ahead of the curve, and concentrate on implementing the plan. A successful plan always involves a team and the star player is rarely the coach for a reason. If you're always tied up doing menial tasks, your not going to be able to think your way to riches.

The other reason is if you are an independent businesperson then you probably are doing it for a reason such as freedom, control of destiny, a better life with family and friends, blah, blah. What happens to most entrepreneurs is that they really end up putting these things off in favor of working 18 hours a day on the belief that just as soon as they attain x,y, or z goal they will "take some time off", have a vacation, play ball with the kids and so on. But the reality is that those leisure time events rarely happen and the entrepreneur keeps plugging away for years and has missed everything else. Life is short and shit happens. If you make your own hours then be sure to use them on the things you imagined you would NOW! Don't wait. Quality of life is only while you have it! Years down the road you'll really appreciate the wisdom of not wasting it on just chasing money. Everybody probably has several stories of people who rose to the top through hard work and relentless dedication and then years later lost it all.

If a mope is available for peanuts, feed him the best peanuts he ever had. If someone is smarter than you and you can pay him, do it and congratulate yourself on a job well done as you go boating. Most of the most successful have THOUGHT themselves into their success.

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by DJilla

Jim... I remember reading in a recent medical journal that under certain circumstances violence can be used to recover from embarrasment.

These posts were an interesting read and I'd like to add my 2 cents. Maybe not applying directly to this biz because obviously like GG said many sites are run by ma and pa shops chasing every buck. But, after many years and several successful businesses and loosing the one woman I really probably should have held on to, I came to one conclusion which is even for type A personalities who probably need this advice more than any and really has served me well.

The advice is to pay for every single service you can afford to have done for you and doesn't REALLY need to be done by you. Accept that other people are lesser mortals than yourself and might always deliver a slightly less product than you can come up with and incorporate that into the plan. Why? Two major reasons: one is that you as the leader are really required to THINK! Supervise everything you can and let go. Think about how to get the next client, how to grow your company, how to get ahead of the curve, and concentrate on implementing the plan. A successful plan always involves a team and the star player is rarely the coach for a reason. If you're always tied up doing menial tasks, your not going to be able to think your way to riches.

The other reason is if you are an independent businesperson then you probably are doing it for a reason such as freedom, control of destiny, a better life with family and friends, blah, blah. What happens to most entrepreneurs is that they really end up putting these things off in favor of working 18 hours a day on the belief that just as soon as they attain x,y, or z goal they will "take some time off", have a vacation, play ball with the kids and so on. But the reality is that those leisure time events rarely happen and the entrepreneur keeps plugging away for years and has missed everything else. Life is short and shit happens. If you make your own hours then be sure to use them on the things you imagined you would NOW! Don't wait. Quality of life is only while you have it! Years down the road you'll really appreciate the wisdom of not wasting it on just chasing money. Everybody probably has several stories of people who rose to the top through hard work and relentless dedication and then years later lost it all.

If a mope is available for peanuts, feed him the best peanuts he ever had. If someone is smarter than you and you can pay him, do it and congratulate yourself on a job well done as you go boating. Most of the most successful have THOUGHT themselves into their success.

Damn...that deserves repeating!

Very well said DJ

[MarkTiarra]

Originally Posted by DJilla

Jim... I remember reading in a recent medical journal that under certain circumstances violence can be used to recover from embarrasment.

These posts were an interesting read and I'd like to add my 2 cents. Maybe not applying directly to this biz because obviously like GG said many sites are run by ma and pa shops chasing every buck. But, after many years and several successful businesses and loosing the one woman I really probably should have held on to, I came to one conclusion which is even for type A personalities who probably need this advice more than any and really has served me well.

The advice is to pay for every single service you can afford to have done for you and doesn't REALLY need to be done by you. Accept that other people are lesser mortals than yourself and might always deliver a slightly less product than you can come up with and incorporate that into the plan. Why? Two major reasons: one is that you as the leader are really required to THINK! Supervise everything you can and let go. Think about how to get the next client, how to grow your company, how to get ahead of the curve, and concentrate on implementing the plan. A successful plan always involves a team and the star player is rarely the coach for a reason. If you're always tied up doing menial tasks, your not going to be able to think your way to riches.

