Ten Free Videos Provide a Great Introduction to Outsourcing

In conversations I have from time to time with other people who work from home, the distinction between working in their business and working on their business seems to be common parlance. I think it’s fair to say the most of us know why it is a good thing, actually a necessary thing, to aspire to working more on the business and much, much less in the business.

Getting all the ducks in a row, so as to achieve that, is another story.

Working on the business, not in it - photo Coolangatta Beach, by Des Walsh

Anyone who has read Tim Ferriss 4 Hour Work Week – is there anyone left who hasn’t? – knows that one of the ways we can move more into the “on the business” plane is by outsourcing things that others can do, more economically and often better than we can.

Many of us are also aware, from conversations with support desks if from no other source, that the Philippines has become a key provider of outsourced services at highly competitive prices.

And it’s not only telecoms companies and call-center providers who are outsourcing to the Philippines. Many small and even micro businesses are doing so too.

I’m probably treading on a toe or three

On a previous occasion when I have written about outsourcing I have drawn some criticism on the basis – as far as I could figure out – that I was somehow encouraging people to use less than “quality assured” services. But if I can get quality services provided, within a budget and on terms that are reasonable for both parties, from whatever country, I’ll feel ok about that. After all, I’m in an international market myself, where some competitors charge a lot more than I do and some a lot less: it’s up to me to show I can provide value for money.

Mass Outsource

Here at our two person company we have been exploring the possibilities for outsourcing some of our business processes to the Philippines and we have spent some time and money doing that.

In that regard, one of our best investments, of time and of money, has been on a course and system developed by Tyrone Shum, under the heading of Mass Outsource Mastermind Program.

It has been and continues to be a good experience and definitely value for money.

For anyone interested, I would recommend taking advantage of the opportunity available just now to get access to ten free videos in which Tyrone explains how the outsourcing process works. It’s effectively a free e-course, which provides valuable, experience-grounded information about the outsourcing process and how it can liberate us to do the things we really want to do and which will reward us better.

In a world of fast-talking, over-promising “gurus”, Tyrone Shum is a refreshing change – his dedication to providing quality information, advice and support, quietly, thoroughly, is impressive. He doesn’t over-promise and he delivers generously. And I like that when he asks “Are there any more questions?” he means it – and welcomes the question.

Is this an affiliate linked post? You bet (see next para), but I’d be happy to do it anyway as I really respect what Tyrone has achieved and how he shares.

Here is the link to the free Mass Outsource video e-course.

ShareYourLove.com site has great pictures and raises money for good causes

Whether you love Paris in the Springtime (don’t know, I’ve only been there in winter), bagels and lox in New York (the only ones I’ve ever actually loved) or the cute way your dog looks at you when she’s hungry, if you have a photo (i.e. one you own) the people at ShareYourLove.com want you to visit and, as the name implies, share.

What is Share Your Love about?

This is a genuine feelgood project. I know four of the five principals personally and they are definitely Good Guys. I’ve had the benefit of a detailed briefing on the project but I’ll spare you that. The core concept is, as spelled out on the site:

ShareYourLove.com is about celebrating what we love to help some of the poorest people in the world.

Let’s face it, most of us are lucky and we have a lot to be thankful for. If you’re reading this there’s a good chance you have food, water and shelter covered. Many of our global neighbors aren’t so lucky and they need our help.

We are raising money for WaterAid with every image view. We chose water as our cause because having clean water on demand is a luxury most of us take for granted but 884 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. (WHO/UNICEF)

Today I uploaded this picture of local fishermen launching their boat to take their net out into the bay. It took only a couple of minutes to edit – including typing, then dragging and dropping, some words – and save.

fishermen launching their boat to take the net out, Coolangatta Beach, Queensland, Australia - copyright Des Walsh

The site is really easy to use. Uploading, cropping your picture and inserting some words plus adding some notes to go with the picture are all dead easy. The tools are all there and require no special expertise to use. And it is great to get little messages saying someone likes your picture.

I confess to having a challenge about “writing” on my pictures, but when one of the principals asked me was I going to add a caption, I went in and added captions. It’s not obligatory, but seems to be the way people are doing things.

Speaking of sharing love, I love that Dave, Rob, Matt, Lee and Steve have put in lots of hours without any promise of personal reward other than a warm innner glow, contributing a load of what would otherwise be some costly Webdev/programming and advertising/promotion.

This post is to support what they are doing – which provides fun for them and others who participate and provides support for good causes like their current support for WaterAid.

So ladies and gentlemen start your uploading engines, have fun and do good. It’s free to join.

What’s not to love?