Why is it so hard for entrepreneurs to ask for help?

It’s like the old adage about men and directions – they’d rather be lost forever, burn up gallons of gas driving around while not asking for help.  Now, I know that in reality there are plenty of men who will ask for directions, but there is some truth to it, and I often find the same is true for solopreneurs. You don’t want to ask for help. So I set out to find out why. Here are the three most popular answers:

1. I can’t afford help.

This is a common catch-22.  If you’re just starting out, it’s true you can’t afford help because there’s little revenue coming in so you have to do everything yourself.   After you’ve been in business for a while and revenue is more consistent, investing in a solid virtual assistant is an important step to free up your time to grow your business and focus on revenue generating activities.  It’s actually more cost-effective to hire a virtual assistant than an in-house employee because you only contract for the hours you need, even if it’s only 10 hours a month.  Something tells me you’d have a hard time finding an employee who will show up for only 10 hours a month, plus you have to pay taxes, insurance, and equipment.   So you see, hiring a virtual assistant is a lot less expensive than you’d think!

2. I’m embarrassed that I don’t know how to do these things.

Are you embarrassed to go to your doctor when you’re sick? Were you embarrassed to have your attorney help you with incorporation papers? How about when your car breaks down? Do you call a mechanic or leave it on the side of the road forever?  Being embarrassed is self-defeating.  Most solopreneurs have no idea how to do half of the business side of their business (we’ve seen it all so nothing surprises us).  They’re in it because they’re passionate about the service or product they provide – not because they like churning out blog posts and spending hours working on an email blast. You’re no different and there is nothing to be embarrassed about.  That’s what VAs are for.

3. I don’t know what they do.

Well today is your lucky day!  Here’s a quick list of things a virtual assistant can help you with tomorrow. It’s very general and really only scratches the surface, but it’s a great starting list. Do you need help with any of these things?

1. Lead generation
2. Webinar support
3. Calendar management
4. Blog writing
5. Newsletter writing
6. Phone support
7. Customer service
8. Website updates
9. Correspondence
10. Email management
11. Social media management
12. E-book support
13. Transcription
14. Bookkeeping
15. Reminders and follow ups

You do? Great! I know just the assistant for you to help lighten your load!  Let’s chat.

As always, thanks for reading.

Until next time,

Angie