Comments on: Five Steps to Freedom: How to Outsource Your Repetitive Tasks http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/ Erica Douglass, "temporarily retired" after selling a successful business at age 26, writes thought-provoking blog entries challenging you to change your life and daring you to become more successful. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Adrienne Orpheus http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-112252 Adrienne Orpheus Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:27:36 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-112252 Personally, I hate auto responders and I find them really awkward, impersonal, and annoying. I'd rather receive a late response than an autoresponse, unless its to tell me that the person I emailed is on vacation for a long time. That's just my opinion though. If you find it really helpful then, of course, keep using it. But I'd only use one if it was really 100% necessary Personally, I hate auto responders and I find them really awkward, impersonal, and annoying. I’d rather receive a late response than an autoresponse, unless its to tell me that the person I emailed is on vacation for a long time. That’s just my opinion though. If you find it really helpful then, of course, keep using it. But I’d only use one if it was really 100% necessary

]]> By: Tina http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-102039 Tina Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:25:48 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-102039 Hello girl Startup Please share the outsouce sewing company you used for your crafting. I am looking for a good company to do that type of work for me. Hello girl Startup

Please share the outsouce sewing company you used for your crafting. I am looking for a good company to do that type of work for me.

]]> By: Beth Earle http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-9116 Beth Earle Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:47:28 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-9116 To me your autoresponder shows that you respect your time and also those who email you. You are being honest with them about what your priorities are. Some people just don't like newer technology, or may feel a little overwhelmed by it at times. Do what you think you should do. If it's working for you, keep it. If not, remove it. Know that if you decide to keep using it, people will either get used to it or stop emailing you. To me your autoresponder shows that you respect your time and also those who email you. You are being honest with them about what your priorities are. Some people just don’t like newer technology, or may feel a little overwhelmed by it at times. Do what you think you should do. If it’s working for you, keep it. If not, remove it. Know that if you decide to keep using it, people will either get used to it or stop emailing you.

]]> By: Jeff Underwood http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-5702 Jeff Underwood Sat, 15 May 2010 18:09:42 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-5702 I'd really like to get some advice/feedback from you guys regarding efficiency systems. I took the 4-Hour Workweek to heart after reading it and immediately created an autoresponder for my email. Every once in a while, I get a virtual "high five" from people who also read the book but I also get the occasional friend who emails me often enough to tell me "I hate your autoresponder". I'm wondering if my autoresponder is turning off people and it's only my friends who are comfortable enough to tell me that it sucks. What are your thoughts? I’d really like to get some advice/feedback from you guys regarding efficiency systems. I took the 4-Hour Workweek to heart after reading it and immediately created an autoresponder for my email. Every once in a while, I get a virtual “high five” from people who also read the book but I also get the occasional friend who emails me often enough to tell me “I hate your autoresponder”. I’m wondering if my autoresponder is turning off people and it’s only my friends who are comfortable enough to tell me that it sucks. What are your thoughts?

]]> By: Philam http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-3125 Philam Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:44:39 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-3125 Hi Erica, to be honest, I really enjoy reading your blog plus the interaction with your commentators as well as your responses to their comments. Readers will learn something from here especially if he/she is not close-minded person. Your post is not really boring because it is based on your experience and it's real. Great post, Erica! I really admire you and your work. Phil Sorry, I have to re-post this as it didn't appear the first time I sent this. Hi Erica, to be honest, I really enjoy reading your blog plus the interaction with your commentators as well as your responses to their comments. Readers will learn something from here especially if he/she is not close-minded person. Your post is not really boring because it is based on your experience and it’s real. Great post, Erica! I really admire you and your work.

Phil

Sorry, I have to re-post this as it didn’t appear the first time I sent this.

