After a bit of a slow start (hey, it’s hard managing people across the globe!), SigePo is really starting to hit it’s stride. We’re adding two new captive services this coming month, and are now firmly above 10 staff. On track for 80 by years end? Not at this point, but let’s hope it’s a log scale, or that I can bring in double or triple the revenue per staff that I had modelled last year.
Lessons learned:
- selling outsourcing on a small scale, a-la 4 Hour Workweek, is not as easy as it sounds. Unless they’ve fully invested themselves in the mantra, learning to let go is a very hard thing for a small business owner to do. It takes a while to develop a sense of trust.
- using SigePo as a captive outsourcing company might be a better model. I’ll remain flexible, and (with a few exceptions) all clients are good clients, but since I’ve taken the plunge, I’ve found I can generate more income by tasking my assistants directly than by selling assistant services.
The power of geographic arbitrage cannot be denied. I’ll remain flexible and see what happens.