Comments on: Save what matters by delegating what doesn’t http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:15:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Resume Writer http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-133716 Resume Writer Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:27:00 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-133716 <p>As a small business owner, I can attest to the fact that time is more important than money. I will pay a premium for a device, service, or person that will give me extra time to devote to marketing efforts because it is the only way for one's business to reach the next level.</p> <p>I thought about trying the grocery delivery but hadn't yet convinced myself to pay the premium.</p> Willam Mitchell As a small business owner, I can attest to the fact that time is more important than money. I will pay a premium for a device, service, or person that will give me extra time to devote to marketing efforts because it is the only way for one’s business to reach the next level.

I thought about trying the grocery delivery but hadn’t yet convinced myself to pay the premium.

Willam Mitchell

]]> By: just me http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-132016 just me Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:46:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-132016 The grocery store delegation.. just awesome. I'd try that at the Shoprite, but they wont even let me use my girlfriend's price plus card without giving me the 3rd degree. (Yes Mr. Cashier, she lives in my house and sleeps with me. Now swipe the damn card.) The grocery store delegation.. just awesome. I’d try that at the Shoprite, but they wont even let me use my girlfriend’s price plus card without giving me the 3rd degree. (Yes Mr. Cashier, she lives in my house and sleeps with me. Now swipe the damn card.)

]]> By: Debi http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-69691 Debi Fri, 11 May 2007 16:40:05 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-69691 I've seen that many people would pay to have their grocery shopping done for them. What if someone wanted to begin doing this in an area that it is not offered? What would be the best offer to the purchasers that I could give? Starting out, of course, would be more difficult since I wouldn't have a history of their prior purchases. Any suggestions are appreciated, I am seriously considering offering this to my area. * * * * * * <I>Not that I know a lot about the grocery business. (Especially since I don't even do my own shopping :) but here's what I do know: In New York City, online grocery shopping, like everything there, is complicated and specialized becuase of the density of people and the incredible amount of money there is to be had. In Madison, WI, I have found that the grocery stores that already exist simply offer delivery options. It is pretty easy for them to make a profit on this service -- they already deliver groceries, and they already have employees who know the stock very well. Outside of NYC or maybe San Francisco, I can't really imagine anyone who doesn't  already own a grocery store wanting to go into this business. --Penelope</I> I’ve seen that many people would pay to have their grocery shopping done for them. What if someone wanted to begin doing this in an area that it is not offered?

What would be the best offer to the purchasers that I could give? Starting out, of course, would be more difficult since I wouldn’t have a history of their prior purchases.

Any suggestions are appreciated, I am seriously considering offering this to my area.

* * * * * *

Not that I know a lot about the grocery business. (Especially since I don’t even do my own shopping :) but here’s what I do know:

In New York City, online grocery shopping, like everything there, is complicated and specialized becuase of the density of people and the incredible amount of money there is to be had.

In Madison, WI, I have found that the grocery stores that already exist simply offer delivery options. It is pretty easy for them to make a profit on this service — they already deliver groceries, and they already have employees who know the stock very well.

Outside of NYC or maybe San Francisco, I can’t really imagine anyone who doesn’t  already own a grocery store wanting to go into this business.

–Penelope

]]> By: Erica http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1211 Erica Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:35:55 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1211 Love the grocery list idea :) Perhaps instead of point and click shopping I will try this a and see what happens! Love the grocery list idea :)

Perhaps instead of point and click shopping I will try this a
and see what happens!

]]> By: Emily http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1099 Emily Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:43:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1099 Great post, Penelope. I love the way you've broadened the scope of what can be delegated. Personally, I love grocery shopping, but there are lots of things I could (in theory) get someone else to do. Now, learning not to be a control freak - that's the hard part! But I will make it a goal. Great post, Penelope. I love the way you’ve broadened the scope of what can be delegated. Personally, I love grocery shopping, but there are lots of things I could (in theory) get someone else to do.

Now, learning not to be a control freak - that’s the hard part! But I will make it a goal.

]]> By: Mike Duffy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1098 Mike Duffy Sun, 15 Oct 2006 18:27:13 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1098 Jeez, Pen. This is amazingly on-target. I was reading your post in Bloglines, and I was compelled to come over here and comment. The shopping list was pure brilliance. It speaks to our yearning for connection, of someone to take care of us. Madison must agree with you - your writing is better than ever. Jeez, Pen. This is amazingly on-target. I was reading your post in Bloglines, and I was compelled to come over here and comment.

The shopping list was pure brilliance. It speaks to our yearning for connection, of someone to take care of us.

Madison must agree with you - your writing is better than ever.

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1097 Penelope Trunk Sat, 14 Oct 2006 16:46:31 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1097 Diana, great question. I answered it <a href="http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/the_most_misunderstood_part_of.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Diana, great question. I answered it here.

