OG Tuesday Issue #104

Start your morning with this affirmation:

Today’s checklist: Demystify outsourcing for small businesses, make answering questions easier, snag an event-planning template, and start being more tech savvy.

Each small business is its own unique adventure, but there is one thing they all have in common: New business owners need to get tons of sh*t done.

What’s the best way to do it all? Is it better to outsource or DIY by training existing staff or simply learning how to do things yourself?

“Team Outsource” and “Team DIY” present their cases below, but TBH, there’s no need to be a die-hard fan of either option. (You’ll probably switch back and forth between them as you grow your business and your needs change.)

Team Outsource 

• Outsourcing will save you time and money! Full-time employees are an expensive commitment, and learning how to do things yourself costs a lot of TIME.
• Outsourcing will free you up to focus on big-picture priorities like the visionary entrepreneur you are.
• Outsourcing can help you fill in knowledge and skill gaps so you can grow faster and stronger. 

You might want to “root” for this team if/when…

• Your business is just getting off the ground, and you have a mile-long list of tasks that needed to be done yesterday.
• You have a very specific project that requires specialized (but temporary) expertise.
• You have a need that no one on your team (including yourself) possesses the appropriate skills to fill.

Team DIY 

• Doing it yourself gives you full control. You can make sure everything is done according to your specifications, and you won’t rack up extra freelancer charges if you need to go through rounds of changes.
• Doing it yourself saves you from costly and aggravating misunderstandings and miscommunications. You’ll spend more time doing the work, but you won’t have to worry about the nuances of communicating your vision.
• Doing it yourself allows you to be number one. You can take care of needs immediately, without waiting for a freelancer’s schedule to open up.

You might want to “root” for this team if/when…

• You have a very particular vision or persona you want to establish before others can understand it and execute it for you.
• You run a niche business and don’t have time to explain the nuances to people who don’t already get it.
• You want to cultivate a strong sense of teamwork, passion, and camaraderie.

Tired of answering the same questions over and over again? Make your life easier, even if your org doesn’t have an intranet or FAQs page.

Step 1: For the next month (or few months) keep a running list of questions you get across all mediums.

Step 2: Sort the questions. Deduplicate and polish your answers to all so everything’s crystal clear.

Step 3: Turn the document into a PDF and add it to the cloud or even print out some copies.

Step 4: When someone asks a familiar question, just point them to your master “knowledge base” and get on with your day.

Choose the quote that best describes your event-planning mentality to find the right template for you right now.

“I’m a visual person.”

Why invest time and energy in keeping up with the infinite (and fast-moving) conveyor belt that is the modern technology landscape?

In a Q&A for Winds of Change magazine, software engineer James McGaa points out one simple and extremely compelling answer:

“Technology leverages the power of modern computation to enable us to perform work well beyond the capabilities of an individual,” he says. “Importantly, technology advances regardless of how well we keep up with it; we must keep in step with technology lest it, and its myriad opportunities and benefits, leave us behind.”

He also recommends a simple habit for anyone trying to stay in the know: Regularly reading tech-focused journalism. Bookmark his picks:

Bonusly put out a free one-on-one meeting agenda template for Managers & Employees. Swipe it here.

Morning Brew is one of our fave newsletters — you can get your own copy here.

Weve offers over 100 games you can play with your team to build stronger workplace culture.

Water Cooler Trivia is about to become your team’s new fave weekly ritual. Try it free for an entire month.

🥰 Looking to create an Employee Appreciation Program? Check out these top 5 solutions.

🍻 Oktoberfest is coming! Find ways to celebrate with your team.

🏪 The Assist Store: Check out our Candidate Rating Cardand browse our Etsy Store.

🚨 Job Openings

• Virtual Assistant
• Bookkeeper
• Social Media Manager
• Website Specialist
• Accounting Clerk

👉 We’ve launched our Private Facebook Group! Join today.

P.S. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok for additional tips.