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I work 7 days a week. Over the past three years, I have devoted every waking moment of my life to getting myself back on my feet after a devastating bankruptcy which left me literally penniless ... not to mention homeless as well. Before that, I had always been quite well off. I was born into a family with money and I never went without anything.
I seemed to have a knack for business. When I quit school at 16 and started my own company, it took off like a rocket and soared for 22 years ... much to the chagrin of my parents and teachers who felt I had "copped out" (the term of the era) and was just being lazy because I hated "book work" and didn't "apply myself".
Back in "the day", business deals always seemed to go my way. Everything came easily and money flowed freely. I was considered quite wealthy by the time I was 23.
Then I made a very bad business decision and lost everything overnight at the age of 39. I lived on the beach in a tent for 10 months. I had to steel bananas and coconuts to survive. I got shot in the butt for stealing 2 bananas and spent days picking pellets out of my posterior. Long story short ... with the help of some WebMasterWorld members, they taught me to build my own web site. Bless their kind hearts!
Anyway ... I am still working 7 days a week and earning a "comfortable" income. Nobody would call me rich by any means ... but I am comfortable.
The thing is, I really can't leave my business for any length of time. A week is out of the question. A weekend may be possible from time to time, but its pushing things as far as credibility goes.
I am at the point where hiring someone (at least part time) is almost a necessity if I am to remain sane and have any sort of life for myself. However, the laws where I live make that very, very difficult and almost impossible.
My question is ... have any of you sent business to your competitors for a finders fee? If so, did it work out? How did it work and how did you approach the subject? Is the whole idea really stupid or does it have possibilities? Is it controllable?
At least youll get a break. I would nt pass work to competitors unless I knew them well like friends in a rival business etc You just cant really trust anyone.
You say you cant take time off but you managed the pub con ok, just repeat the process.
Take a break though youll kill yourself.
You need to structure you business so that it needs less and less of you , the key is to "Work on the business not in the business" ...With you doing all the work there is no way you can grow it and also you will burn out soon ...
I suggest you to read "E-Myth Revisited" by Michael Gerber ...
In my opinion handing over business is a cardinal sin if you are looking to create a well respected company with a great image, however, you sound like you need to get away from it all for a bit, maybe go back to the beach for a while =) (obviously not stealing bananas this time).
W.
a) body and soul, or, b) money?
If a): delegate.
If b): delegate.
If you are desirous of both a) and b): delegate.
Get someone else in to help run the business. Start making time for you before it's too late...
Syzygy
I don't know about merchants, but affiliates do that every day ;).
I would say you need to take a long look and see where you can delegate as well.
remember that and I dont think you can make a wrong decision
My job is pretty easy, if you understand the business. Therein lies the problem. Few "locals" have a clue about my business and even less about the boats. Most can't swim let alone sail.
In order to hire, I would have to spend at least 6 months to a year, training somebody. That in and of itself is exhausting.
I don't need anyone full time, nor do I want a full time employee. (I work out of my living room).
All I need is a one day off per week to do my chores in town and one day off for me from time to time. A vacation every few years or so would be nice too.
I could hire an ex-pat within the industry in a heartbeat, but alas, our employment regulations prevent that. We MUST hire and train a local ... and pay them while you are training them. Another side issue is once trained, they could (and very likely would) go get a full time job with any of my competitors and then I would be right back in the same fix!
(No, I wasn't kidding about the coconuts and bananas. To this day, I still hate both!)
So once again, my question is ... have any of you sent business to your competitors for a finders fee? If so, how did you manage it?
