Hiring a virtual assistant can help your business succeed in so many ways it’s hard to imagine why anyone would not at least give outsourcing careful consideration. Then again, why take bold and strategic steps forward with your business when you’ve got things like status quo and been-there-done-that to keep you warm and comfy? Just in case you’re running out of excuses though, I’ve come up with a handy little list of trite excuses for not hiring your own VA today.
Print this list off and tape it to your desk. You just never know when you might have to turn down another opportunity to grow:
- I’m really not a planner. If I hire a virtual assistant I will have to think about why I have a business and what I want to achieve this year and even 5 five years from now. Otherwise I’m just wasting her time and my money. And that just wouldn’t be fair to either of us.
- How can I trust a VA with my business? I mean, I’m over here and she’s over there, way over there. How these VAs get any work done without someone looking over their shoulder is beyond me. It’s just not good management. Besides, if I can’t micromanage the details what will I do all day?
- No one could possibly do it as well as I can. (And the way I do it is quite unlike anything you’ve ever seen.) I started this business because I have something unique and special to offer my adoring public. To think a virtual assistant could step in and competently assist with anything related to marketing or administration is, well, it’s crazy talk.
- I don’t have time to explain everything to a VA. I’m too mired in paperwork and marketing and answering emails and God-knows-what-else to actually waste an hour or two a month with something as tedious as delegating. And like I said, what I do is complicated. Mysterious in fact.
- I can’t afford to hire a virtual assistant. Nope, not a single dollar left in my budget for getting the right things done at the right time. Heck, this computer system alone cost me thousands. I’d be nuts to spend another three hundred bucks this month on administration when I could just do it myself for nothing. I mean, the sales aren’t exactly pouring in right now. (Though I’m not sure why.)
- Bonus Excuse: Maybe next year I’ll think about hiring a VA and getting ahead with my business. Right now I’ve just got too much to do.
There you have it. Six of the most widely used and abused excuses for not outsourcing all the crap that’s getting in your way. Why choose silly things like productivity and purpose when you can defer to much easier choices like chasing your tail and working yourself to the bone?
Don’t let a VA stop you from getting what you really want out of your business. It’s just not worth it.
This post reminds me of that TV commercial where the guy gets slapped in the forehead for not eating his vegetables but in this case slapped on the forehead for not hiring a Virtual Assistant… “You should have had a VA!” 😉
Karri, that has got to be one of the best posts about using a VA I’ve seen in a long time!
Don’t hire a VA if humor is for non-business hours only!
You’ve done a great job of presenting, Karri.
The funny thing is, even being a VA didn’t stop me from thinking those same thoughts. But once I hired a VA to help me with the business tasks I didn’t want to do, it was such a relief! Virtual Assistants are great! 🙂
Karri,
Great post! I would say that those are probably the top excuses that businesses and/or individuals use for not hiring a virtual assistant.
Many of these individuals should do a little research on VAnetworking.com and learn a little bit more about the virtual assistant industry. I’m sure they could get answers to many of the questions that they may have and stop making excuses of why they should not hire a virtual assistant.
As virtual assistants we try to get the word out about the virtual assistant industry and make others aware that the help of a virtual assistant is a good thing. I guess we just have to work a little harder to make these individuals aware that, as a virtual assistant, we can help bring more time to their day, save them money, and also help them build on the success of their organization.
Karri, this is a very interesting twist on the need for a Virtual Assistant. It is similar to reverse psychology. Good job.
Great article(s) Karri. I love your style. You tell it like it is – call ’em like you see ’em. Keep up the great work. One of these days I’m going to start writing too!
I always enjoy your writing style and this post was no disappointment. You’ve really captured these so well. Another great job, Karri!