]]> By: Ras http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-2991 Ras Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:07:10 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-2991 Such an inspiring post, I initially came to your blog after seeing it referenced on Life hacker. My Fiance has back problems and IBS so is not working at the moment, however he cant bend over to pick things up or strain his back too much, and whilst I'm working full time, the last thing I want to do when I get home is housework (especially cleaning my bathroom! Yuck!) So we decided that hiring a cleaner to come once a fortnight would both save us at least 10 arguments a week, but also free up my personal time to focus on my writing and interests I want to pursue. Life is too short to spend it cleaning one's shower. We had the good fortune to have friends living in the same street who have a fantastic cleaner they'd found recently who was cheap and did an awesome job. She was happy to clean our place and only charges 50AUD to clean our flat. Although our budget is very tight on one income, I am willing to forgo alot to keep this part of my life outsourced, it is a no brainer for my sanity. Such an inspiring post, I initially came to your blog after seeing it referenced on Life hacker. My Fiance has back problems and IBS so is not working at the moment, however he cant bend over to pick things up or strain his back too much, and whilst I’m working full time, the last thing I want to do when I get home is housework (especially cleaning my bathroom! Yuck!) So we decided that hiring a cleaner to come once a fortnight would both save us at least 10 arguments a week, but also free up my personal time to focus on my writing and interests I want to pursue. Life is too short to spend it cleaning one’s shower.

We had the good fortune to have friends living in the same street who have a fantastic cleaner they’d found recently who was cheap and did an awesome job. She was happy to clean our place and only charges 50AUD to clean our flat. Although our budget is very tight on one income, I am willing to forgo alot to keep this part of my life outsourced, it is a no brainer for my sanity.

]]> By: Kim http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-2880 Kim Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:56:19 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-2880 Great post!!! I started using outsourcing in my business about 6 months ago and it has made a HUGE difference! I'm just about at the point where I'll be bringing more of that into my personal life (as the business picks up it simply makes sense). I hadn't really thought about the fear factor though or just stepping back and saying "what could I elimnate' or better yet, 'what could I do to EARN the expense of having this task outsourced?" Just found your site within the last week...LOVE it! Thanks, Kim Great post!!!
I started using outsourcing in my business about 6 months ago and it has made a HUGE difference!
I’m just about at the point where I’ll be bringing more of that into my personal life (as the business picks up it simply makes sense).

I hadn’t really thought about the fear factor though or just stepping back and saying “what could I elimnate’ or better yet, ‘what could I do to EARN the expense of having this task outsourced?”

Just found your site within the last week…LOVE it!
Thanks,
Kim

]]> By: Pat Chiappa http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-2875 Pat Chiappa Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:18:25 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-2875 Great article Erica - My two cents: What I would add to the 'fear factor' would be engaging that ability to delegate as well as having to drop the perfectionism. "Could I find/afford/trust someone to actually do my laundry/cooking/cleaning and if so, will they do as good a job as I can/would?" The cost-benefit not just being about dollars. Thanks! Great article Erica -

My two cents:

What I would add to the ‘fear factor’ would be engaging that ability to delegate as well as having to drop the perfectionism. “Could I find/afford/trust someone to actually do my laundry/cooking/cleaning and if so, will they do as good a job as I can/would?”

The cost-benefit not just being about dollars.

Thanks!

]]> By: Marcelo Ruiz http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-2857 Marcelo Ruiz Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:57:45 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-2857 Great advice, I will follow it! If you need to hire a programmer or designer, that's what I do! Great advice, I will follow it!

If you need to hire a programmer or designer, that’s what I do!

]]> By: Jeff Underwood http://www.erica.biz/2010/how-to-outsource/#comment-2755 Jeff Underwood Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:54:35 +0000 http://www.erica.biz/?p=2089#comment-2755 Thanks for sharing this story. I love 4HWW and it's always inspiring to see specific examples of how people are applying its lessons to their lives. For anyone who may not be familiar with 4-Hour Workweek, I tried to sum it up in 7.5 minutes in a speech at my Toastmasters group last month. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r0wj785Jtw/ Thanks for sharing this story. I love 4HWW and it’s always inspiring to see specific examples of how people are applying its lessons to their lives. For anyone who may not be familiar with 4-Hour Workweek, I tried to sum it up in 7.5 minutes in a speech at my Toastmasters group last month. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r0wj785Jtw/

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