How to Outsource Your Life to the Right People
Timothy Ferris swears by it. Escape the 9 to 5, live anywhere, and join the new rich. Live the dream of a four-hour work week. Work smarter, not harder. Outsource your life, from cooking your meals to building your website to walking your dog. Everything goes.
There are tons of willing people ready to help you achieve a life of luxury – or at least take on your most hated chores. Before you kick up your feet and relax, though, you have to find the best people to take over for you.
Poor providers end up costing more in the long run. Hey, you have to pay someone else to clean up the mess, right? Worse, you may have no money left and end up picking up the pieces on your own.
Choosing a person for outsourcing isn’t easy. Should you pay more? Does that mean better work? Should you pay less and save money? Who is best? Should the person have credentials, a degree or experience? Is the most popular a better choice? Should you give people fresh in the business a break?
That all depends, and there are no right or wrong answers. But there is a nice checklist of what to look for in someone you think you’d like to work with:
- Quality products or services
- References you can contact
- A good reputation
- Available samples or a portfolio
- A willingness to negotiate
- A friendly and flexible attitude
- Dependability and reliability
- Courage without cockiness
- Initiative and self-motivation
- Expertise and skills
- Relevant education or hands-on experience
- A clean, neat appearance
- Professional communication
Notice one thing: Price isn’t on that list. Never shop by price, no matter what you’re buying
Choose someone that makes you feel confident, reassured and comfortable. The people who take over your duties, chores and responsibilities have to be trustworthy. You don’t need the added stress of worrying whether deadlines will be met, whether the job will be done right, or whether the person can even handle the job at all.
Find people who can handle your needs and who let you have peace of mind. Then go kick back and put your feet up to start enjoying the theory of working smarter, not harder.
Your turn: What else would you put on that list of qualifiers to round it out? What do you look for in a great person to work with?
28 Responses to “How to Outsource Your Life to the Right People”
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The promoter of the four hour week was already rich and had a cash generating business behind him. I figure that in that situation it’s not hard to find good people to run things and spend only four hours a week keeping tabs.
But can this really work for the rest of us? Do you think that it’s possible to build a business from nothing in only four hours a week? How many hours per week did Mr. Ferris work to build his?
Gary Fletcher’s last blog post..French Riviera – Mountain Walks In The Maritime Alps
@ Gary – That’s all true. The point of my post was not that we can build a business from four hours a week, though. It was that if you are going to outsource, no matter how many hours a week you work, there are things to look for in people that mean you have better service and enjoy the outsourcing relationship. Make sense?
It’s a great list James. The only thing that I could think of to add would be something about honesty or integrity.
I did wonder about the clean, neat appearance. Being a home-based worker I usually work in a tee shirt and blue jeans. (Some folks might not consider that to be “neat.”) I’m always clean, though.
Laura Spencer’s last blog post..Do Your Readers Trust You?
@ Laura – Ha, ha, caught you! Clean and neat doesn’t always mean your physical appearance. What does your website look like? Your profile page? Your emails? Clean and neat can be applied to many areas.
I do sweatpants, sneakers and baseball caps. I do wash, too.
Ahh! That’s a whole different ballgame.
I guess I can stop being paranoid about violating the freelancer dress code now.
Laura Spencer’s last blog post..Do Your Readers Trust You?
As far as qualifications for a good employee go, you gave a great list James. I have a little something to add to outsourcing: don’t forget about your friends and family. In a way, we outsource daily by utilizing teamwork.
For example, the economy in the US has kept a lot of us young people living at home. Right now, we have my boyfriend’s parents, the two of us, and his niece. He and I have a hand in minding the little one – we try our best to give her enriching and learning experiences, while the mom of the house cooks dinner for the family. When mom needs to give the little one a bath, BF and I clean up the dinner mess.
When you develop a team at home, a lot more gets accomplished. The caretakers in the household can take more hours at work, while those with smaller paychecks can keep track of chores and children. In the end, more money comes into the household and we can have nice things and live comfortably. We pool all our resources and everyone wins. When I get older, I hope to switch the roles: allow the grandparents to mind my children, while I get some work done.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that considering my situation, I’ll never experience riches. But I’ll have to agree 100% that outsourcing is ridiculously helpful in obtaining greater wealth. I also believe that experiencing teamwork in this way has enriched my life, so I would recommend it anyone.
r.l.david02 – TKD Happiness’s last blog post..Sunday Meditation: ?That is why you fail?
I enjoy working with someone who is able to grasp the meaning of the problem at hand and is able to act without a lot of prompting or hand holding. Someone that asks what seems to be an inordinate amount of questions starts to make me question that person.
Good list. I would add something about them having that concierge capability. You know, if they don’t have it themselves, being able to point you in the right direction to the good stuff, or good person, who is just the right thing for you.
You can say it better. But if I needed something specific outside the range of offerings, I would want someone with all those things on your list, plus the willingness to say, you know I can help with this, but for that let’s get so so who is an absolute wizard with this part.
Do you know what I mean?
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..I Must Go Play In The Paint
My list would have “word of mouth” on it. When looking to hire someone new I always start the search by asking people I trust for who they use. This does not always work but it is a good place to start. And it is win-win because it really helps build a personal network. Asking a person for advice can help build your relationship with them. And can give you reason to touch base with someone in your network whom you may not have spoken to in a while. I could go on an on.
References you can contact is definitely high on the list – for any position.
I think “observation” could be on that list as well, though something like that is usually more of a time and get to know you issue in which many of the topics you listed would be observed.
For example, through observation (and not contacting any references or viewing your credentials), I can see Men with Pens have those qualities listed above. I’ve observed how you always (and I mean always) create meaningful blog articles and never miss your posting day, observed your knowledge and customer service skills (also through your blog and emails), your networking skills, etc.
