Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

IDAHOBOB...
Shrugging.... I understand what you`re going through. I am in the same position as you, where the things that need to be done are done. Ive also realized that I can`t do everything on my own and though I try to keep things organized and documented, I understand that if I want to grow I`m going to have to hire people.

It is no longer about doing the things that need to be done... it`s about appointing the people that are going to get things done. Thus it scares me because I know I have to deal with hiring and payroll, but if I need the help? and its going to help me expand, why not?

I think you should look into hiring someone to help you...



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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

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Idahobob;  I can relate somewhat, what I was doing as far as marketing was working at least some. Rather than get some outside advice I chose to think I would get it as it went. well what I was doing quit working, and now I don`t have the cash flow to go outside.
so the new plan for me is to keep banging away until cash flows again, then I plan to find a coach type arrangement, to help guide me through marketing.
I don`t believe (at least for me) that I should hand the reins over to someone, as (from my experience) this may possibly be the most important part of success. I think we all have great products, the best service, and have done everything we know to do, but to stop there and hire someone to do it for me just doesn`t seem practical for the long term picture. Rather hire a coach / teacher if you will to teach me how to be great at this part of the equation.
My way of thinking (and may be way off) is all the tasks all ready worked out and everyday are more easily delegated, then I can just monitor without micromanaging while I grow myself and the company.
As I look back over the last 18 months or so, I have had to learn so much just to get here, as I am sure you did as well, to just "farm" out the next steps would be frustrating at best.
For me anyway this is MY adventure, it`s success or failure is MY fault.
Score has several coaches, free, so if you have the cash flow to implement their recommendations I would look there first.   
Just a thought

This problem is growing and likely will soon become a flood of people in similar situations. It`s a niche waiting to be filled.

One possible idea would be to first join the local Chamber of Commerce. Then, as a member, propose a special-interest group of micro-business owners looking for solutions to your above problem---a common one.

The idea is to form an organized group of entrepreneurs with limited startup funds, to help barter and exchange skills and talents.

The reason for the CoC is that it`s an in-place organization already geared toward business owners, the local community, and promoting business development.

Uh....the Chamber of Commerce isn`t a "club." :-) Almost every town in the country will have a CoC.

At issue here isn`t a club where people have to agree or not agree on something. It`s a gathering of like-minded people for the purpose of combining resources.

For example, why bother to join Startup Nation? Nothing`s going to get solved, nobody`s going to agree on everything so who cares? What`s the point? It`s just another club, right?

Life offers a nearly infinite set of pathways---problems and solutions. No matter what anyone is doing, there are ways to make it more complicated, more sophisticated, more elegant and so forth. If you like the struggle part, you can always introduce more struggles simply by expanding your parameters.

At the moment, it`s not that easy to find an education in a box for ecommerce. Nor is there a tourist package for trips to Mars. The Internet and Web are a new frontier, undeveloped, disorganized, and evolving.

You can look at ecommerce as an interesting place to go visit, and hire a "guide" who can show you all the odd things. Or you can look at the Internet as a wild frontier filled with chaos and dangers, opportunities and solutions.

40 years from now, people will look back at "The Internet" of the early 21st century, and say, "Oh! How quaint!" Just so, we look back at Columbus and his weird little boat, sailing across the Atlantic and say the same thing.

Today, we would call up a travel agent, book a transatlantic cruise, and have someone show us the way to Europe while we eat and dance, swim and play shuffleboard.

How come there weren`t any travel agents to help out Columbus? :-D

Bob, I think I am a bit like you (with some exceptions Sun being one) I am not much of a people person either. I prefer to deal via email, and I too am 50+, and I believe a few others that replied are in the same decade.
I really don`t think age has a point here other than willingness to grow personally, it is easy to say I`m old so you change to meet me, when we were young we said F*&^ you, guess what; that`s what they are saying to us.
Do a Google search for the SCORE website, you can choose as many mentors as you need for any topic, do all the work via email (hope your fingers work well) and get "totally awesome" advice all for free, as I often say they teach you S*&^  (read stuff) you never knew you didn`t know.
it is a great place to learn without any financial obligation, and if you have the cash flow and implement their suggestions ( they will help you do that as well) it could be as close to instant as practical.
just some more thoughts. welcome aboard to Sun, and great luck!!