Are you delegating as much as you could in your small business? Something we talked about in last week’s Brilliance! (just in case you’re still not receiving your FREE subscription!) is that it’s difficult to grow your revenue to six figures and beyond when you’re spending your time on “$20 an hour” tasks.

There are generally three reasons that prevent entrepreneurs from delegating more: money, control and hassle.

The money issue can often feel like a catch-22. If you don’t have enough revenue coming in the door, how can you afford to hire any one to help you? Then again, if you’re spending your time updating your website and formatting your own e-zine, then you’re probably not spending enough time bringing in new clients.

The key is to start small. Hire a virtual assistant or even an intern for a few hours a week. Some schools even have programs where interns work for free in exchange for class credits. Then make sure you use that freed-up time to either reactive previous clients or find new ones.

The issue of control, on the other hand, is a little trickier. I’m a control freak myself, so I know of what I speak. For me, the solution has been to decide what things I’m willing to live with if they are done “less than perfect,” and then delegate those things first. But don’t get me wrong. I still review everything carefully and, even if I fine tune things before I consider it “done,” it still saves me a ton of time by having someone else do 80% of the work.

Which brings me to the third point: hassle. A lot of solopreneurs find the mere process of hiring someone and managing them an added stress they simply don’t need. After all, for many of us, one of the attractions of solopreneurship is that it’s a business model that doesn’t (necessarily) require employees!

Still, we simply can’t do everything ourselves. To eliminate aggravation, take the necessary time to find the right person (or people) to join your team. Make sure they are qualified, have the same work ethic as you and will be easy to work with.

Most importantly, don’t wait until everything is so crazy in your business that you’re essentially forced to hire the first person who passes the “mirror” test. (You know… they’re alive and breathing. )

Planning for your anticipated growth is not only a smart move from a business management standpoint—it also sends the universe the right message too.

If you still need a little more coaxing, here’s a list of 57 things you could be delegating in your business right now. By no means is this an exhaustive list. But hopefully it will get you thinking in the right direction!

1.  Submitting your articles to online article databases

2.  Putting together your e-zine and sending it out

3.  Making bank deposits

4.  Uploading posts to your blog

5.  Sending out invoices

6.  Pitching you to media outlets as a quotable expert

7.  Running errands (post office, office supply store, etc.)

8.  Processing quarterly taxes

9.  Making routine updates to your social media profiles

10.  Assembling and mailing out media kits and speaker kits

11.  Tracking and paying bills

12.  Editing and proofreading e-zine articles, blog posts, special reports, etc.

13.  Filing papers

14.  Entering business cards or new contact information into Outlook, Entourage, etc.

15.  Submitting your blog to blog directories

16.  Formatting your information products like e-books, special reports and home study courses

17.  Handling registrations and cancellations for events

18.  Booking travel plans

19.  Maintaining client mailing and online opt-in lists

20.  Assembling and shipping information products

21.  Overseeing your referral program

22.  Ordering gifts (flowers, gift baskets, etc.) for clients

23.  Writing articles for your e-zine or blog

24.  Planning and producing events

25.  Finding guest experts for your e-zine, blog, teleseminar or radio program

26.  Monitoring website statistics

27.  Managing the work of other people on your staff, as well as outside vendors

28.  Maintaining and ordering office supplies

29.  Writing sales copy for your website and online sales letters

30.  Monitoring, routing and responding to e-mail

31.  Reconciling bank statements

32.  Scheduling meetings and conference calls

33.  Developing process manuals for thing you do routinely in your business

34.  Answering incoming calls and returning phone messages

35.  Searching for conferences, teleseminars and webcasts you should be attending

36.  Handling the logistics for teleseminars and webinars

37.  Processing credit card payments

38.  Editing audio and video recordings and uploading them to your website

39.  Scheduling coaching calls

40.  Uploading and scheduling autoresponders

41.  Reviewing and sorting mail

42.  Researching information and fact-checking

43.  Managing customer service inquiries and issues

44.  Tracking expenses (and researching better deals)

45.  Assembling and sending out client welcome kits

46.  Ordering branded materials like t-shirts, pens, mouse pads, mugs, etc.

47.  Researching and identifying marketing opportunities like trade shows

48.  Making updates to your website

49.  Managing your affiliate program

50.  Writing autoresponder messages

51.  Confirming calls and meetings

52.  E-mailing prospects and new clients

53.  Finding stock images for your website, sales pages, blog posts and e-zine

54.  Taking care of holiday card and gift mailings

55.  Writing press releases and submitting them to free online PR distributors

56.  Handling the interface with graphic designers and printers for your marketing materials

57.  Working with clients to collect results-oriented testimonials

What do you delegate in your business? What have you learned works best when it comes to delegation? Let us and our readers know by leaving a comment below!

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