​WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

​By Eliana Barriga
Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer

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Eliana Barriga

Managing the occasional deluge

Well, the lazy days of summer are winding down, and it seems like life is cranking up again. It seems that once Labor Day hits— boom—next thing you know, the holidays are upon us. And as Murphy’s Law would have it, these busy times seem to be when life’s little emergencies seem to pop up! Managing what life throws at us and still keeping up with our businesses takes some talent, organization, and sometimes, even the costly outside contractor.

There are times when there’s just so much on our plates that hiring outside help becomes a necessity. Now, I am definitely a do-it-yourself kinda girl whenever I possibly can, but there are times when there are not enough hours in the day to take care of it all. For example, in the middle of this month’s crunch time in publishing The Retail Observer, the main sewer line in my house collapsed, requiring me rip out the flooring and jackhammer a 1 ft. x 2 ft. trench in the concrete slab from one end of the house to the other, taking with it the kitchen and 2 bathrooms. The timing couldn’t have been worse. While working on the repair as best I could, it just made more sense to hire workers so that I could continue to deal with the most important issue at hand — the magazine.

While many people are hesitant to hire outside help in the effort to save money, there are times when hiring an outside contractor or business consultant become the best financial decision. Having someone take care of the items that draw your focus away from your business frees you up to concentrate on the crucial areas of your business that bring in the money, grow the company, and ensure repeat customers. Your time is well spent in your business—after all, its success is largely dependent on the values, style and climate you established when you originally opened your doors, and you are the expert.

Here’s to your expertise-
Eliana Barriga
​[email protected]

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