“We can do that” is perhaps the most overused phrase in the workplace or even the home front. In a different form, it may come in the form of a question: “why can’t we do that ourselves?” To which, the eager minion replies, “WE CAN DO THAT!”

This go-getter attitude is not only common but frequently embraced, particularly by those who don’t actually have to get it done. Never have best laid plans produced a result. Especially when the effort needs to be woven into the fabric of a routine. Initial enthusiasm carries the “plan” to implementation and, perhaps, even to commencement of an initial effort. Then, reality sets in. There is no room on the loom for more material to be woven. The can-do becomes the maybe-later, eventually fading into the Edsel category of good ideas. Suddenly, organizing a sock drawer is a more likely part of a weekly routine.

That is not to say the idea has gone sour. It probably has not. It just lacks the self-impetus to happen by itself.  There are three reasons to use outside sources, whether to tile a bathroom at home or prepare a weekly blog post: (1) you don’t want to do it, (2) you don’t have the time to do it, and (3) you don’t know how to do it. The only hard part of this realization is realizing it. Once reality sets in, get someone else to do it for you. This person is called a freelancer for the purpose of this article. Also known as a contractor, temporary help or a consultant.

The beauty of this conclusion is that finding a willing freelancer is quite easy. The unattractive part is knowing if you make the best selection. You would not ordinarily go through the typical vetting process of hiring a fulltime employee, but a mistake could be worse when opting to make the freelance decision. Project or pointed tasks have a short focal range. There is no team failure. Either you got it done or you did not. How this occurred is not judged, just the outcome of your actions.

The good news is that the majority of folks who offer services on a contract basis, whether for writing or for an accounts auditing project, do so because they want to, not because they are assigned to do it. They ask to do it. Not really sure how that works for those wanting to pore over financial statements for giggles. But writing or marketing projects require interaction and creativity, which is more tangibly interesting (sorry pinch-hitting bean counters).

The best resource you have for finding the right person for the job is from a positive referral and whether or not you like the person. There is no better decision factor than good karma or just flat out feeling comfortable with the selected. After all, this is now your go-to guy and represents that initial enthusiastic attitude.

So, you can do this, just get someone competent to help you deliver on that promise. It will give you time to sort your sock drawer.