handyman

 Get ready, get set. Without the necessary information, your hirelings can’t do the job. If you don’t know exactly what you want them to do, it’s hopeless. Analyze your work carefully, prioritize, and put all the info together before you hire out the work.

 Expect training time. My nanny-for-a-day didn’t know how to find my daughter’s school, the post office, or anything else in town. I had to write directions for her. After a few days, she’d learn. Don’t think your helpers can work independently until they’re trained.

 Match the person to the job. I should have asked Christene to delegate shelf installation to the handyman instead of doing it herself. Faster, cheaper, more time for Christene to bring me lattes.

 Hands off! Once you hire and train your vendors, get back to where you belong: at your own desk, doing your own work. Let them come to you with problems. Check in occasionally; expect reports. But don’t expect them to do everything exactly the way you would.

 Don’t get distracted. You’ve hired people to make your life easier, not harder. Let them focus on doing their jobs while you focus on doing yours. Don’t let their work change your to-do list.

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