Outsourcing: What I Would Never Outsource

While I was reading The 4-Hour work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (aff), the chapter on outsourcing struck me as a bit cold. I really hope the example of the man who outsourced an apology letter to his wife was a joke.

But it got me thinking about what things in my life I would not consider outsourcing.

Cards, Letters and Emails

One of the items presented as an example in the book was the apology letter. While I could see outsourcing routine business communcation, I don’t think I would outsource any of the personal communication letters I do. I may send the same “catch-up” email to several people, but at least I write it. I can’t imagine getting updates like that written by an assistant.

Cleaning

This is one area that is popularly outsourced among my peers. However, my cleaning doesn’t take more than 15 minutes a day, and my house is always ready for company. I also use non-toxic safe-for-the-environment cleaners. Most cleaning services would take longer than that to do the “heavy” cleaning, and would use their own substances. Not worth it in my book.

Writing This Blog

One of the ideas for outsourcing in the book was to have someone do your routine writing…including blog posts. For me, tat defeats the purpose of the blog. I use my blogs as a sharing of what I have found personally useful (or not), and for expanding my writing skills. Both of those objectives would be defeated by outsourcing it.

Talking To My Parents

Yes, this is one of the examples in the book. Even if talking to my parents was horrendous (which it’s not), I still wouldn’t let someone else do it in my stead. There are some things you have to do for yourself.