How to Expand Your Skillset in One Day
March 24th, 2008 | Posted in Business.Let’s face it, you have areas of your skillset that are weak. What about beefing up those skills in just one day?
I always hear about web designers turning down work because the project required a skill that they knew nothing about.
Stop it!
“You do too much… you’re not Superman, you know!” - Aunt May from Spiderman
Probably my favorite quote from the Spiderman movies. If you are one of those people that is hellbent on doing everything yourself, I’m sorry to say, you are setting yourself up for failure. In any business, you must find people that have the skills that you do not have. This will take loads off of your back and allow you to focus on areas you are good at. Instead of turning down work, give the work to those who can do it and profit from it.
I Can’t Afford to Hire Someone!
You probably don’t have the money to hire an employee, this is fine, but you should hire contractors. Contractors are people very similar to you who are hungry for work. Find a contractor with the skills you lack.
Post an ad on Craigslist.com explaining your needs and be sure to mention that the position is contract and on an as needed basis. If you feel that you do not need or can find anyone local, list the ad on bigger areas. Then sit back and watch you inbox fill up with prospective contractors. Review each applicant thoroughly. Narrow the field down to five great contractors. Contact all of them and request their hourly rate or an example quote for a project. Add their names and information into a database for your records. Also be sure to take the ad off as soon as you have found the right people.
Enter Prospective Client…
The next time you get a request for proposal from a prospect, first contact each of the contractors on your list. Explain the project and request quotes from each of them. Select the best quote from your contractors and double it. This is what you are going to quote the prospect. Prepare the proposal using a flat-fee for the project and not hourly billing.
The primary focus of your business should be on quality service.
Once you have acquired the new client, make yourself the primary contact. They should not have any contact with your contractors. You should be the only one speaking with them. Although this adds a middle-man to the mix, you are aware of the projects status at all times and it also allows your contractors to work whenever they want (morning, day or night).
Using the above example, we have gained a 50% profit from a project we were about turn down. By utilizing Craigslist, your company has gained the needed skills diversity to become successful. Granted that by adding more people into the mix, problems can arise and they will. You must learn from these problems to assure that they never happen again. This makes your business more efficient and better each day.
