It’s OK To Outsource Thanksgiving

By Kathie Zentgraf, CHR Solutions

As Thanksgiving approaches I am reminded that this is one of my favorite holidays – a time where families get together to eat and be thankful. But Thanksgiving also brings about a lot of work. First I prepare the guest list, then the turkey, peel the apples, make the pies, decorate, get the house in order, etc. And then there is the cleanup, packing up the leftovers, packing up the relatives, and such. It’s days like this when my mind turns to outsourcing… 

Should I buy the pies from the local bakery? What about one of the pre-cooked turkeys? Or maybe forget about the dinner altogether, pack everyone into the family van and head out to the nearest Italian restaurant, pay $15 a plate and call it good? To some extent different families take on some level of outsourcing for their Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, how many people really grow their own potatoes and butcher their own bird? 

My main goal of Thanksgiving is to spend quality time with my loved ones; too much focus on the preparations and I lose out on the fundamentals.

So isn’t the same true for running your business? It’s more important to focus on the fundamentals – what you do best and maintaining your relationships with customers. The rest just takes away.

So the key is to find a balance that allows you to achieve your fundamental business goals while ensuring those back-office processes still get taken care of. That store-bought pie gave me one more hour to spend with my son, and most organizations stand to benefit from the same concept.

Kathie Zentgraf, vice president of software practices for CHR Solutions, brings 20 years of experience serving rural telecommunications service providers to the position. With expertise in all operational facets of the business, she has consulted with rural carriers on BSS/OSS installations and operational efficiencies, sales and marketing activities, customer service, staffing, financials, system design, site acquisition and construction, regulatory, federal and FCC mandates and issues, as well as contract negotiations, interconnection agreements and roaming contracts.