The other reason is if you are an independent businesperson then you probably are doing it for a reason such as freedom, control of destiny, a better life with family and friends, blah, blah. What happens to most entrepreneurs is that they really end up putting these things off in favor of working 18 hours a day on the belief that just as soon as they attain x,y, or z goal they will "take some time off", have a vacation, play ball with the kids and so on. But the reality is that those leisure time events rarely happen and the entrepreneur keeps plugging away for years and has missed everything else. Life is short and shit happens. If you make your own hours then be sure to use them on the things you imagined you would NOW! Don't wait. Quality of life is only while you have it! Years down the road you'll really appreciate the wisdom of not wasting it on just chasing money. Everybody probably has several stories of people who rose to the top through hard work and relentless dedication and then years later lost it all.

If a mope is available for peanuts, feed him the best peanuts he ever had. If someone is smarter than you and you can pay him, do it and congratulate yourself on a job well done as you go boating. Most of the most successful have THOUGHT themselves into their success.

That is the quote of the century man. In a few paragraphs you said what probably 100 books tried to get people to understand. Well put.

[Fonz]

Originally Posted by DJilla

Jim... I remember reading in a recent medical journal that under certain circumstances violence can be used to recover from embarrasment.

These posts were an interesting read and I'd like to add my 2 cents. Maybe not applying directly to this biz because obviously like GG said many sites are run by ma and pa shops chasing every buck. But, after many years and several successful businesses and loosing the one woman I really probably should have held on to, I came to one conclusion which is even for type A personalities who probably need this advice more than any and really has served me well.

The advice is to pay for every single service you can afford to have done for you and doesn't REALLY need to be done by you. Accept that other people are lesser mortals than yourself and might always deliver a slightly less product than you can come up with and incorporate that into the plan. Why? Two major reasons: one is that you as the leader are really required to THINK! Supervise everything you can and let go. Think about how to get the next client, how to grow your company, how to get ahead of the curve, and concentrate on implementing the plan. A successful plan always involves a team and the star player is rarely the coach for a reason. If you're always tied up doing menial tasks, your not going to be able to think your way to riches.

The other reason is if you are an independent businesperson then you probably are doing it for a reason such as freedom, control of destiny, a better life with family and friends, blah, blah. What happens to most entrepreneurs is that they really end up putting these things off in favor of working 18 hours a day on the belief that just as soon as they attain x,y, or z goal they will "take some time off", have a vacation, play ball with the kids and so on. But the reality is that those leisure time events rarely happen and the entrepreneur keeps plugging away for years and has missed everything else. Life is short and shit happens. If you make your own hours then be sure to use them on the things you imagined you would NOW! Don't wait. Quality of life is only while you have it! Years down the road you'll really appreciate the wisdom of not wasting it on just chasing money. Everybody probably has several stories of people who rose to the top through hard work and relentless dedication and then years later lost it all.

If a mope is available for peanuts, feed him the best peanuts he ever had. If someone is smarter than you and you can pay him, do it and congratulate yourself on a job well done as you go boating. Most of the most successful have THOUGHT themselves into their success.

Damn, that one sure got me thinking... well done DJ

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by Fonz

Damn, that one sure got me thinking... well done DJ

Oh shit!!! Look out now!!

[MarkTiarra]

Originally Posted by Greenguy

No, I think he's speaking about things that you can do yourself.

I am a bit of a hypocrite about this, because I do have reviewers & I can review myself, but I can make more money doing other things & paying the reviewers.

I'm also doing work for other people that I know they can do on their own, but for whatever reason, they outsourced it to me, which is fine.

Of course, neither of those things brought in 10 times my original revenue either

How many people remember the mess that was Adult Buffet after James(?) left for a 3 month vacation? Every time I think about not doing it myself, I think of that.

Personally. I'd like to hear Jim's opinion on things.

Yeah I was mostly just trying to make the point someone made better than I did above, which is to try and build a business vs. being self employed. Obviously if you are happy and making a comfortable living and enjoy the work you are doing, there is no reason to have to duplicate anything. My point was that most of us fall into the trap of wanting to grow something larger but getting in our own way for the reasons I mentioned.