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?
