Lost time is never found again.

Benjamin Franklin once said “Lost time is never found again.” The personal concierge is born out of an ever-growing need for more free time. Today’s hectic lifestyle places an ever-increasing demand on the limited number of hours in a day to accomplish what needs to be done. Personal concierges are problem-solvers with the know-how to get anything done from running errands, arranging a special function or occasion, to home and office organization. They provide hands-on assistance for those who are short on time.

Concierges are most commonly thought of as exclusive assistants for the rich and famous or as staff to an exclusive hotel or posh resort. This is a misconception; concierge services are no longer too expensive for the average person.

Today’s concierge serves everyone from the single parent to the overworked professional who is in need of assistance or time-strapped and willing to pay for what is known as “lifestyle management.” By contracting personal concierge services, one can devote their precious time to what really matters to them. The stress and guilt associated with getting something done vanishes and peace of mind is reclaimed.

Outsourcing one’s “to-do-list” or special project to a personal concierge is often more cost effective then taking time-off from work to do it yourself or paying overtime to staff. The value of a personal concierge is in their resourcefulness, organizational ability and disposition for multi-tasking.

Personal Concierges are not nannies or housekeepers; yet they may help their clients locate these services. Unlike an exclusive personal assistant under contract to one client (24 hours a day – 7 days a week), a personal concierge has a number of clients and dedicates only a few hours a week to that client or project. Since every client has his or her own unique to-do-list, personal concierges offer a variety of specialized services. The touchstone used in the industry is that if the request is illegal or immoral, the concierge will not oblige. Otherwise, most requests for services can be accommodated.

If you find yourself too busy, stressed-out and overworked to “do it all” perhaps outsourcing your to-do-list is the answer.

by Alicia Wright - http://hbmag.com/personal-concierge/