Episode Details

Do you need someone to help you build your dream? Someone who can handle your scheduling, email, and other tasks while you focus on the big stuff? Someone with the same native language and same culture? The only thing worse than not having an assistant is having the wrong assistant.

Today, I am talking to Tim Francis, founder of the Great Assistant Program. During downtime as a touring drummer and after overcoming an illness, Tim had an interest in property management. He realized a brute-force method was not a sustainable long-term strategy. He needed help. He tried assistants from all over the world, only to have disastrous results. So, he created the Great Assistant Program.

[08:02] Tim had the common problems of letting go of control, not trusting others, not wanting to take time to train or manage, not knowing where to find assistants, and not knowing what to delegate. [08:35] After about four years, Tim was willing to offer higher pay to find an assistant in the United States or Canada and make a long-term commitment to them. [09:02] Tim learned that paying the lowest dollar amount and making the smallest commitment to someone, always resulted in them being here today and gone tomorrow. [09:47] Tim started using various tools, such as the Kolbe Index, that focus on different personalities and management styles. [09:56] Tim has had negative experiences using Upwork, a Website for freelancers to connect with business owners and entrepreneurs about jobs. [11:15] Tim discovered which marketing and operations tasks he could delegate to his assistant. [11:29] By having the right assistant, you can go from working 80 hours a week to getting so much done quickly in half the time. [11:48] Tim started helping others get an assistant, and over time he realized that there was a business need to help clients and friends find great assistants. [12:05] Tim created a management team and hired a corporate trainer to train assistants to make sure they are ready. [12:30] The Great Assistant Program has an 85 percent stick rate. For the remaining 15 percent of assistants that don't fit, there is a 90-day rematch guarantee. [14:10] What's the dollar-per-hour cost in real terms? You can pay someone in the Philippines $4 or someone in the United States or Canada for $16-20. The Philippines is less expensive, but it takes hours to explain things repeatedly and fix mistakes later. How much have your really spent? [16:21] If you have an assistant from North America that is high-caliber, they will produce at least 2-3X the work and results. You can feel safe that they understand you and trust that they will treat your customers well. [18:28] Finding a great assistant can be an issue for entrepreneurs starting out to multi-millionaires. It doesn't matter how big or small you are. [19:14] Time is your scarcest and most valuable resource. Give people money to get more time. [19:48] The Great Assistant Program takes care of what you need to find the right assistant. It takes everything off your plate - from posting jobs, figuring out what you need, to finding matches. [21:15] You are probably willing to pay thousands of dollars to undo what previous assistants had done. You don't want to play Russian Roulette anymore. [22:40] Go to DoorGrow.com/greatassistant and fill out the form that determines if you need a great assistant. Plus you get a video gift! [24:01] What is your #1 frustration or challenge in getting a great assistant? The #1 response was control and trust. [24:33] Anytime in business, including property management, if you feel like you are taking a blind risk, that is a horrible feeling. Use the process provided by the Great Assistant Program to reduce the risk. It involves expanding your pool of talent, using the Kolbe Index, and trying work and cognitive tests. [26:23] How do you determine what you will have an assistant do? In property management, there is a lot of work to do. Have your assistant work o