DIY, DWY, DFY - What The Hell Does That Mean?
You don’t need more options. You need the right kind of support at the right time. That’s why Emerald HQ uses a simple structure that cuts the noise and gets you moving.
DIY. DWY. DFY.
Three ways to work with us.
One goal. Build a business you want to lead, with a team that can actually run it.
Let’s get this straight. Support isn’t a personality trait. It’s a strategic choice. If you keep choosing the wrong kind of support for the stage you are in, you’ll waste money, time, and a perfectly good team. If you pick the right level, you'll move faster and stop carrying work that isn’t yours anymore.
Why this framework exists
Support is not one-size-fits-all. The right level depends on three things:
✨ Where your business is right now
✨ How much time you can realistically give to the work
✨ Whether you want capability built inside your business, or outcomes delivered to you
The mistake most leaders make is either hanging onto everything themselves, thinking they’re supposed to be able to do it all solo. Then when they do get support, they pick the wrong level of support, or the wrong kind of support (not that the support itself is wrong, but that it’s not the right fit for them).
You know what I mean, right?
You buy a course when what you really need is a partner.
You pay for a partner when what you actually want is someone to run the whole function.
You outsource everything when what you really needed was to step up as the leader and learn how to run your team.
The cost of choosing wrong? Wasted money, stalled progress, and a whole lot of frustration.
This is why clarity matters. You need a structure that matches your goals, capacity, and timeline. That’s what this is.
The quick definitions
DIY is Do It Yourself.
You want the tools, you want the structure, and you have the capacity to implement.
DWY is Done With You.
You want a partner on your shoulder. We co-design, we build together, and you stay in the driver’s seat.
DFY is Done For You.
You want the outcome without carrying the execution. We run the project and hand you a working system.
Who DIY is for
DIY is for the confident implementer.
You are early to mid stage or you are tightening a system that already exists, or you’re wanting to make big moves early on, but don’t yet have the budget to fully outsource.
You have time blocked for this. You like checklists. You want templates that work in real life, not 47-page manuals that no one reads. You need to move without waiting on meetings and calendars.
What DIY looks like with Emerald HQ
- You use clear, compliant templates for hiring and HR admin
- You follow step by step roadmaps rather than reinvent the process
- You use our interview guides, question banks, and scoring tools
- You gain knowledge from our growing database of masterclasses
- You embed values in the way you assess candidates and onboard
Signs DIY is a good fit
- You have time to implement
- You enjoy building systems yourself
- You want to keep costs lean and are happy to trade time for savings
- You do not need someone holding you accountable
Risks if you choose DIY and it is not your fit
- You may stall at the first decision point, because you actually need guidance and accountability
- You may skip steps when things get busy - you’ve chosen it because it’s the cheapest option, but you don’t actually have the time to do it yourself, so you just don’t
- You may second guess yourself and start over again, and never really move forward
Real life look
We had a client recently who signed on for a package deal - support to define their role AND access to some of our masterclasses to get more info AND a bundle of templates so they could run with the process from there. That client has only just completed their first year in business, and is looking to bring on their first team member. They don’t have the big budget like some of our other clients. But they are 100% committed to setting everything up the right way from the start, for long term success.
DIY is perfect for leaders who want the tools, trust themselves to use them, and have the discipline to follow through.
Who DWY is for
DWY is for the leader who wants to grow capability inside their business, not outsource it. You’re ready to be the leader, but you don’t want to figure it all out alone.
This is where we come in as your thinking partner, strategist, and sounding board. You still do the doing, but you are guided every step of the way.
What DWY looks like with Emerald HQ
- Strategy sessions to map your hiring, leadership, or culture priorities
- Soundboarding sessions so you can test decisions before rolling them out
- A Leadership Community where you learn, share, and build accountability
- Frameworks like Define Your Culture and Role Clarity that you implement, with us tailoring them to your context
- Personalised support and expertise so you can lead with confidence
Signs DWY is a good fit
- You want to own the process but not alone
- You value accountability and expert input
- You want to embed leadership capability in yourself and your team
- You are ready to commit time to working sessions and follow through
Risks if you choose DWY and it is not your fit
- You slip on your actions and lose momentum
- You expect us to do the heavy lifting for you
- You underestimate the time commitment and stall out
- You’re looking for a quick fix
We have a client who won a soundboarding session with us through an Instagram giveaway we ran earlier in the year. They used that soundboarding session to talk about their steps to bringing VA support into their business. They then joined our leadership community, where they use that guidance, support and community involvement to be their partner in their journey as they define expectations, implement SOPs, and learn how to truly delegate.
