Imagine a world where you got to spend every moment doing nothing but the things you most wanted to do and the things you were best at. How does it feel? How would you spend your time?

Thirty years ago this was a pretty tough reality. Today is different. It’s not only possible, it’s becoming mandatory–if you want to escape the 9 to 5 that is.

The biggest barrier holding people back from experiencing career and personal freedom is history. The belief that things have to be done the way they’ve always been done. Most employers and employees are convinced of this. Hence they’re stuck in a cube and not off exploring the world.

It does not have to be this way.

This thinking leads you to believe that you must do everything on your own. If it’s in your job description or businesses charter then it’s your job to get it done, right? Maybe so, but just because it’s your job, does not mean you must be the one who does it.

Enter: Outsourcing

There is an army of ridiculously talented workers out there dying to help set you free. No matter the task, there’s someone for it. They may be down the street or around the globe. It doesn’t matter. Be it New Jersey or New Delhi, a few things are certain…

Benefits of outsourcing:

1. They will likely do the job better than you could (usually much better).

2. They will do it in less time (usually way less).

3. They will do it for less money (likely a fraction of what you’d expect).

4. They will allow you to spend time on your highest talent and enjoyment areas.

Think like a CEO.

What does a CEO actually do? They don’t build products, they build businesses. They are nothing more than master outsources. Their expertise is having a vision and creating and motivating the right team of superb skill to make it reality. They don’t bury themselves in a manual to learn Photo Shop to design their website. They find a designer so they can keep the train moving forward.

We are all CEO’s of our lives. Whether we’re entrepreneurs or day laborers. There is nothing more valuable than our time and our minds. With those two assets we can direct our own life. To do this, we must build our team.

Perhaps you’re still skeptical so let’s cover what might be on your mind.

The two biggest objections to outsourcing are:

• “I don’t have anything to outsource.”
• “I can do it myself and save the money.”

The first is simply lacking creativity. One place to start is Elance’s 100 Projects You Can Outsource.

Here’s a taste of projects I’ve sent to a far off land so I can focus on my core of exploring, writing, coaching, investing and business building:

• web research
• customer service
• accounting
• web and blog design
• blog and copy writing
• blog comment moderation
• locate best courses in your area for various subjects
• voice transcription
• SEO, SEM and Social Media Marketing
• personal or administrative tasks
• travel plans
• having an out-of-production product or garment made
• locating the perfect gift on Valentine’s Day

Now that you have plenty to outsource, the second objection is what really throws people off. For this you must get one thing crystal clear:

You are worth more than you think.

Wait a minute, you say. “I have a ton on my plate but if I pass it off to someone else it is going to cost more money than if I do it myself.”

This is where you’re wrong (assuming the task isn’t your unique strength). Sure, outsourcing will cause money to go from your pocket to someone else’s, but what is your time worth? Really think about this. If you can manage your customer service calls in an hour or two each day, but you could outsource the work for $5/hour (this is a real rate that I’ve paid in the past), what makes more sense? Are you worth more than $5/hr? I thought so. Even if it costs $50-$100/hr to outsource, it will often make great sense.

Most educated, ambitious entrepreneur’s time is worth upwards of $50/hr minimum. But don’t forget about the opportunity cost. Your mind and time are your most valuable assets and if you need to think outside of the lemming-like formation of society, you need them free and clear. What is an extra hour to focus on breaking free worth to your life? I’ll give you a hint: higher than you think.

Allow yourself to focus on your best talents.

The point of outsourcing is not to necessarily find someone to do the task better than you or even cheaper – it’s to offload the majority of your daily required work so that you can focus on the core portion of your business and life where you personally add unique value. Think of it as The 80/20 Principle. If 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort, then spend all your time on that high yielding 20% and outsource the rest. Then go take up sailing or something.

It feels awesome to know someone’s working as you sleep.

No joke. Not only is it unbelievably efficient, but it’s just plain fun to have all your tasks completed while you sleep (since some of the best outsourcers are found in India and other cheap foreign lands), leaving you ready to keep the ball rolling when you wake. And there you have it: the only grail. You’ve found a way to work 24/7 without losing your life.

That is the beauty of outsourcing.

The world has shifted to a non-stop schedule and many workers and entrepreneurs have personally adapted–getting less sleep, losing more focus and missing more of the magic moments in life that occur when the technology is shut off.

The goal is not to work harder. It never has been (despite what society continues to reinforce). The goal is to enjoy your moments while putting your own dent in the world. Who says a couple of lads from New Delhi can’t help out?

Scott Dinsmore is a die-hard adventurer, life-experimenter, writer, personal freedom coach and value investor, in search of the extraordinary. Read more of his articles at Reading For Your Success where he is committed to discovering your own path to personal freedom and living life on your terms, through “action-based reading”. Subscribe here to Scott’s future articles or download his free eBook.