Freelance Writers - Time is Money
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"Time IS Money." Benjamin Franklin once said. He must have been speaking to a group of freelance writers because our commodity of trade is time.
You might not have considered delegating as an option to save precious moments. After all, your husband can't write that article on Finding Your Inner Voice and your daughter is too busy with her social calendar to comment on 10 Tips to Save Money.
Assigning work to others is a way of getting things done efficiently, but we often hold back for fear things won't be done correctly or on time. Do you ever think -
"I'll do the best job here, so I'll do it myself."
"He'll resent being asked."
"It'll be quicker if I do the job myself."
Yet when you don't delegate you risk having too much work, not enough time, and lots of stress. You simply can not do everything - so decide what you must do yourself and what you can delegate to others.
1. Break up big jobs - You might be working on a project and there are particular tasks you must do, such as: correspond with a client or write a series of articles, but there are probably a dozen less significant tasks that others can help with.
2. Choose less critical jobs - Delegate less urgent work to facilitate a smooth transition. It takes time to begin; to offer instruction, support and to make corrections if necessary. Don't jeopardize relationships with an important client by handing off work that is critical to your success.
Here are just a few examples of what others can do:
Clean out your inbox of all chain or spammy emails
Pay bills, collect monies owed, maintain account ledgers
Prepare queries, verify submission guidelines, stuff envelops
Stock office supplies, replace paper or ink cartridge in the printer
Find relevant resources or experts
3. Employ an assistant - depending on your financial resources, you may consider hiring a student, a subcontractor or your own child, giving them age appropriate tasks. My youngest child (15) submits links to directories and my eldest (17) helps with research. My husband (40 - sorry, couldn't resist) maintains my site, in addition to those he manages for others. Before you delegate to another, be certain they are up to the task and are willing to accept the responsibility. Otherwise you may spend too much time instructing, correcting mistakes or dealing with an unhappy individual.
- Clearly state your expectations - Be absolutely clear on what you need accomplished and why it's important.
- Check-in periodically - Establish checkpoints to make sure tasks are progressing as expected. This will minimize the risk of mistakes occurring late in the process.
- Delegate the task, not the process - Focus on the end result and let others find their own way to achieve it. If they ask for instruction on how to proceed, give guidance, but don't dictate every step of the way. Often fresh eyes will spot a shortcut to success that you've overlooked.
- Define your role - Let the person know how and when they are empowered to make decisions. Use your discretion, depending on the task and the individual.
4. Take turns - You may forgo an assistant at work, but if you share a home with others, delegate chores and responsibilities. In our family, everyone is expected to do their share. My children plan and prepare dinner one night a week, even if it's just hot dogs or PB&J. We each do a chore each week day so our weekends are free for fun. If your children are younger, you can take take turns with other parents carpooling, running errands or watching the kids in the afternoon.
5. Reward the Team - My team is my family and each member contributes to my success as a writer - so it's only fair that I share the rewards. Your team may be comprised of family members, friends, associates or employees. Regardless, offer plenty of praise, constructive instruction and reward their performance. My children earn a monthly salary for their contribution but we also celebrate with family outings, date nights, game nights or other unexpected treats.
When you learn to delegate you'll be rewarded with more time and maximizing your time is one of the best things you can do to earn more money.
"Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of." Benjamin Franklin
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