An Opera Of Doomed Deadlines

If you're working against a ticking time bomb, and finding progress frustratingly slow, then take some solace in the story of Danish Architect Jorn Utzon. Mr Uzton originally envisaged that it would take just four years to build Sydney Opera House. 

So, how did that go? 

Well, they broke soil in 1959, and it wasn't completed until... 1973.

That's 14 years.

A mere 10 Years behind schedule. 

What a slacker!

To be fair JU, was attempting to build something on a humongously complex scale, thousands of moving parts and hundreds of people. Not to mention immense financial and political pressure to deliver on time and on budget. That's just business I guess.

Or you may know it as...

Hofstadter's law:  "Any task you're planning will always, always, take longer than expected".

Fact.

It's hardly breaking news to anyone doing anything worthwhile, but we forget don't we? And even when we don't (forget) - we still underestimate. Hope triumphs over experience every time and then of course - deadlines are doomed.

Why is that?

Well, let's take building a sales-funnel as an example:

Picturing the end result of your completed sales-funnel jigsaw means: conversions, sales and income - woo!

Thinking about the work involved in creating and fitting it all together means: time, people and expense - boo!

So, our minds naturally gravitate towards the stuff that makes us feel all warm and cosy, rather than all hot and bothered. It's nice to think of new projects, products and fresh ideas to try. Content to publish, metrics to improve, goals to hit - it's a picture of a tantalising future. It makes us feel good. And that motivates us to take action. But...

Fixing Up Funnels Is A Time Suck, Mind F*ck

Defuse or Diffuse? The Explosive Question

Ultimately, it's always you who's left to keep all those plates spinning, and clear up the broken crockery.

Ultimately, there is a limit to how far you can go, without an effective delegation solution.

Ultimately, you have to find the a way that will best leverage your time input, for maximum conversion output.

So, which delegation scenario will be the best fit for you? Which scenario will best help you piece together your sales funnel jigsaw, diffuse that ticking time bomb, and deliver the relief you need?

Let's take a look at the options:

1. Hire a VA to assist you with on-going tasks, plus freelancers as and when you need them.

With a smart recruitment system, this scenario can certainly help with simple, reoccurring time intensive tasks. However, if you want this to work out well - which of course you would - then the deal is: you have to prepare the ground, and that means; investing a significant amount of your time to set up Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) and training. You have to think ahead, because they won't do the thinking for you.

The more skills-experience-initiative you need from your Virtual Assistants or Freelancers; the more it will cost in either time (for training and management) or money (because you absolutely do get what you pay for).

Good for: Delegating lower level reoccurring tasks (on a tight budget).

Bad for: Delegating higher level tasks that require skills and initiative (on a tight budget).

2. Hire full-time content and marketing managers.

Problem solved? Would be nice, wouldn't it? One day Rodney, one day...

But... Do you have forty hours of marketing and content work, week in; week out? Perhaps you do, but can you commit to full-time salaries? Benefits, admin, taxes, HR? It's a big step.

Good for: Established SME's with a predictable marketing schedule and consistent revenue flows.

Bad for: First time delegation, low risk tolerance, or the bureaucratically challenged.

3. Hire an expert digital marketing strategy consultant.

If you need help with strategy and tools, and you want someone who has the experience to show you the shortcuts, and guide you around the pitfalls, then this could be a good direction to take. But in this scenario, it's very important to find the right fit for you, because the hourly rate will not come cheap. That means - you can't afford to kiss too many frogs to find your Prince. And will they deliver all the pieces? It's possible, but would you want them to at North of £50 an hour? Probably not.

You could take some advice as you need it, and then outsource different pieces to different freelancers. But, then you're back to juggling balls, spinning plates, and more diffusion confusion - at least... Until the AI revolution arrives.

Good for: The fit and funded who have marketing and content teams in place.

Bad for: The bootstrapped start-up who doesn't have a marketing and content team in place.

4. Hire an agency who will sort everything out in-house on a project by project basis.

If you only have occasional product launches and campaign needs, and can't commit to ongoing staff expenses, then this makes some practical sense. You get your own team - without being responsible for feeding their kids. A good project manager will also help you define the scope, schedule deliverables, and shield you from any time-sucking micro-management. Cool.

The downside is: Hofstadter's law of course. Remember, the Sydney Opera House? How far up the mountain will you get, before your budget explodes into a cascade of cash below you? Will you get to invite all your friends and family to a lavish launch at the Opera? Or will you be home alone with Netflix?

Good for: One off launches and occasional campaigns.

Bad for: Consistent value for money and predictable budgets.

Finding Your Fit. Hitting Your Sweet Spot

So, how to defuse that ticking time-bomb?

How to get some sense of relief?

And when will that "where have you been all my life?" moment come?

It'll come, when... you find the right delegation fit for you.

A fit that hits the sweet spot between your time-money input, and your delivery-conversion output.

A fit that although maybe not perfect, on balance; still adds a lot more to your well than it leaks out.

