I’ve been working on a booklet for the last month. Not writing the booklet, that took about a weekend. No, my challenge has been printing the dog-gone thing and getting it “bound”.

I had this wonderful idea that I was going to create a “leave behind” for the speaking gigs I do. It was going to be more than a flyer – those generally end up in the circular file or (unfortunately) in the parking lot – yet not quite a book. I did what any self-respecting work from home entrepreneur would do… I Googled “word 2007 booklet template”.

Thus started the time suck of the year.

Starting a business on a shoestring budget is hard enough. Knowing all the things you have to purchase within that budget is tougher. Let’s look at the main categories your tasks fall in to correctly run your business. (Bookmark this page because in future posts we’ll drill down deeper into these subjects)

Product (or Content)

Marketing

Advertising

Sales

Accounting

Delivery

Customer Service

Returns (or Repairs)

Follow Up

Now my booklet falls squarely in the Marketing category (It’s not “advertising” until it’s produced) and it highlights my point. It’s a thing that spans a couple of task, marketing AND advertising, and guess where my skills are? Sales, Delivery and Follow up, NOT creating marketing materials. So I’m off to find someone that can reliable and cost effectively produce my booklet. I want them to do what they do best so I can do what I do best.

That’s why you need a team around you – even (or especially) a virtual team – to support you, doing the things you can’t, shouldn’t or won’t do, so you can go out there and do more and make more.

Learn to ask for help – and ask for referrals TO help you, and you’re on your way to better chances at success.