Business Speaker on Outsourcing
Patrick Schwerdtfeger is a motivational keynote speaker whose topics include virtual assistants and outsourcing on platforms like Elance and oDesk. He’s a leading authority on self-employment and the author of Marketing Shortcuts for the Self-Employed (2011, Wiley). The 37th chapter of this award-winning book (2012 Small Business Book Awards) is entitled Outsource Basic Tasks (in Part 3 of the book: Build Your Website or Blog) and is included below for your review. The book has a total of 80 short chapters, each ending with an Implementation Checklist. Also, Patrick’s perspective on the exploding outsourcing movement (including Elance and oDesk among others) and the opportunity it provides for business is provided below.
Past speaking clients include:
Recent speaking destinations include:
Keynote Speech about Offshore Outsourcing
We live within an increasingly global economy. America’s middle class is now in China, India and the Philippines. It’s easier and cheaper to have basic tasks completed in developing countries where the wage structure and standard of living are so much cheaper than they are here in America. Patrick has used platforms like Elance and oDesk extensively and has written about the outsourcing movement in his book (chapter included below) and can incorporate those trends into his keynote address or general session. When it comes to basic tasks like website development, internet research, copywriting or article submission, outsourcing is the best option available. Let us know if you’d like these themes incorporated into Patrick’s general session or keynote address.
Chapter 37: Outsource Basic Tasks
What tasks can you outsource?
Outsourcing refers to the process of subcontracting work to a third party. In his New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek best seller, The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss argues that you can outsource a huge portion of the clutter currently monopolizing your daily calendar. Even better, the process can remove a common bottleneck (yourself) and allow your business to thrive in your absence.
Today’s online communication tools make it easier than ever to get help from the other side of the world. And guess what? The cost of living is very different in some of those places than it is here in America. What does that mean? It means that getting help won’t cost you nearly as much as it would if you hired locally. A lot of people get frustrated at the process of outsourcing job functions to other parts of the world. They argue it contributes to the local unemployment rate and sabotages our domestic economy. And in many ways, they’re right. It does. But the trends are clear and your competition will take advantage of the opportunities even if you don’t. These realities are often difficult to swallow, but they’re also impossible to ignore. There are highly skilled people in other parts of the world who are happy to help you for four or five dollars per hour. How can you use those resources to build your business? I’ve done it myself. I have a virtual assistant in Chennai, India, and her name is Uma. I started working with her in 2009 and have really come to appreciate her contributions.
First, there is an 11-hour time difference so she is awake while I’m sleeping and vice versa. When I have a project for her to work on, I e-mail detailed instructions in the evening before I go to bed. Eight hours later, I wake up and boot up my computer … and the work is done! Does this arrangement always work perfectly smoothly? No. Are there misunderstandings? Yes. Are there mistakes? Of course. Is it frustrating to type out detailed step-by-step instructions for tasks I could easily do myself? Absolutely. But there is also a learning curve in place. Uma is on this learning curve and so am I. Over time, our working relationship gets better and better.
Uma has helped me build databases of conferences around the world. She has helped me submit proposals to those conferences. She has helped me build and manage my Twitter following. She has helped me reach out to book reviewers on Amazon. She has helped me contact bloggers who might be interested in this book. All of these are basic but time-consuming tasks. And in many cases, they are tasks I would never have found time for had I not had her help. Don’t think about what you are currently doing. Think about what you could be doing. Think about the simple tasks that you don’t have time for but that would help build your business.
The following two online platforms make this process easy.
On either of these sites, you can post your job and receive dozens of proposals within days. Take a couple hours and make a list of the tasks you’d like to get done. Write down all the skills that would be required, such as good written English or proficiency with Excel or familiarity with a particular website. Then compile those skills into a job description and post it on Elance or oDesk. You’ll be amazed at the responses you get.
I highly recommend Tim Ferriss’s book. He takes the concept of outsourcing to a whole new level. The book is packed with content and he has demonstrated the power of his approach by living an extraordinary life himself. Tim is a very smart guy and he’s written an excellent book. Buy a copy. Of course, this book (yeah, the one you’re reading) is the perfect place to start. It’s full of tactical strategies you can use to promote your business, but it all takes time. The chapters each add a few more items to your to-do list. Why not find a virtual assistant and train him or her to help you complete the tasks?
It’s a new world out there. Think bigger. Think globally. Take advantage of everything you can, including the skilled labor in Argentina, India, or the Philippines. Your virtual assistant can be your secret weapon. And believe me, once your friends catch wind of what you’re doing, they’ll all be jealous. Give it a try. Pick one project, say 40 hours worth of work. Post it on Elance or oDesk and hire someone at $5 per hour to get it done. It’ll only cost you $200 and the process will give you firsthand knowledge of the potential. You never know. You might get addicted! I know I did.
Outsource Basic Tasks: Implementation Checklist
Make a list of tasks you could outsource.
Pick the easiest one to start.
Identify the skills required to get it done.
Compile the skills into a job description.
Post the job on Elance and oDesk.
Allocate $200 USD for a 40-hour task.
Write detailed instructions for the task.
Select a provider to complete the task.
Give them the instructions and try it.
Evaluate the results of the project.
If it was a success, outsource more tasks.
If there were problems, don’t give up.
Calibrate the process and try it again.
Compare notes and ideas with a colleague.
End of chapter – click here to buy the book on Amazon.