158 – June 7
“There are three ways to get something done: Do it yourself, employ someone, or forbid your children to do it.”—Montana Crane
I was breathless on the treadmill. Not the one in the gym—the one in my head. It said I had to work smarter, harder, longer, faster. I was president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, on the board of the Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades, and running my business management company with thirty clients and four employees. Work consumed my life.
On this particular afternoon, I had to leave the office early. I was having friends over for dinner and my condominium was a mess. It needed a thorough cleaning before I could let anyone inside. I threw myself into the work—vacuuming the floors, doing the dishes, dusting everything, cleaning the furniture, washing the bathroom. It took me three hours, I didn’t do a great job and it wasn’t fun. Now I was tired and wanted to rest, but it was time to cook the dinner! By the time my friends arrived, all I wanted to do was sleep.
Something was wrong with this picture. As I cleaned up after the dinner was over, I analyzed the situation. I had made a decision to save money on cleaning services by doing my house cleaning myself. At first glance, this looks like a good, solid, money-saving idea. I was accustomed to being self-sufficient. But I soon saw the flaw in my reasoning. If I had stayed at work for those three hours instead of cleaning my house, I would have billed my time at $40 per hour and made $120. I could have paid a maid $40 to clean my house and I’d have been ahead $80. And the maid would have a new client and be more prosperous, too!
I hired a cleaning service the next day. A few years later, I graduated to caterers. Now, that was a truly heavenly day.
Make money doing what you love and you can pay other people to do the other stuff. What’s your least favorite task? Delegate it today!
Today’s Affirmation:
“It is a pleasure to prosper myself and others!”
You are a Master Delegator.
Did you know that? Here’s how to prove it:
Did you make the clothes you’re wearing?
Did you make the car you drive?
Do you repair the car when it breaks down?
Did you make the computer or smart phone where you’re reading this blog?
Did you make the paper you write on, the chair you sit on, pipe in the water you drink, grow the food you eat, build the house you live in?
No?
Master Delegator You!
So what’s the problem hiring someone to do your accounting or shopping or cooking?
It’s all the same. You just think some of this stuff is “your job”. Get over it.
