Everyone’s good at doing something. Usually that’s our hobby. Things we do because of genuine interest always delivers better results. Often it’s our job, however I see we miss the real professionals so much in the modern world.

Nevertheless the basics of the outsourcing or delegating mechanism stays the same for many years. The culture around it has changed in recent years, though.

Client is always right

This used to be a motto of the very beginning of 21st century. When market was saturated enough, controlling mechanisms were undeveloped and every business was eager to impress its customers.

I perceive it as a golden era for a consumer. Saturated market is always beneficial for consumers. And makes it hard to shine on the market for companies. However in general that seems to be a good thing, because it motivates businesses to invest and try out new approaches, innovate, create.

It was a golden era. Because having money, not necessarily the gold, gave an access to everything. Everything could be done, bought. All the problems could be solved in exchange for money. If you think it is still happening that way - you’re either missing the changes or living in an extremely developing country, where market is growing. This isn’t the case for the Eastern Europe anymore.

Shrinking markets

Once market starts to shrink and people leaving or becoming less active on the market - it is the beginning of the problem. It becomes easier to get to the market. It requires less effort to shine on the market.

The downside of it is reputations means much less. Nobody cares who’s the best at building garage, as you can’t hire them within the nearest 2 years. You have to go for option 2 and 3 and 4. And these options, being options 3 and 4 and 5 cost less. But only if we count in the money. Because such options require more effort from the customers side.

Remind, explain, provide, tolerate inconsistencies between agreements, promises and reality. And you as a customer have to become a manager. A good manager. You need basic knowledge or even expertise. You need to understand the market. You need to check in and proactively ping. And even a small project converts into the job #2. Because you have to manage, suggest and control to get result that’s above the average.

The worst part comes later. Customer get’s educated about all the tricks and quirks. And nobody can shine on the market anymore. Because name does not matter. Because prices are the same and rather high. All is caused by the fact there is no enough offers available.

The nature of outsourcing

This was one of the last insights. In the circumstances of the shrinking market delegating does not differs much from becoming a business owner. You don’t buy goods, if you have to assess their quality, spend hours and days on claiming warranties, proving it was below the promised quality.

You are not buying results when you have to manage and control people that provide services. Or you need to hire someone with the expertise to do so. It seems the only difference is the reason to make these purchases. But after all - all the money that is earned is made to be spent.

And this is a sad reality of capitalism we’re witnessing. When nothing matters and customers and quality does not matter - how do we differ? We must become the loudest. This is so pathetic. But who we are to argue with basic principle of democracy, right?

Or... oh... oh, you haven’t realized that yet, have you? Are you the one being loud?