We all have our own strengths and weaknesses, areas where we are very knowledgeable and others where we don’t have a clue. We also have demands on our time.

I am a firm believer in playing to strength and concentrating on areas where I have knowledge. That is why I outsource some parts of projects, such as:

• Graphic design - outside my skill set and comfort zone
• Search Engine Marketing - a very skilled area that requires contact attention if sites are to maintain high rank
• Video - to be effective you need a profesional cameraman and producer

Importantly, it would take me considerably longer to complete some tasks than somebody else. So I get the expert to do it. That way I don’t waste time and I get a better solution.

I think it is a win-win situation.

There are projects that require something bigger, better, more expensive than I am happy dealing with on my own. I phone a friend about that. In fact I might phone several friends – I have a lot!

That is something else that my clients get. If I consider one of my associate’s skills are better suited for a project’s requirements I will invite him to join. I will still be the lead manager and my client won’t have to get involved so he gets the best of both worlds. The associate’s costs are included in the overall estimate – you still only get one invoice.

Alternatively, if the majority of a project is going to be handled by an associate and my role is limited to creating the project specification then the associate will invoice you and I will get a payment from him for the work I have done.