6/20/08

What do You Outsource?

Since I'm big on efficiency and the laze faire ideology of economics, outsourcing has always interested me. It became more than just a buzz word, when a rumor circulated that my job may get outsourced. I've since accepted a new job, yet the the rumor (...for now) still runs rampid.

Despite all of this, I still hold true to letting 'the invisible hand' guide. For reason of exemplifying why outsourcing is good, I've taken a vow to move towards outsourcing as little as possible in my personal life. How can one outsource their life? There are MANY things that you do everyday, which cause you to outsource your life, and you don't even realize it. Maybe I should first define "outsourcing your life." It's simply, paying other people to do for you what you could do for yourself.


Much like a company that chooses to not do things in-house, what does one pay people to on a daily basis, as opposed to how one can do this themself?

- go out to a restaurant/prepare dinner yourself
- swing through a car wash/use some elbow grease
- buy a CD/learn to play an instrument
- purchase transportation (gas; train)/ move yourself (bike)
- go to the grocery store/plant a garden; bake; hunt
- visit a cleaners or tailor/mend your own clothes
- buy beer/home brew
- see a movie/perform a play with friends
- buy matches or lighter/rub together sticks
- purchase electricity/generate your own


While most of it an extreme, the above is to give an idea of how much we outsource. In your current situation, would it be realistic to do all or even the majority of the above? Probably not.

These specialized skill sets are why people have different jobs. It's what they specialize in and are more efficient than most in doing such. Thus, saving us time and money. Just like company outsourcing, send work to those who are good at it and who can do it cheaper than you could on your own. It's simply more efficient in relation to time and money.

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