John Hoff – eVentureBiz’s last blog post..20.4 Ways People Scan Your Website
I like your point about not having the price drive your decision. No discounted price is worth the stress of lacking confidence in those you hired.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..Realizing You’re a Magician Can Create Magic in Your Life
Honesty and integrity were on my list too but Laura beat me to it. I would also add punctuality.
This whole outsourcing thing can be scary for small business persons. To let go is not easy. Part of the problem of all start ups is precisely this inability to delegate. It is not easy to overcome this problem.
Nicole Price’s last blog post..Discounted Pet Products
@ Nicole – I think that far too many freelancers and individuals end up wearing too many hats because they want to keep costs low, so they try to do it all. That ends up in burnout fast, especially online. It’s far smarter to pay someone to do the job – and your free time can even go to working on gigs that pay more or bringing in new business.
Now delegation… gah. We’re all control freaks
@ Bamboo – That’s a close one for us. We price ourselves lower than we could, and for a reason, but we offer higher quality than others with higher rates. Price never means a thing. (It certainly didn’t for that stereo system I bought…)
@ John – Ha, good one! I have always found the best people to work with by watching them for a while. Just watching. The ones that looked good and that I contacted too quickly? Boom. Screw James time. The ones I observed? Love ‘em.
And thank you for the kind words. Music to my ears
@ Daryle – Another good one. Backup, testimonials, the experiences from others… all good proof that show someone has come through before and will come through again.
@ Janice – That’s a very good point. Someone who has the self-confidence to say, “I can’t do this, but I can refer you to this person, who I know can and will do a good job,” is usually a GREAT person to work with for what they can do.
@ Mark – Self-sufficiency, initiative and confidence are huge ones on my list, too. I missed those and you’re right. Problem is, I assume that if someone says they can do a job, they mean what they say. Truth of the matter is that’s not always the case these days.
@ RLD – Team effort is a good one, because it shows that the person cares more about making something work than their own pocket. I like that one.
You’re right, too. Our generation will most likely never be rich. *sigh*
James Chartrand – Men with Pens’s last blog post..How to Outsource Your Life to the Right People
I’m a firm believer in this! I have someone come on a regular basis to clean for me – because that’s one task I can do without. I need to be better at outsourcing in my business, though.
Katherine’s last blog post..How to Increase Your Blog’s Page Rank
In the beginning I had some pretty pitiful results when outsourcing for my business. But I’m not willing to give up hope – I think I’ll print a copy of your checklist for next time.
Kimberly Ben’s last blog post..The Freelance Writing Projects We Don’t Like
You can turn this list on its head too.
These are the qualities we need to develop if we are starting out as freelancers and trying to find clients for our work.
Good list.
zania’s last blog post..Finding Your Best Time To Write
I like people from India. I have some good friends from over there and their culture is so respectful and honorable which translates into honest and dependable work. Plus, most of them work for very little money because their exchange rate.
So, if we all outsource everything, who will be left to do the work?
Just had to ask.
Debbi’s last blog post..Organization and Remembering Why We Do This
@James – Kind of late follow up due to the “décalage horaire”. Your point makes sense entirely. I didn’t want to detract from it but that whole four hour work week thing, sheesh, gimme a break…
I find your list very complete. I think Janice made a great point on the ability to tell what they can’t do, and even better if they can suggest someone else who can. That kind of behaviour earns a lot of respect from me and I find it a good sign of someone who knows what they’re doing and what they’re about.
And before you all go getting too depressed, remember that “our” generation is probably one of the richest that ever existed. Let’s not be too sorry for ourselves
Gary Fletcher’s last blog post..French Riviera – Mountain Walks In The Maritime Alps
@Debbi – Hey, I, for one, am washed and available…
Gary Fletcher’s last blog post..French Riviera – Mountain Walks In The Maritime Alps
@ Gary – Well, considering the number of electronics and American Eagle clothing my teen has compared to my sweatpants and Nikes, I might have to say that I think Y is the richer generation. All the goodies, no debt. Not yet, anyways. Muahahahhaa, it’s coming….
I think the four-hour workweek is a mythical dream, btw. Still would love to have it
@ Debbi – Sheesh.
James Chartrand – Men with Pens’s last blog post..Four Areas to Think of When Building an Online Business
@James – Yeah, but who paid for all your teen’s stuff? Now there’s a smart idea… outsource your payments. Any takers out there, good bank references required…
PS: Sorry for monopolizing the comments.
Gary Fletcher’s last blog post..French Riviera – Mountain Walks In The Maritime Alps
@ Gary – No sorries. You should see what happens when the girls get a hold of my comment section. EH, KELLY AND JANICE??
@Gary – I, too, am washed and available and not wearings PJs.
But if you decide you want to work a 4-hour work week and I decide it and the other people we’d like to outsource to also decide it . . . well, you can see where this is going.
I know people outsource administrative stuff so they can focus on their client work. And I know people who take on some portion of their work with the intent to either refer it for a fee or outsource it to others with a mark-up to make a profit. But I question the viability of the 4-hour work week model (outsourcing everything), albeit taken to its logical extreme. But if the model’s proponent is going to sell us on the idea that anyone can do this, that doesn’t seem like an unfair thing to do.
But I was never an economics whiz. Am I missing something here?
Debbi’s last blog post..Organization and Remembering Why We Do This
“I think Janice made a great point ”
Thanks Gary. SWAK.
James- Hmph. I have no idea what you could possibly mean…she smiles and plots.. Really, not a clue…:)
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Where The Wild Things Are