Stop Fighting Technology: How Smart Tradespeople Save Time and Make More Money
Technology can make your business more efficient—or drive you to burnout if you try to master it all yourself. Whether you’re a painter, tradie, or service provider, the tools needed to run a modern business can feel endless: websites, email marketing, video editing, file storage, online scheduling… and the list goes on.
Why Trying to Do It All Doesn’t Work
It’s tempting to try and bootstrap everything. Need a website? Build it yourself. Want to launch a client portal or video training? Buy the software, watch tutorials, and spend hours figuring it out.
While being self-sufficient sounds good in theory, in practice, it can quickly become a waste of time and energy. As business mentor Nicole Dean says:
“If you’re a fish, stop trying to fly. Do what you’re good at, and let others handle the rest.”
Know Your Value: What’s Your Time Worth?
Take a step back and ask: What’s your time really worth?
Before you spend 10 hours editing a video or fiddling with your website, try reading a The Value of Time: How Much is Your Time Really Worth? to understand the real cost of doing everything yourself. You might find it’s more profitable to pay someone else so you can focus on what makes you money.
Be Tech-Aware, Not a Tech Expert
This doesn’t mean ignoring tech altogether. You still need a general idea of what’s possible. For example:
- Know your email platform can automate follow-ups, even if you don’t set it up yourself.
- Understand your invoicing system can link to your accounting software.
You don’t have to build the systems—but knowing they exist allows you to ask the right questions and delegate properly.
Delegate and Document With a VA
This is where a virtual assistant (VA) becomes your secret weapon. A good VA can:
- Execute tasks you assign
- Document the steps into an operations manual
- Save hours every week by repeating routine tasks efficiently
The goal is to create repeatable systems your whole team can use—without reinventing the wheel every time.
Focus on What You Do Best
Here’s the bottom line: Stop fighting technology. Learn just enough to delegate effectively. Then put your focus where it matters—serving your clients, closing jobs, and growing your business.
Adding structure to your operations doesn’t just save time; it also saves money and helps you scale.
