So what exactly is a "Small Business Lone Ranger?" A "Small Business Lone Ranger" is a business owner who does all the work themselves.
No matter how big or small the project, the Lone Ranger handles 100% of it. Either because they're afraid to let go of control or because they feel they can't afford to hire help. Can you relate? I know I can!
So what's wrong with doing everything yourself? Well it's tough to grow your business if you're busy managing every single detail. I know it's a bit scary to let go of control or to consider actually hiring help, but I also know it's necessary if you want to grow your business to its fullest potential.
Take my 10-question quiz to determine if YOU are a Lone Ranger. And don't worry if you are, I've got some suggestions to help you rid yourself of this business-stifling affliction!
1. Do you work alone?
2. Do you feel no one can do your work quite as well as you?
3. Do you often feel there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done?
4. Do you maintain your own website?
5. Do you do your own accounting and billing?
6. Do you write your own sales and marketing copy?
7. Do you get your own mail?
8. Do you buy your own office supplies?
9. Do you create or deliver all your products and services by yourself?
10. Do you fulfill and ship all your sales yourself?
I think you can see this list could go on and on and on, but you get the idea. So if you answered "Yes" to most or all of these questions, guess what, YOU ARE A LONE RANGER! That's okay, I've been one, too.
When your business is small you have to wear many hats because you can't afford to hire help. But at what point do you make a decision to start delegating tasks to someone else? ANSWER: When the time you're spending on administrative tasks involved in keeping your business running prevents you from spending time growing your business.
As a business owner, you should aim to spend at least 60% of your time marketing. You are the BEST person to market your product or service. And marketing is the only way your business will grow and flourish. So if you're too busy paying bills, getting the mail, responding to email and running out to pick up office supplies, then guess what? You don't have time to market. And your business cannot grow.
So what's a Small Business Lone Ranger to do? Here are 6 tips:
1. Make a list of all the tasks that don't require your specific expertise or talent (things like sorting mail, buying office supplies, and filing).
2. Make a second list of the tasks that consume a lot of your time but are OUTSIDE your specific area of expertise (things like maintaining your web site or managing your business finances and accounting).
3. Determine how many hours per week you spend doing these tasks.
4. Determine what additional sales and marketing, or other business-building activities you would have time for if you didn't have to do these other tasks.
5. Estimate how many additional clients or sales you could generate with this extra time spent on marketing and building your business.
6. Make a decision to hire an assistant, bookkeeper, web site manager or whatever specialists are appropriate to handle these tasks. Determine what you can afford based on your results in Tip #5.
I know you're probably wondering how you'll be able to afford it. But really, we can't afford NOT to hire help. Unless we are satisfied with keeping our business small. And don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that - I've done it for seven years. But if you have a bigger vision (like I do now), then you need a team to help you make that vision a reality.
To start with, your team should include an assistant to do the work that is not a good use of your time. This doesn't have to be a full-time employee; I'm starting out with someone just a few hours a week. You'll also want to get a bookkeeper and a CPA to manage your finances - they'll not only free you up from your accounting tasks, they'll also help you keep more of what you do make.
So take a moment to get a clear vision of what kind of business you want to create. And if that vision is larger than you can accomplish on your own, take the six steps above to get a team to help you make it a reality.
(C) Copyright 2005 Debbie LaChusa
20-year marketing veteran Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to help small business owners successfully market their business, themselves, without spending a fortune on marketing. To learn more about this simple, step-by-step program and to sign up for her FREE audio class and FREE weekly ezine featuring how-to articles, tips and advice, visit http://www.10stepmarketing.com
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carA suggestion box is a really good idea for your... Read More
The following tips have come from a wide variety of... Read More
Are you responsible for your results?What comes to mind when... Read More
Q: I really want to start my own business, but... Read More
Outsourcing is the strategic use of outside resources to perform... Read More
If you run a mobile car wash, mobile fleet washing... Read More
Becoming a contractor or sub-contractor for the U.S. government can... Read More
In the summer, I can't drive two blocks without seeing... Read More
Concrete Roof Tile Business: During the 2004 summer season, storms... Read More
If you run a pressure washing business it is a... Read More
How do you find groups that are in need of... Read More
Winning small and home based businesses today must continually shake... Read More
CONSIDERING COMPANY NEEDS: In identifying your needs for the internship,... Read More
If you really want to earn more money with your... Read More
Office support services can range from basic data entry to... Read More
The restaurant industry in the United States employs an estimated... Read More
Looking for a place to add a Quick Lube away... Read More
A cluttered world of marketing communications diminishes the ordinary. The... Read More
Here are some of the questions that you need to... Read More
As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change.... Read More
So you want to get into the auto detailing business... Read More
The modern Franchise business model and the much different business... Read More
IntroductionIt is widely recognised that Email and the Internet is... Read More
You know your prospects need what you sell. You know... Read More
My clients and many of my readers are small and... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Why Alliances FailWhen do you know an alliance is falling... Read More
Support is critical for your small business survival. You may... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission is assisting competitor to cheat and... Read More
A successful joint venture marketing effort is the goal of... Read More
Do you sometimes find yourself just going "through the motions"... Read More
There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of... Read More
Increase your profit potential by identifying ? and avoiding ?... Read More
Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about... Read More
Approximately 200,000 new businesses are started each year. More people... Read More
In the heavy equipment cleaning business you can make good... Read More
Whether you operate a chain of restaurants, a mom-and-pop convenience... Read More
Send handwritten notes. That applies whether you're a guy or... Read More
As a solo entrepreneur or small business owner, one of... Read More
There have been many great points raised on both sides... Read More
You are probably hard at work promoting your business (and... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling... Read More
As you may already know, asphalt paved parking lots do... Read More
Pity parties are nothing new. In fact, we do it... Read More
The revenue history is a vital piece of your power... Read More
As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a... Read More
Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get... Read More
One of the primary concerns all small businesses have is... Read More
It is an American dream to own a business. But... Read More
There is a Batting Cages Business for those people who... Read More
Last week we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy... Read More
Small Business |