We're talking about:

• A fit that can give you consistent, reliable access to a wide range of skills and services, so you can quickly switch resources to your most urgent goals or deadlines.
• A fit that can facilitate a transition in your chain of command from horizontal to vertical, so you have less people and problems to deal with.
• A fit that can help you save countless hours of micro-management, corrections and training, so you can have more time to focus on growing your business.

And that means...

Instead of spinning plates and juggling jobs, you can have a much simpler, more efficient and cost-effective solution to organising, creating and integrating your sales-funnel jigsaw puzzle.

Instead of the need for a Vital Virtual Assistant and a Meta Marketing Manager, you can leverage your time and money, and get the best of both worlds with, drum roll please...

A Mega Marketing Assistant!

A Mega Marketing what you say? A Mega Marketing Assistant I say!

Someone who is...ahem, not exactly lacking self belief, to assist you with erm, well... marketing.

A marketing assistant hits a sweet spot where you have the consistency of a full-time team hire, combined with the flexibility of a freelancer - without the inflexibility of the former, or the inconsistency of the latter.

A marketing assistant hits a sweet spot where you have the reassurance of a wing-man, combined with the efficiency of a trusted lieutenant - without compromising more of your precious time or budget.

Putting it bluntly: a marketing assistant hits a sweet spot that helps those with sh*t-loads to do - fix their sales-funnel time-suck, and their delegation mind-f*ck.

A Marketing Assistant Also Gives You:

• A one stop shop for all your content, copy and funnel deliverables; so you save time shopping around for, co-ordinating, and managing sooo many people.

• A holistic funnel implementation and integration strategy; so you have all your ducks lined up and moving forward, without you having to personally herd them into place

• Transparent, predictable and flexible rates; so you can set a budget geared for incremental growth, but with the flexibility to change gears up or down, as you see fit.

• The leverage of best practice frameworks, templates and operating procedures; so you can begin to scale things up, and turn your business into a well oiled money machine.

It's About The Journey

Your destination might be clear now, but it also may look very different in 12 months time.

You may have arrived and found it's not quite what you thought it would be. Or if things have worked to plan, your sights are now set on the next leg of the journey. The only thing you can bank on is this: time fly's, shit happens, and perspectives change, so - it won't look the same.

If you decide to explore the Marketing Assistant route, then of course - you're in the driving seat. You decide where you go, and how you get there. You decide to put your foot down, ease it off, or stop and change direction. This is a lean, agile delegation model for lean, agile growing businesses. Businesses that need flexible options, so they can adapt, iterate and optimise, as the environment changes and new roads open up.

So, where do you want to go?

How can I best help you get there?

And where are those bloody keys?

Look no further...

A Simple 3 Step System

“Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.”

Albert Einstein

The Marketing Assistant system is consistent, repeatable and flexible. Here are the three keys that unlock the system to get you moving to your destination...

“Systems and processes will always surpass motivation.”

Chris Matakas - The Tao of Jiu Jitsu

A Pricing System Tuned For Value

Now, the big question of course is: how much will this cost me? Well, the good news is you have 'damage limitation' built in to the pricing system, so - probably not as much as you think.

Bottomline, you decide how much you want to spend and we work to that. This makes both your outgoings and my incomings predictable and reassuringly boring. We all know where we're at, but what you spend, and how you spend it - that's up to you - naturally. But the point is; you have control week to week. It's a low commitment, low risk, flexible prospect, that can still deliver value, consistency and reliability.

As a guide, my current target price is £20 per hour, but what I really want is for you to be happy with the value you get for the rate you pay. I figure if I perform well, then you'll pay me accordingly, if I don't, you can likewise pay me accordingly. I don't perform. I don't get no sweeties.

And I loves me, my sweeties.

So, Here's Your Special Honeymoon Offer...

During the "let's get to know each other" phase (first four weeks) - you get a 50% discount on the full rate. A rate of just £10 per hour means; you can get going and test the water with the minimum 4 hours for just £40. And remember; there's no commitment - you can stop the arrangement anytime you want.

Your 100% Refundable Icing On The Cake

If you don't believe you've received fair value, any week during the first four - i'll refund that weeks fee. So, it's all on me to deliver and prove my worth - every f*cking week.

No pressure then.

The Cherry On Top Manifesto

If you decide to go forward into month two, I'm open to negotiate a price that works for us both.

Bottomline; you'll never pay more than what works for you, and I won't accept less than what works for me.

It'll be like living in a capitalist system, built on the spirit of communism, but in our world - both sides get a vote.

Cards On The Table

Why the knock down rates? Well truth is, this is a new concept; I'm testing, testing, 1, 2, 3.

I need to figure out what works and what doesn't, and you can help me do that. Being all sparkly and new; testimonials; case studies; and recommendations would certainly be helpful too. It's simply symbioses.

Once, I have clients hammering down my door (hopefully in a good way) I may not be quite so needy; so lock in these flexible terms while you can. My bet is that if we both choose wisely (and we will), then within twelve months you'll have seen plenty positive impact on your business (and your life). So, that twenty quid an hour will seem like a bargain.

I have faith in us both, see. 🙂

I won't compromise the service i provide to you and my other clients, and there are only so many hours in a week, so you'll be a select group of maybe four (tops), so: reach out; I'll be here!

Boom, boom...