Outsourcing (#16-30)

(post #16 in my goal to do 30 in 30)

Each client, be they a buyer or a seller, can do what we do, on their own.  And so, why do they outsource? A buyer can buy their home without me, so why use me?  I better have answers, otherwise they won't use me. A seller can sell their home without me (aka, for sale by owner), so why use me?  Again, I better have answers, otherwise they won't use me.

Both of these prior statements are true, and I could write a blog post or two on those, but that's not my purpose.  Instead, I want to flip the mirror the other way.  What do I outsource, and when do I do that?  Do I write my own copy?  Do I photograph my own homes? Do I do my own home inspections (sure, I could get my own inspection license).

Do I do my own blogging?  (you don't know, this could be someone I'm paying, correct?) There are lots of virtual people who could be doing this for me.  If someone is getting paid for this quality blogging, perhaps I've been paying too much.  Presumably you will know this is me, clear & unvarnished.

The ulterior purpose of this entry is to invite you to breakfast with me, Wednesday, Nov 19, 2014. 
At 7:30 this week, there will be 2+dozen of us meeting, as we do every Wednesday, at The Curious Grape in Arlington, VA.  This morning group, Arlinton Business & Civic Circle meets for discussion, weekly.

Every week, this group will discuss a different topic, eg "What Services Do You Do Versus Outsource".  This week's discussion will be hosted by me, jointly with Norman Reich, who is an IT Consultant and supports many small business's IT systems.  He and I, and most people in the room, can speak to people who can outsource their needs and hire for our service, or they can do it alone.

Many of those "do it alone" people end up coming back to us anyhow. That's always an option.

It turns out there are very few services can't be outsouced (surgery, for instance); however, smart business people and smart consumers do what they do well, and outsource the rest.

Maybe I'll see some local ActiveRain people on Wednesday. 

If not, next week is the day before Thanksgiving, so, let's presume not; the week after will be our monthly Civic Group, every month being another.  On Dec 3, it will be Arlington Historical Society.

When I first became a Realtor, my broker said "start networking", and this group was the first business group I met, almost a founding member in 2001.  They've become close personal friends and a board of directors.

If I get insights on what to outsource, I'll check back in.