Save Your Time - Delegate!

Frustration is when an obstacle blocks your ability to achieve a goal. You know it is still possible to achieve it, but you just have no idea how.

Often the obstacle blocking a clear path to the successful completion of a goal is our own knowledge. The trouble is, we just don't know what we don't know.

One weekend, I set myself a project of downloading and installing some fairly complicated weblog publishing software. Getting started was easy, but soon it became apparent to me that my lack of knowledge in that area was causing me problems. I had neither knowledge or experience with running cgi-scripts. Twelve hours later I was still no closer to completing this arduous task - all I had accomplished was discovering a few ways that didn't work. Finally, with assistance froim my friends, I got it up and running. Total time? 22 hours. Not bad for something that I thought would take me an hour or so.

So the question is, if we don't know what we don't know, how can we plan for it?

The truth is, we can't.

But we can do some other things. We can either:

  • learn how to fix the problem ourselves (which will probably result in much wasted time)
  • ask for help (from people with more experience and/or more knowledge)
  • delegate it to someone else who has more experience and/or knowledge

That all sounds obvious. Yet I know people, who after ten years of working on a project, are still struggling with exactly the same obstacles because they are too stubborn to ask for help. It has chewed away at their self-esteem and stopped them from achieving success in other areas.

I could have paid to get the software working for around $40. So working for 22 hours gave me less than $2 an hour output.

The moral of the story? If you are about to do something new, decide beforehand how much time you are willing to put into it if an obstacle arises. If you value your time, and it is not an essential skill to learn, swallow your pride and ask someone else to do it.

You can waste a lot of time trying to master something you are not very good at. Learn to delegate properly, to the right person with the right skills.

(C) Copyright Petra Rankin 2005

Petra Rankin used powerful techniques to beat her own long-term depression. She is now dedicated to teaching others how to be happier and lead more successful lives. Her first book fast track your success and happiness is due to be launched in September 2005 and is currently available for download as a fast track your success and happiness instead of paying $19.95. Limited time only!

bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..
In The News:

Learn how to act against cybercriminals in 2026 with essential security steps like two-factor authentication, software updates and credit freezing.
Choose between OpenAI releasing Sora text-to-video model, the AI race heating up, or Waymo driverless cars launching in cities across the country
Learn how to set up Google Maps and Apple Maps on your phone to automatically remember where you parked. Step-by-step instructions for enabling location services and parking detection.
Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.
OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.
A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.
Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.
ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.
ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.
Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.
DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.
Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.
The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.
New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.
Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.
New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.
Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.
Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.
New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.
The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.
San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.
FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.
Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.
Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Time Management: 11 Tips

Work more efficiently and be more productive using these time-management... Read More

First Things Last

Years ago clients would tell me they could not identify... Read More

Procrastination: Why We Do It and How to Change

PROCRASTINATION: You've known about it since high school or college,... Read More

Avoid 7 Time and Life-Robbing Mistakes and See Your Productivity Soar

41 practical and quick ways to get on top of... Read More

Tips to Save One Hour Per Day

At Home? Keep related items together, for example the coffee... Read More

Increasing Your ROI

All requests are not equal; all customers or clients are... Read More

Time Management? NO!

Many people want to be coached to manage their time... Read More

Tips to Manage Your Time

Time and money are both very important in business. Yet,... Read More

The Myth of What We Manage

Perhaps it is merely semantics, but an underlying problem I... Read More

Your Most Important Appointment

An appointment is simply a mutual agreement to meet with... Read More

Expand Your Time

In our time-crazed society, lots of time is what most... Read More

Do You Over Promise and Under Deliver?

A new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she... Read More

24 Time Management Tips

Where does your time go? We all know we are... Read More

Realistic Time Budgeting Tips

I'm sure we've all had the experience of having a... Read More

Put a Couple of Elephants on Your Plate

How do you eat two elephants? The same way you... Read More

The Laundry Has Never Been More Fun Or The Pitfalls To Working At Home

As a home-based, self-employed woman, mundane tasks can be as... Read More

Time Management Mastery

From Potential to PerformanceOne of the great things about life... Read More

Sharpen The Saw

Sometime ago, my lovely wife woke me up in the... Read More

Overcome Procrastination - Discover ways to get more done in less time

So What Then Is The Opposite Of Procrastination? Urgency is... Read More

Making the Best Use of Your Time

Time - it is the one thing that we are... Read More

Controlling Family Chaos - Time Management for the Family

Balancing a family's varying schedules can be near impossible. Soccer,... Read More

The Ultimate Virtual Reality

I used to think video game addictions were a joke... Read More

Could you use a ?Stop Doing? list?

One of the tried and true organization and time-management tools... Read More

9 Business Time Management Skills You Need To Succeed

Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More

Save Yourself Hours of Time in One Easy Step

If you have spent any time at all working at... Read More

insured cleaning company Wilmette ..