If you're new here, you'll want to be sure to get your free report and subscribe to the monthly e-zine and, perhaps, subscribe to the RSS feed, as well. Thanks for visiting!

By Lori Davis

Why is it so difficult to utter this one syllable word: Help! The Beatles sang about it, albeit in a very different context. If John, Paul, George and Ringo can shout out these 4 little letters, so can you!

I think some people feel asking for help makes them less of a person, and makes them think they’re not good enough. Do away with both notions right now. While you’re at it, also do away with this phrase, “I’ve got a stupid question.” Wrong answer, Sparky. I look at this statement in the following light: I’ve got information you need. Sometimes I’ll give away that information for free, and other times my bill will be in the mail. You’re not asking a stupid question; instead you’re asking a question the answer to which you’re about to find. You’re seeking to acquire knowledge. Is that stupid? Not in any language of which I’m aware!

Now, I know your entrepreneurial brain is in a knot and thinking, “But Lori, I’m really good at so many things,” or “Lori, I’m the only person who can do (fill in the blank).” I’ll agree with you on the first statement to a certain degree, and wholeheartedly disagree on the second. Yes, you are good at a variety of things. However, you’re focusing on just that, a “variety” of things, and not focusing on what you need to do to keep your business in business. You’re not making the money you want/need to make, you’re doing stuff you hate to do, and you’re drained senseless at the end of the work day.

To the second point in the above paragraph, I say whatever. Next! Unless you’re in a highly-specialized field, such as rocket science, nuclear energy, or putting a man on the moon, there is someone out there who can do (fill in the blank) just as well as you can. The interesting part comes next when we talk about the fill-in-the-blank stuff which is best left to an assistant, or another professional outside of your niche. Remember, you’re the leader of your business, so act like it. Do you think folks with names like Branson, Winfrey, Stewart and Gates handle their own back office administration? Of course they don’t …

When you don’t ask for help, every last business burden falls squarely upon your shoulders. Riddle me this, my ki.ller sharks: Are you nuts!? You’re the admin person, the bookkeeper, the tech person, the receptionist, the marketer, etc. You cannot possibly function in all of these roles, every day, and do so effectively and efficiently. You can’t, so let it go. I’m giving you permission to let go.

When you don’t ask for help, you’re not putting your laser-focus on your main purpose within your business: the breadwinner, the moneymaker, the idea babe or idea dude. You can’t create new information products while you’re scheduling your own appointments. You can’t plan your 2008-2009 marketing calendar while you’re setting up your CRM system. You can’t bring on new clients because you’re focusing on all the stuff (and there’s a lot of stuff!) which should be outsourced to professionals who are outside your niche. You’re not an Admin Queen or King, so outsource that stuff. You’re most definitely not a bookkeeper, so partner with a QuickBooks pro and let them do their job. You don’t know the differences among a USB, a PDA and a DVR, so hook up with a local geek and have them make your computer systems all s.exy for you.

When you don’t ask for help, you’re showing disrepect to yourself, to your family and to your friends. The human body can only take so much c.rap, and since you’re repeatedly throwing so much stress and nonsense at yourself every day, it’s no wonder you’re always sick and cranky. You brought tax deductions into this world, but since you’re working so much they may have forgotten your facial features. Your spouse or significant other? Let’s not go there. What about your friends? When did you last play a round of golf with them? If they have this mindset about you, “Lori’s working this weekend again, so let’s not call her to go on the picnic,” something is really wrong. There are many facets to your world, and each deserves special attention. When you’re only functioning within the “work” facet and not giving time and devotion to everything else, everything else will suffer, and fast.

Saying to yourself, and more important saying out loud, “I need help” is awesome and powerful. Good for you, and thanks for making me smile today! Help is what you need to restore the other facets of your life. Help is what you need to return your physical and mental health to places where they need to be. Help doesn’t make you less of a person, so wipe that go.ofy notion from your mental database right now. Help is one of the best 4-letter-words going, and my hope is you’ll reach out, today, and get what you need, deserve and desire.

Digest Directive: Take a good look around at what you’re doing, what you’re not focusing on, and what’s missing in your personal and professional lives. In what areas of your business do you need help? If you need bookkeeping or marketing assistance, let me know and I’ll send amazing referrals your way. If you’re dr.owning, literally and figuratively, in your back office administration, I want you to reach out, contact me and let’s chat.

====
© 2008 Lori Davis, Davis Virtual Assistants, Published by Permission

Lori Davis is the Director of the Future at Davis Virtual Assistants (DavisVA.com), a New York-based Virtual Assistant company which provides a wide array of virtual services to a broad spectrum of business owners. Think of the good, sassy and geeky folks at DavisVA.com as your personal “Business Pain Relievers.” Visit Lori on the web and sign up for your own copy of the DavisVA Digest, www.davisva.com/contact!.htm. Contact Lori at 866.611.LORI and discover why outsourcing is a good fit for you and your business and most important, your sanity.