Comments on: Five Steps to Freedom: How to Outsource Your Repetitive Tasks

By: Beth Earle

Beth Earle — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:47:28 +0000

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

Jeff Underwood — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:09:42 +0000

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

Philam — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:44:39 +0000

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

Ras — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:07:10 +0000

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

Kim — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:56:19 +0000

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

Pat Chiappa — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:18:25 +0000

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

Marcelo Ruiz — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:57:45 +0000

Great advice, I will follow it!

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

By: Jeff Underwood

Jeff Underwood — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:54:35 +0000

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/

By: David Cross

David Cross — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:58:33 +0000

Hi Erica,

I’m the guy Tim wrote about in 4HWW and I’m pleased the technique worked for you.

Having lived in 6 countries and worked in 23 countries, I can without doubt say that I’d much rather have delicious food cooked by someone who enjoys cooking, prepared in their own private kitchen, than in a restaurant or hotel kitchen. Stephen’s comment reminds me of the stupid laws about church bake sales that state that private people cannot cook cakes for sale at church events because the private kitchens are not “inspected”.

However, should you follow Stephen’s safe and sagely suggestion – consider that if you have the person cook in your kitchen they then become your de-facto employee – not a self-employed subcontractor. Personally I didn’t want to get into paying their taxes, insurance, liability, holiday time, etc.

For me it’s the same as if a friend invited me for dinner – I wouldn’t personally refuse just because they weren’t inspected by the health department

Caveat emptor.

Bon appetit!

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:27:42 +0000

Great case study. Like the “What’s the Worst that Could Happen?” mind experiment. Did it all the time when I was backpacking in dodgy areas on the other side of the globe, and it was a great calming influence.