Why a blog post about working with the right people? Last week I read an article which asked if real estate agents are really necessary. The article received a mixed response from readers. Personally, I really like my realtor. However the article failed to make an important distinction between the talented, qualified agents and the lazy ones. So I wanted to bring up and talk about the importance of finding the right people.
When it comes to professionals, employees or even band mates all are not created equal. The right people will move you forward. The right people know their craft, they get things done, and they inspire others. The wrong people can hold you back. The wrong people are sometimes incompetent, they can create more work for you, and they can de-motivate others.
I once read that when Moby was starting out in music he didn't do any of his own promoting or licensing. He just found the right people to do those jobs so that he could focus all his energy on making music. Of course it's difficult for artists to get connected with the right people; it helps if you are super talented.
Finding the right people takes time. Your goal is to find someone with whom you can have a working relationship for years. You may have to meet with a few duds before the right person comes around.
Word of mouth is definitely the best way of finding quality people or quality anything for that matter. Most people actually take pleasure in giving you their opinion. Case in point, just ask any New Yorker to suggest one of their favorite restaurants. You'll probably get a list of four or five and advice on what to order.
Like restaurants the best professionals are not necessarily the ones spending the most on advertising. Not that advertising is worthless. Just recognize that it's primarily designed to get your attention and illustrate some sort of unique benefit. Advertising shouldn't be your sole means of selecting the right people. For that matter neither should internet reviews. Word of mouth that actually came out of someone's mouth is more reliable.
Going back to the original question, are professionals like realtors really necessary? Isn't it more frugal to do things for yourself. The answer is sometimes yes, but sometimes no. It isn't always in your best interest to take things on.
Instead of asking if you can do something yourself, ask if someone else can do it better than you. Then decide if that person can create value over and above their fees. There are a number of people who outsource everything, because their time is better spent at their own specialty.
Finding the right people can be an investment in your own time and freedom. We don't all have to be experts at everything. Some of the most successful people in the world have done little more than surround themselves with the right people, which is a skill to master in and of itself.
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