Perhaps the most shocking moment in every creative person’s life is realizing they may need to hire someone to work on a project with them. This is the moment where you’ll realize you’re no longer an employee; you’re someone’s employer. Or at the very least, you’re about to be someone’s client.
It’s a scary moment, because most of us want to have complete and total control over what we do. When you hire someone else, you might get upset that you can’t take all your money home. You might worry they won’t do things just like you. Getting ready to delegate tasks is a major move for anyone.
But, it will eventually have to get done. No one is a true “solo act” these days. No man is an island. But, how do know that it’s time to delegate tasks out? Whether it’s hiring an employee or a contractor, chances are you’ll notice these signs it’s time to hire.
#1. The task in question goes outside of your skillset or capabilities.
My husband is an amazing music artist. I am not. I can’t keep a beat, despite being a former dancer. I’ve tried to DJ and it sounded horrible. In fact, I couldn’t even figure out how to turn on the equipment or where to plug stuff in.
If I need a DJ, I am not going to be the one to do an adequate job. I’m aware of this. My husband would be a great pick. I would hire him. Why? Because he knows how to DJ and I don’t.
Every single human being has skills other human beings don’t have. If you don’t have a skill, you might as well hire someone who has what you need. The same can be said if you know how to do something but are not capable of doing it for one reason or another.
#2. You need tools you don’t personally have.
It often doesn’t make sense to buy tools if the repair you’re dealing with is a one-time thing. While renting tools can be an option for people dealing with real estate problems or office repairs, you can’t always rent thousand-dollar software kits.
If the price of the tools is higher than the price of a repair, you might want to hire someone who already made the investment. This is doubly true if the tools in question are media-related connections.
#3. Your time is short.
A good friend of mine used to cling to all of her responsibilities when she started her own business. This was not good for her. I’d see her working 12, sometimes 16 hours a day, hunched over her desk. Eventually, she realized that if she wanted to see her kid graduate from high school, she needed to hire someone.
Time is the one investment you can never get back. Are you already short on it? It might be time to delegate certain tasks to other people. This can potentially prevent you from suffring from burnout.
#4. The task at hand requires a license or a certification to do safely.
True story: your business can be in violation of state laws or even federal laws if you try to do work that requires a license. Sometimes, it’s just a better (and safer) choice to go to the pros for your work.
There’s no shame in it. Safety is a thing—and that’s true for your finances as well as your actual physical wellbeing.
#5. People have been worried about you facing burnout.
Sometimes, there will be moments when you have ample time, the right skills, and the right tools for the job but you still shouldn’t do it yourself. These times are often when you have been working so hard, it’s started to affect your mental health or physical health.
If people have been pulling you aside and encouraging you to take a break, you’re probably overdue for a vacation. Hire a travel agent, go to Boca Raton, and hire a contractor to handle business while you’re out. You’ll be glad you did.
#6. You just effing hate that work.
Here’s a quick and honest bit of life advice: if you hate the work you have to do, outsourcing it is a good idea. Life is too short to spend on the tediums of things you don’t like. As long as you don’t make a business of doing what you hate, you will be alright.
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