I grew up as the son of a “do it yourselfer.” My father was gifted when it
came to repairing the black and white television, checking the ignition timing
on the family cars and building just about anything. It was an odd occasion when
outside help came to our house. Short of pumping out the septic tank, Dad knew
how to do it or found someone who did and could tell him how.
One
of the frequent weekend projects at the Emerson house was to change the oil in
the family cars. At that point in time, many people changed the oil in their vehicles;
it saved money. After all, why pay someone to do something you can do
yourself?
It was destiny that I too, be an oil changer with
my own car once I was on my own. Just about then, however, quickie oil change
specialty stores were just beginning to open up. After a few years and several
hot oil baths and gallons of black dripping oil, it occurred to me that the quick
change oil service was not that much of a luxury, after all. Tracking down the
right filter, oil and filter wrench was a time consuming project. Oil filters
were getting harder and harder to get to because of smaller cars and packed engine
compartments. Disposal of the old oil and rags was a chore also and it didn’t
take long for me to rationalize the value of paying a few more dollars to have
the service done regularly by others and have the free time available to be doing
something fun and recreational.
Changing the oil in my car saved a
marginal amount of money but cost me time that could be used to do more beneficial
things.
Many people in management of small business are still “changing
the oil”, too. Some of the D.I.Y. things they persist in doing are:
- Order
or pick up supplies
- Pick up or drop off the mail
- Do some or all
of the bookkeeping
- Collect the past due receivables
- Stock the
shelves
- Do the work others have been hired to do
- Solve software
or hardware glitches or repair the copier
- Maintain the company website
- Count
inventory
- Change the light bulbs
If you were hired
to change the light bulbs, then let there be light. If you were hired to manage,
then manage magnificently. If you started the company, then make sure you are
selling enough product or services to pay for the oil-changing service to be done
by others. In small business, leading is often more important than doing.
Buying
the service that you need is a way to control the dollars, one of my 8 simple
strategies for success. Want to learn more? click
here
