Getting Help

I consider myself a do-it-yourself kind of gal. My husband and I take care of our own yard, pool, and house. We're picky about how things are done, so we choose to do many things ourselves. It works pretty well.

A few months ago, I decided to touch up the doors and baseboards in our house. Since the previous owners had left paint, I figured it would be a quick little project—a little paint here, a little paint there.

The first problem surfaced when the paint (which had been labeled) didn't match the surface I was painting. No problem, it just needed to dry. When the dry paint still didn't match the doors, I didn't panic. I just decided to paint the doors (cut-outs and all).

Armed with the right color and proper tools, I spent the second day rolling and brushing on the paint. The lack of light made it hard to see, and the paint didn't roll on as expected. It was going to need a second coat. Suddenly, reality stretched out before me: this was going to take a lot loooooooonger than I wanted or expected.

I thought about my options: continue on my own and hope to have it finished by the end of the summer, or call Handy Mark (named by my daughter) to get it done right. Because my painting skills were not what I had hoped, I made the call.

Handy Mark gave me a bid, which was less than I expected, and he could get the entire project done in less than a day. Woo hoo! Needless to say, I booked him. A week later my doors were painted better and faster than I could have ever done myself. It was almost a pleasure to write that check, knowing that instead of spending months at something I wasn't good at, I could use the time to work on my business or do something fun.

What about you? What are you trying to do that's a struggle? What are you avoiding because it's simply too overwhelming? What is draining your time and energy?

It is time for you to get some help. Here are some things to consider:

• Be specific. "I need help with my finances" doesn't work. Do you need help saving money, setting up a budget, doing taxes, or filing your financial documents? Knowing what you need is half the battle.
• Determine the type of help needed. Do you need a contractor, a professional, a coach, or just some extra hands?
• Do some research. Ask friends whom they would recommend. Look online. Get some bids. Don't assume that you can't afford help.
• Assess the problem area's costs. What is not getting that project done costing you now? Time, energy, a relationship, your sense of peace, future goals?
• Look ahead. What could you do after the project is complete? Getting it done will help you move on to bigger and better things.
• Formulate a plan. It may be possible for you to pay for help right away. Maybe you need to do some of the work yourself. You might need to save for it. It could be done in stages. The point is to figure out a way to get it done so you can move on.
• Get started. At some point you just need to take the plunge.

[Happy sigh] My doors and baseboards are painted. The colors in my office match better. I now have time to plan the organizing classes I will teach in the fall and some "Me Time." I got help, and my project is done.

What about you? What is your looming project or problem? Formulate a plan. Think about what you will have more time and energy for later. Get some help, and get it done. You'll be glad you did.

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