Let Someone Else Do It

When you decide to become self-employed, you automatically become the "Chief, Cook, and Bottle Washer."

In other words, you do it all.

You do the bookkeeping, buy the paper clips, market your business, and you even provide your business's product or service.

But you are better at some tasks than others and there are some tasks that you just hate to do.

Fortunately, there is someone out there who likes doing what you hate-or what you do poorly. And, for a fee, they'll be happy to do it for you.

The payoff? Your productivity increases and you have more time to do the things you enjoy.

Most people will quickly hire an accountant or tax preparer to prepare their taxes if that is an area in which they have little expertise.

That payoff is obvious. The work is time consuming and tedious for most non-tax people. A competent tax pro will get the job done quickly and efficiently. Best of all, in an area where the consequences for getting it wrong can be huge, his expertise will ensure that the job gets done right.

Then there are additional benefits. If there is a problem, many will represent you before the tax authorities. And your tax pro can advise you on tax questions and strategies.

So the money spent is a bargain and the decision to hire his services is easy.

The same logic applies to other areas. If you find it difficult to write good copy for the postcards and letters you use for your direct mail campaigns, consider hiring a copywriter.

If you hate keeping your books, hire a bookkeeper. Or at least buy decent accounting software and hire someone to help you set it up properly.

These days, virtual assistants can work on specific projects or handle everyday mundane tasks. And you won't even have to carve out a place in your bedroom home office for them.

And if there is too little money available, a business consultant can help you grow your business.

The money spent will more than repay itself in greater time for you-and a better result.

Ellen Zucker has been self-employed for over 10 years. She owns the site http://selfemployment101.com

Self-Employment 101: It's about making a living and creating a life! ... Observations, information and resources for those of us who are self employed or just thinking about it.

top rated cleaning service Deerfield ..

In The News:

UCC Holding has teamed up with COBOD to create desert-inspired, 3D-printed schools in Qatar, featuring dune-like wavy walls impossible with conventional construction.

Darkling beetles equipped with microchip backpacks can be guided through disaster areas using electrical signals, offering a biological solution for search and rescue.

Scammers use number porting to take control of outdated landlines still connected to financial accounts, bypassing two-factor authentication to steal funds while avoiding detection.

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey developed Bitchat, a privacy-focused messaging app that works offline via Bluetooth without requiring email, phone numbers or personal data.

Google is making a push to ensure its AI, Gemini, is tightly integrated with Android systems by granting it access to core apps like WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone.

A new green energy system is set to change how we capture clean power, and it all starts with the ocean. French startup Seaturns has designed technology that taps into the natural motion of the sea.

Cybersecurity researchers are warning that hackers have started exploiting flaws in chatbots to carry out AI phishing attacks.

Google has just made it easier than ever to regain control of your inbox with Gmail's new Manage Subscriptions tool.

Despite the benefits, residential power saver programs come with several potential drawbacks and concerns that have been raised by both customers and experts.

The Blackdot AI tattoo machine is quiet. It's steady. And according to early users, it hurts a lot less.

Attackers have started to exploit the very signals that users assume will keep them safe when it comes to add-ons to improve productivity or entertainment.

Located on Cerro Pachón in Chile, the world's most powerful digital camera is set to transform how we see the universe.

The innovative DQ Tower stands 28 feet tall with 420 square feet of living space, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and premium amenities in a prefabricated design.

A new mmWave imaging system allows warehouse robots to scan and create 3D models of objects inside sealed containers, potentially revolutionizing shipping processes.

Family fraud endangers seniors when relatives exploit their trust, but removing personal data online and monitoring identity can prevent financial harm to aging parents.

A study analyzing 500,000 customer service interactions shows chatbots struggle with complex issues while human agents excel at matching customer communication styles.

Aigen's Element robot uses solar power and AI to provide farmers with a sustainable alternative to herbicides, working efficiently in cotton and soy fields.

The new Tesla Oasis Supercharger features 11 megawatts of solar panels and 39 megawatt-hours of battery storage, making it one of the largest solar-powered EV stations worldwide.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Cybercriminals accessed Medicare data of more than 100,000 Americans by creating fraudulent accounts, prompting CMS to deactivate accounts and issue new Medicare cards.

China's battery swap technology from CATL lets electric vehicle owners exchange batteries in under two minutes, with plans to expand to 1,000 stations across 31 Chinese cities by 2025.

Analysts at Silent Push have uncovered a widespread scam that uses counterfeit retail websites to steal the credit card information of online shoppers.

Chrome users need to update their browsers immediately as Google addresses a critical vulnerability that hackers are actively exploiting. Additional security measures are recommended.

A study found teens glance at phones for dangerous two-second intervals while driving, using devices primarily for entertainment, texting and navigation despite crash risks.

Security researchers uncovered a flaw in Windows 11 that allows attackers to disable Secure Boot using Microsoft-signed tools, requiring manual updates to protect against bootkits.

Let Someone Else Do It

Time Management