By ‘outsourcing your higher learning’, I don’t mean you should delegate your university education or your college assignments. That wouldn’t be ethical. But how many times have you thought something like…
“I’m ready to put a shopping cart on my website, I should really learn how to do that.”
“I know I should be putting out a newsletter but I don’t know where to start.”
“As soon as I get a minute to figure out Facebook, I’ll put up a profile.”
“I’ll get my bookkeeping straightened out when I get around to learning how to use QuickBooks.”
In all honesty, are you ever going to get around to learning how to do all those things while you’re working in your business? Maybe, but at what cost?
If you have a Virtual Assistant already, have you thought about asking them if they would learn how to do any of these things? Or have you thought about asking for referrals for other Virtual Assistants they network with who already know how to do the things you keep “meaning to get around to.”
If you’re actively searching for a Virtual Assistant, keep in mind that a lot of VAs would be very happy to learn a new skill for you. You don’t necessarily have to find one person who can do all 30 things you want to delegate. It’s kind of tough to find someone who can do everything. But I’ll bet you can find a person who can do 15 things, learn how to do a couple more, and help hook you up with someone great who can do the rest!
Stop putting all those important things off. Outsource learning a new skill. Hey, why not?!
Great points Jaime! I think a lot of potential clients have concerns that you don’t know *everything* they need, but most VA’s love to learn (I sure do!) and will happily take on new opportunities when given the chance.
Wonderful timing on this post Jaime! I was at this overwhelming point myself this past week in my business having a new software product that I didn’t have time to learn. I then realized, “Hey, I don’t need to learn this, I just need to have someone else know how to use it to accomplish the business goals I have.” I quickly picked up my phone and called my VA 😉
Tawnya – isn’t it amazing when you have those little realizations? “Duh, why haven’t I asked a VA to do this?” They’re great moments and too often, VAs don’t practice what they (we) preach 😉
Laurie – I do think that’s a big thing that holds people back from hiring a VA; the concern they won’t know how to do everything they need. All it takes is bringing it up, really. Most VAs won’t charge for the time it takes to learn a new skill if it will benefit them in their own business or the work they do for other clients.
In my experience I haven’t found VAs that keen to learn a new skill for free, if they are doing it for their client. Maybe I’ve just been unlucky, but I can’t blame VAs for expecting to be paid for their time, and the fact that they are being paid to learn is a perk for them.
Jaime, this is great advice! It is good for potential clients to know that learning new skills is one of the best parts of being a VA. The ability to integrate that training with a client project can be invaluable experience to a VA, and good news for a client’s pocketbook!
Love your post Jaime! As a VA, I find that there’s nothing more positive and challenging then to acquire a new skill, by learning a new software! It is an all around “good thing” as it benefits my customer and myself!
I wrote more about this timely topic at my blog, Virtually @ Eight Twenty-Two (http://barjdcomuications.wordpress.com). All of the things you suggest, Jaime, are right on the money. Plus, today’s business world is no place to neglect tasks that can easily be outsourced to virtual professionals and begin to contribute to the success of anyone’s business.
Each one of my newsletter clients (currently – 4) have said these exact words to me: “I know I need to do this, I just don’t have the time or inclination to do it. How much will it cost me for you to do it for me?”
Now that I know what I’m doing – leveraging MY time is easier & I love providing this service to my clients. It advances their business presence, and adds an added layer of value. Plus – I get to be creative, which is something I don’t get to do a whole lot of!
Absolutely agree with this post. I outsource some of my things I am not good at at this point. It helps me keep moving ahead and saves me from frustration of trying to get technical things to work, which I am not good at some of the time.
I certainly think that VAs, while learning a new skill, software or what not, will still charge you for their time. Everyone’s time is worth money in their pockets, ours & everyone else’s.
Randal
Property Management Murrieta