]]> By: Diana http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1096 Diana Sat, 14 Oct 2006 14:53:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1096 Question, though... as someone who has attempted being a manager earlier in my life with little success, I found that delegating was a risky venture. Some backstory... I was what I guess you would call a "middle manager"; I had no authority to hire/fire, but I did have authority to write people up, and I had alot of projects/task on my plate handed down from the upper manager. Obviously, it was sometimes necessary for me hand down some of these tasks to non-manager employees in order to get everything done and make our boss happy. For almost everyone who held a position similar to mine, it brought alot of unpopularity and accusations of power-tripping. The most popular people (and the ones who were "likable" enough to get employees to do what they asked), were often the same ones who didn't do the rest of their real job (not the managing part) very well. The problem was, if the people I was managing didn't know what all I was doing that was more important than what I was delegating for them to do, they would get fussy and say (amongst each other) that I was a bad manager because I never did anything myself, I just pawned things off on them. Gross generalization, of course, but it made my life more difficult because I didn't want to to risk losing everyone's respect because I chose to delegate something and didn't have to time to explain to all of our 140+ employees what I needed to do instead. This is an extreme example, because at the time I and the people I was working with were pretty young (18-20s), and they had very little respect for the job they were performing in general. But still, I'd like to know how it is possible to delegate to people (and trust them to get it done!) without breeding disrespect and "unlikability"? Question, though… as someone who has attempted being a manager earlier in my life with little success, I found that delegating was a risky venture. Some backstory…

I was what I guess you would call a “middle manager”; I had no authority to hire/fire, but I did have authority to write people up, and I had alot of projects/task on my plate handed down from the upper manager. Obviously, it was sometimes necessary for me hand down some of these tasks to non-manager employees in order to get everything done and make our boss happy. For almost everyone who held a position similar to mine, it brought alot of unpopularity and accusations of power-tripping. The most popular people (and the ones who were “likable” enough to get employees to do what they asked), were often the same ones who didn’t do the rest of their real job (not the managing part) very well.

The problem was, if the people I was managing didn’t know what all I was doing that was more important than what I was delegating for them to do, they would get fussy and say (amongst each other) that I was a bad manager because I never did anything myself, I just pawned things off on them. Gross generalization, of course, but it made my life more difficult because I didn’t want to to risk losing everyone’s respect because I chose to delegate something and didn’t have to time to explain to all of our 140+ employees what I needed to do instead.

This is an extreme example, because at the time I and the people I was working with were pretty young (18-20s), and they had very little respect for the job they were performing in general. But still, I’d like to know how it is possible to delegate to people (and trust them to get it done!) without breeding disrespect and “unlikability”?

]]> By: Erik http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1095 Erik Sat, 14 Oct 2006 01:42:09 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1095 I like this post a lot. I think it’s a great example of something that everyone is a control freak over but shouldn’t be. Raising this as something you can delegate basically puts everything on the table to be considered for delegation. I like this post a lot. I think it’s a great example of something that everyone is a control freak over but shouldn’t be. Raising this as something you can delegate basically puts everything on the table to be considered for delegation.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1094 Dave Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:15:02 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/13/save-what-matters-by-delegating-what-doesnt/#comment-1094 I like that story of grocery store delegation; I wish I could send a generic email like that to the store. Every time I've looked into online grocery shopping, I didn't go through with it because I felt it was a bigger hassle to click on 70 items. What they need to do is set up the grocery store like a bridal registry. Pick up a scanner and go through the store to ID everything you might ever want to buy. Then upload that to your own personal shopping list. Then, just go online and check off the things you need this week. Another way to do that would be if you have a store discount card, allow you to access the database of everything you've ever purchased and work off that list. Send me a weekly email with a pre-filled shopping cart, so I can do my online grocery shopping in about 5 minutes. I'd pay $10 for that. But I won't pay $10 to sit at my computer for an hour trying to find out where the Mathews Whole Wheat bread is. I like that story of grocery store delegation; I wish I could send a generic email like that to the store. Every time I’ve looked into online grocery shopping, I didn’t go through with it because I felt it was a bigger hassle to click on 70 items.

What they need to do is set up the grocery store like a bridal registry. Pick up a scanner and go through the store to ID everything you might ever want to buy. Then upload that to your own personal shopping list. Then, just go online and check off the things you need this week.

Another way to do that would be if you have a store discount card, allow you to access the database of everything you’ve ever purchased and work off that list.

Send me a weekly email with a pre-filled shopping cart, so I can do my online grocery shopping in about 5 minutes. I’d pay $10 for that. But I won’t pay $10 to sit at my computer for an hour trying to find out where the Mathews Whole Wheat bread is.

]]>