I want you to take just a minute and think about your company. Why did you start it? What about it makes you so happy to work harder than you ever have? Think about all of the amazing things about what you do that made you want to quit your 9-5. What made you want to do this full time (no matter the risk). A business is a lot of work because there is so much to be done. However, did you really quit your day job to be scheduling meetings and answering phone calls all day? I think it’s time that you hire an assistant. I promise that there is no shame in it!
What is a Jane-of-all-Trades?
A common problem for entrepreneurs is becoming a Jack or Jane-of-all-trades. These are the people who handle everything for their company at once. A typical day for them starts with a 12 hour expo where they passed out cards. Then, they go home to spend hours calling every single number on the sheet. This is followed the next day by scheduling hundreds of follow-up meetings and ends with them rushing off to the printers to try and get the next batch of business cards.
If you are thinking that this sounds like a normal day, you are probably a Jack/Jane! Your company shouldn’t be running you into the ground. The scary thing is that Jack and Jane are also the most likely to suffer from burnout (which can leave you physically ill). If you don’t know what burnout is or you simply want to learn about the warning signs, click here to read my post all about it.
What do you do if you are one?
The truth is that no successful company is run solely on one person. Your time should be spent focusing on growing your company and spending time with your clients. Think of all the administrative tasks that you spend hours on. How about all of the tasks that you aren’t skilled in (but still need to be done)? There are thousands of applicants waiting to take these over for you. But before you place an ad on Indeed, let’s go over how to find good help!
First thing’s first, you’ll need to decide if you want a virtual or in-person assistant. There are, of course, ups and downs to both. However, the main things to consider are cost, tasks you need to be done, and whether or not you want to hire an employee or an independent contractor.
Virtual vs. In-Person Assistant
A virtual assistant will be able to handle many admin tasks such as social media, writing, calendar upkeep, and really anything that can be done virtually. Virtual assistants are generally registered as independent contractors meaning you won’t need to worry about taxes. When it comes to paying, virtual assistants tend to have packages or an hourly fee. It is also important to note that virtual assistant’s hours tend to be more accurate than in-person assistants because they aren’t traveling, eating lunch, etc. However, if you need more general tasks done, you may need an in-person assistant.
An in-person assistant can still be registered as an independent contractor, but they tend to be employees instead. They have the pro of being able to handle a wider range of tasks for you that have to do with the company itself as well as just helping you juggle your life. For example, you can send a personal assistant out to purchase office supplies, pick up dry cleaning, and manage your social media accounts. The main downside to hiring an in-person assistant is that you will likely be paying more due to needing to pay for travel expenses and having a set amount of hours per week.
All in All…
It is therefore up to you to decide how much you want to pay and what you really need help doing. If it’s mainly tech, go with a virtual assistant. If your tasks lean more towards general life, then an in-person may be better. When it comes to hiring help, you should also know what kind of tasks that you need to be done so that you can properly select people. For example, if you need tax prep help, you shouldn’t hire someone who only has graphic design experience.
The worst mistake that you can make is to hire someone without a proper interview and a detailed list of qualities you are looking for. Regardless of whether or not your assistant(s) will be in-person, you are paying someone to properly handle tasks that will directly affect your company. Need help letting go? Schedule your FREE breakthrough session here 👉🏼 https://www.planning2profit.com/breakthrough