DWY is the bridge between knowing you cannot do it all yourself and being ready to lead with structure and confidence. It is where women in business step fully into their role as leaders, with support by their side.
Who DFY is for
DFY is for the leader who knows they need results, fast. You’re not here for templates or coaching. You want the work off your plate, handled properly, and handed back to you in a way that sticks.
This is where we step in and run the process end-to-end.
What DFY looks like with Emerald HQ
- Full hiring campaigns: role design, job ads, candidate care, interviews, shortlists, and offers (this can be fully outsourced or pick and choose the pieces)
- HR admin set up: policies, procedures, processes, templates, files - all the foundations you need to manage your compliance and your team
- Culture support delivered: full culture build out, or the culture and employee engagement initiatives you need to retain your team ongoing
- Clear handover documents and checklists so you can keep it running without us (if you want to)
Signs DFY is a good fit
- You have urgent growth or critical roles to fill
- Your time is best spent on revenue, delivery, or leadership, not system design
- You want clean foundations in place quickly
- You are willing to trust experts to deliver while you focus elsewhere
Risks if you choose DFY and it is not your fit
- You don’t adopt the systems because you were not part of building them
- You pay for speed when what you actually needed was learning
- You slip back into old habits without following the handover
Flexi hiring support is one of the things that come under Done For You support, and it’s our signature service, our bread and butter. And we don’t just offer that service in a vacuum, and then carry on our merry way. We run our flexi hiring support to bring on a team member, while also looking at all the areas you can improve, all the things you can implement, to set yourself up as an employer of choice, and build a pipeline of talent so your next hiring process is not reactive, but so that you have potential new employees banging at your door wanting to be let in.
Which lane is yours?
The truth is, you don’t need all three at once. You need the one that fits this quarter, this season, this stage. And this framework means you can come back to us time and time again, depending on where you’re at.
Ask yourself:
- Do I have protected time to implement?
- Do I want to grow capability in myself and my team?
- Do I need speed more than I need learning?
- Will I actually use what I buy this month?
If your answers point to time and capacity, choose DIY.
If your answers point to partnership and growth, choose DWY.
If your answers point to speed and urgency, choose DFY.
Common scenarios
“I’m hiring my first person and don’t know where to start”
- DIY if you want to learn by doing
- DWY if you want guidance and a safer first run
- DFY if you need it handled so you can stay focused on delivery
“I have a small team but everything lives in my head”
- DIY if you can document and follow through
- DWY if you want help building structure
- DFY if you want the system installed while you step back
“We keep hiring, then rehiring”
- DIY if the gaps are obvious and you can fix them
- DWY if the process needs redesign and accountability
- DFY if you want a full overhaul, fast
What we will not do
We will not sell you the wrong level to pad a proposal.
We will not hand you a 70 page policy pack and call that culture.
We will not fill a role that should not exist.
We will not pretend that a quick fix will fix a structural problem.
We will not tell you what you want to hear to avoid a tough conversation or to get you to spend more money with us.
What you get from us
Clarity.
A structure that fits your stage.
Hiring that makes sense.
HR admin that supports people.
Leadership habits that protect your time and raise your standards.
A team that knows what good looks like and how to deliver it.
Our goal is to support business owners to streamline their operations, define and embed their culture, build and manage teams with attraction and retention at the forefront for long term success, and to support you to step into your role as leader of your business, not the overworked employee. We’re authentic, we’re transparent, we’re your people partner, and will do everything we can to help you achieve your goals.
The Emerald HQ filter for every decision
Know where you are going.
Say yes like you mean it.
Stop doing it all.
When those three are present, you choose support that matches your season, you stop overcommitting, and you build systems that carry the load with you.
Your next step
Pick your lane for this quarter (remember, it’s not forever).
Choose the level that gets you the outcome you need in the time you actually have.
Then commit to it.
☑️ DIY if you want tools you will use this month
☑️ DWY if you want momentum with a partner
☑️ DFY if you want the outcome delivered
Still not sure what you really need? We can help you work through that in a clarity call.
Ash + Emerald HQ 💎
Comments