Expansion – Blessing, Curse, or All of the Above?

When I began my company, there was me.

Just me.

I answered to me, I delegated to me, I was accountable for things only I had created.

What a shock when I was able to get it together enough that I needed help. I mean, I always knew I’d be successful – I’m cocky like that – but I didn’t think it would happen so soon or that I’d be so totally unprepared for what was to come next.

Subcontracting.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the process. I’m an independent contractor so I know a thing or two about the breed! I know that, in general, they are hardworking, dedicated business owners that want a business that is thriving and successful.

My modus operandi when I go into a business meeting with a potential client is to be myself. That’s saying a lot, as I have a very unique and open personality. I want to make sure the connection is there from the very beginning and that there are no vagueries or misunderstandings down the road because I put on my "interview face" instead of just being myeslf.

What I want? Someone to sell me like I sell my clients. I keep talking to people who say they "think" they can help or they’re "pretty sure" my project can be done according to specifications. Seeing "I’ll do my best for you!" in an email is not only not reassuraing, it’s downright depressing. When I talk to my clients and they ask me for something I’ve never heard of before, I respond with a hearty, "No problem!" and I mean it honestly…they will have no problem…I will find a way (by hook or by crook!) to get whatever they need accomplished.

What I need are people I can give an assignment to and feel secure in the way my clients feel secure when they give a job to me.

Also, I need to know they can actually do the work.

The first project I subcontracted was an utter disaster. It took three people and oodles of time to get done what took the third person four hours to accomplish. I think all told the three took 21 hours total. That means other than the four hours it took one person, there were 17 wasted hours of people’s lives doing the job…wrong. Completely wrong.

It was one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever done.

One of the most important parts of my business is the connection with the client. The trust relationship I build so that when I tell them I can do something, they relax, knowing it will get done. This takes a lot of planning, skill, and dedication on my part. Where is the person out there that’s willing to show me they’ll do whatever it takes if I’m the one in the client role?

Finding that person would make my day to day operations so much easier.

…and until I find that person, I’m not running a company that’s scalable. Are you?

To answer the question I ask in the title of this post, expansion is a blessing. Just one that comes with the requirement of hard work. Since I’ve yet to come across a mountain I was unwilling to climb, this is most likely just a pit stop on a much longer journey.