My name is Henrik Bruhn and I am the CEO of the company. I work with numerous virtual workers like:
- Graphical artists
- Sales Assistants
- Ghostwriters
- Programmers
- Virtual Assistants
Please see this video:
When you work for me there is a cardinal rule:
I hire you to save time… not use my time!
Therefore you should pay attention to the following 6 rules:
1 – I cannot work with people who cannot think or take initiative by themselves
If I have to explain every little instruction in detail, we will not be able to work together. It’s just like this: 1, 2, 4, 8…? If you have to ask me about the next number in the sequence we will have a hard time working together.
2 – Don’t waste my time
If I give a graphical artist instructions to create a vertical version of a logo, and I get a question about what that is, you are wasting my time… you can Google the term and find out. Remember: You are paid to help me save my time, so if you use my time to have me explain things to you, that you just as well can find elsewhere, you are wasting my time, not saving it.
3 – Give time estimates and keep your deadlines
I am not a stickler about your working time. If you need time to solve a task, just say it, but give me a time estimate… and keep it! If I can rely on your time estimates, I will have no problem giving you the time you need for a job. But you must never ever just write things like: “OK, I will update you when I am done”… I cannot use that sentence for anything. I need to know when you think you will be done, and I need to know that I can rely on the time estimate you give. So tell me when you will have the thing done, and we will get along just fine.
If you have given me a deadline and you find out you cannot keep it… no problem! just update me and tell me what the problem is and when you expect to have it done, but do it as soon as you find out you cannot keep your deadline, and no matter what: Do it before the original deadline runs out!
There is only one thing that annoys me more than sitting online and waiting at the agreed time for the deadline… and that is if I have to contact you after the deadline to find out what went wrong!
It’s a cardinal rule in all businesses that the person who is not able to keep up he’s and of the deal is also the person who contacts the other person involved. This rule very much applies here: If you cannot keep the agreed deadline, it’s you who has to contact me before the deadline runs out… not the other way around!
4 – Do not ask me to repeat myself if you have it in writing
I primarily give my instructions through Slack and that gives you a chat history. If you ask me to repeat something you can find in your chat history, we will have a problem.
5 – Update your Slack online status and respect mine
I always update my Skype online status, and I expect you to do as well.
I can’t tell how many people I have worked with that write something, and then 5 minutes after write “Sir, are you there?”. If they had cared to take a look at my status it would have shown “away”, which means “I’m away from the computer”. That sort of thing annoys me, but what angers me is when your Slack status says online, and you are not answering me… then you are wasting my time because I am waiting for your reply.
Have I still not scared you? Okay, here comes the most important thing:
6 – Make top-quality work!
Always aim to be outstanding! If you are designing a header for me… impress me instead of giving me some standard crap you threw together in Photoshop. If you are writing articles for me, then write articles that make the reader go: COOL! we want to make the Internet a better quality place, so always do your best. I would much rather have you spend 2,5 hours on writing the article if it’s awesome, instead of returning me a standard crap article in one hour, which the only advantage is that it can pass Copyscape.
Are you still reading?… really? After all, these warnings are you really still considering working for me? Well… here comes the good part:
If you make top quality work every time, if you update your Slack status and respect mine, If you do not ask me to repeat myself, give me time estimates and keep them… if you do not waste my time and you can put 2 and 2 together (if you are wondering about the quiz in item one, the answer is 16!):
THEN I WILL BE THE BEST BOSS YOU EVER HAD!
I am not cheap when giving out salaries to the right workers. When you have proven yourself to me within a month or two, I will make sure that you are taken care of financially. I will have lots of humor, and we can talk about lots of other stuff than work when we are not working… most importantly: I will never ever discontinue your position. I might have to retrain you, but if we can work together you will always have a job with a payment you can count on.
You never have to be afraid of asking me about things you need further instructions on. I expect you to be able to think, but I do not expect you to be a mind reader! If you deliver top-quality work and don’t waste my time, I will always have your back.
What you should know about Henrik
- Direct communication. I like clear, short answers.
- I appreciate people who take responsibility.
- I am positive, but I am honest.
- I value speed, but correctness comes first.
- I enjoy humor and relaxed communication.
- I respect people who try before they ask for help.
- I prefer simple solutions instead of complicated thinking.