My mind moves at a million miles per minute. That's why I need two personal assistants to make sure everything on my schedule gets done.
They have been true lifesavers, enabling me to optimize both my personal and professional lives.
If you're an overworked entrepreneur wondering why your to-do list always seems unfinished, look into hiring a personal assistant. I once had a mentor tell me that a key to day-to-day success is to hire a PA to keep the trains running on time while you focus on big picture ideas. At first, I thought it was a waste of money, but now I completely understand where he's coming from.
I don't want to get bogged down in the minutiae of my business. I've found that it's better to delegate smaller tasks so I can have more time and brainpower to focus on growing my business in the long-term.
Personal assistants can be lifesavers for entrepreneurs
Still don't believe me? Here are 5 reasons why a personal assistant is an absolute must for any successful entrepreneur.
Keeping You On Schedule
In a given day, I could have 5 meetings and 10 phone calls with people from all over the world. If I tried to keep track of all of this myself, I'd lose my mind -- and likely a valuable client or two.
I have a personal assistant to help me out where Siri can fail, making sure I'm never double-booking myself. I check in with my assistant each morning, so I know exactly what I have planned in the day ahead, then debrief each evening to make sure I haven't missed anything for the next day.
While some entrepreneurs trust the tried-and-true paper planner or calendar, I'd rather put my trust in another person. The last thing I'd want is to forget a meeting with a potentially lucrative client or be an hour late to a personal function.
Delegation of Smaller Tasks
Delegation is a miracle for entrepreneurs, but one they're often most hesitant to embrace. When you're just starting out, you're in control of everything. As you grow, you need to leave that mentality behind and trust others to get meaningful (yet tedious) tasks done.
If I'm flying to London for a conference, I entrust a PA to pick up my freshly dry-cleaned suits, check into my flight, coordinate with my hotel across the pond and obtain all the information I'll need to network with confidence. This way, all I need to do is call an Uber and I'm ready to rock this conference.
When you have an especially talented PA, one who learns your preferences over time, it's like you're being doubly productive.
Small tasks can add up to be a major timewaster for entrepreneurs. That's why I recommend hiring a trusted assistant to take care of things that could take you out of your flow.
Balance Personal Life
One of the reasons my mentor was so convinced about the benefits of a personal assistant was the ability to have some sort of work/life balance.
He was so focused on growing his empire, but he did not want to do this at the cost of his family. His trusted personal assistant coordinated thoughtful gifts for his kids and wife, reminding him of important dates and also made several trips to the grocery store.
This way, he was able to have the entrepreneurial lifestyle and return to a happy home. I've seen so many entrepreneurs go through relationships like rental cars because they're unable to maintain a healthy work/life balance. A personal assistant can help you achieve that.
It's an Investment in Yourself
While simpler entrepreneurs might see a personal assistant as an added cost, wise ones see them as an investment.
By investing in a personal assistant or two, you're able to spend more time on the things you truly want -- growth, revenue and brand recognition. Think of how much more productive you could be if you weren't throwing away several hours a week on menial tasks?
The money you would generate with that time would quickly recoup the cost of hiring a personal assistant.
Like Having Another You
This may be the biggest benefit. Over time, your PA will get to know you. Not only how you look and dress, but how you think and act. The assistant will know exactly how you take your coffee, which barista should make it, and when you want it.
By having someone with the same mindset as you, it's like being cloned. My personal assistants are able to write like me, and I trust them to respond to non-critical emails in my voice. Good personal assistants will be able to write memos, emails and other key pieces of information just like you.
This will make your day go so much smoother and enable you to keep your focus where it needs to be -- on your business.
https://www.inc.com/james-paine/5-reasons-why-you-need-a-personal-assistant.html
PUBLISHED ON: FEB 28, 2017
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.