“Work” From Home Really Does Mean Work!
So often people think because I “work” from home that I don’t actually work. Well that could not be further from the truth. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had to correct this line of thinking. I run a successful business. I have clients and colleagues that I speak with on a daily basis. I have projects with deadlines that must be met, phone calls that must be returned. I also have my own business maintenance that must be done in order for me to stay organized and proficient. The list of things I do goes on and on. I can tell you what I don’t do. I don’t sit on my couch in front of the television eating “bon bons”. I don’t sit around polishing my nails while chatting on the phone with my girlfriends.
I think people forget that just because I don’t leave my house to go to work, doesn’t mean I don’t have real work to do. Sure my day isn’t a typical 9-5 which works out great when I have a sick child and need to go to the pediatrician’s office. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have to make up the time some where else in my day. My typical day starts at 7am and I’m lucky if I get bed before midnight. Am I working straight through? No I am not. I may meet a friend or client for lunch, attend a networking meeting, do some much needed grocery shopping or take the car for an oil change and believe it or not I sit down at my computer and do actual work that I get paid to do. I also don’t want to give you the impression that when I am away from my desk I’m not working. My smartphone actually allows me to be mobile and still be in contact with my clients. I can take a call, schedule a meeting, review and edit a file and send and receive email while I’m away from my office.
So I may not work traditional 9-5 hours at an “away” from the home job. But I do work in the traditional sense of the word. I have a great business and I love what I do…I only wish I had more hours in the day to do it.
Are You a Visionary?
Do you have a vision for your Virtual Assistant business? Where do you want to be in 5 years, 3 years and next year? Will you be doing the same thing that you are doing now or will you strive to evolve into someone who is bigger and better? What new service or product can you launch that would advance your business? What can you do that is bigger and better than what you are currently doing?
Start thinking, start dreaming and start envisioning what you can do for your business to catapult you to the next level.
The vision you possess should ignite a fire in you. Do not limit yourself because you think you cannot carry out your vision. You can bring your vision to fruition. It is just a matter of how bad you want it and if you are willing to go the extra mile to make it happen. What is stopping you? Are there roadblocks? How can you get over them? Who can you ask for help? Stop making excuses for why you cannot do it and just get it done.
Becki 
Virtual Accuracy
Virtual Assistant Training
Boundaries
Boundaries are what keep you safe from the behaviours of others. How safe are you?
One of the things I had to learn early on in my business was to be able to set up boundaries. I sometimes found this difficult and challenging as it went against my helping and supportive nature. What I learned was that in order to be able to effectively help my clients I had to have the space to do that. That meant setting boundaries for individuals who tended to drain my time and energy. Getting clear and focus was the key.
What exactly are boundaries?
Boundaries are like imaginary lines we draw around ourselves to protect what’s important to us. They are about what we do not allow others to do to or around us. Everyone’s boundaries are unique to them and what is important to you may not be important to someone else. It is a very personal journey.
What are the benefits of having boundaries?
When you have healthy boundaries in place you will attract those people who have similar respect for themselves. They understand and respect other people’s boundaries. You will have more room to learn and grow when you are not being drained by other people’s energy. You will have more confidence as a result of setting boundaries as they will help define who you are as a business owner.
Why are boundaries important to running a business?
There are several reasons. When you are working from home family and friends may take your work as serious and feel it is okay to interrupt or make requests of you when you are working. Clients may feel they have access to you anytime they call you regardless of business hours or other commitments (be careful of too many last minute requests). They may not respect you as a peer treating you as less than. You will end up attracting needy and disrespectful clients into your practice and not your ideal clients.
Boundaries will help you make the shift from employee to entrepreneur.
What do I need to know about setting boundaries?
When setting boundaries you first need to decide what is and is not acceptable behaviour for you. Only you will know what this is. You will then want to set the boundary much larger than you need. For instance if the behaviour you are no longer willing to tolerate clients taking advantage of you then the boundary would be clients must appreciate what you do for them. And it is a must!
How do I ensure my boundaries are respected?
Only you can protect your boundaries however communication and education are the keys. Don’t expect people to just understand what your boundaries are. Explain to them what the boundary is and what the acceptable behaviour is around that boundary. Be very gracious when doing this speaking with a neutral charge to your voice. Also learn how to say no!
Setting and protecting your boundaries is a learning process. At first it may be very awkward or you may extend your boundaries too far. With time, practice and fine-tuning your boundary work it will become a very natural experience for you and the rewards are tremendous!
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Mary-Lou Ashton successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at VATP.
The Awakening!
I didn’t intend to work with a coach, I really didn’t!
Not that I didn’t recognize the benefit and value; after all coaches often guide the multitudes in some profession or vocation anytime everywhere. Whether it’s many of the “manly” sports like baseball and football and hockey, or the not so manly like ice skating, or debate teams.
But coaching just didn’t fit into the picture at which I was looking at the time. However, just by chance, an incredible “out-of-the-blue” opportunity landed in my lap; it was so good I knew I’d harbor deep feelings of regret if I let it pass. In actuality, it turned out to be one of the greatest “business gift” moments I’ve received. Ever!
It can be yours, too.
Your “gift” coach, a mentor, a sounding board, manages to help you find, or discover, and believe in your strengths and yourself. Coaching styles are mixed with elements of professionalism and creativity. They offer inspiration. A coach can help you get unstuck. A coach is like your mother—with eyes in the back of her head—only this is in a good way; he or she knows just what you need exactly when you need it!
The challenge
Your coach is there to challenge you, so much so you soon know coaching is not quite a magic carpet ride; you learn you’re not going to get away with not trying to discover for yourself how you can achieve your goals. At the same time, there’s no doubt your coach will be there to cheer and guide you every step of the way.
Coaches, just like all of us, come in various shapes and sizes; although in this correlation, I’m not referring to their physical being but rather the coaching field of expertise they offer. Some of their disciplines include coaching with emphasis such as: careers, relationships, performance, business, executive, prosperity, communication and much more. In fact, I suppose there’s a coach for about anything.
Where do you get?
To find a coach to most readily suit your needs, you might start by asking around—your colleagues or friends–or perhaps members at one of the specific industry forums can put you in touch with a coach. Or, put your favorite search engine to work.
Much like applying for a job or purchasing a new car, ask pointed questions of your coach prospect. Background information you might want to know about the coach could include how much training or any certifications the coach has taken/earned.
What do you get?
The overall benefits you can derive from a coach are almost as many and as varied as there are benefits; for instance:
- You have an opportunity to know someone you can trust;
- You learn how to set goals and stick with them to get them done;
- You get to have your very own personal “cheerleader”;
- A coach will get you back on track if you veer off the path;
- A coach will help you stay focused;
- With the help of a coach you can learn to how to get and stay organized
Having had the benefit of working with a coach reminds me of an old saying that will at times jump around in the forefront of my mind:
“Two heads are better than one”.
And the inclination to sometimes protest too much turns out to be a good thing. For me, this was one of those times!
What Is Your Business Story?
Every business has a story. Afterall that is what sets each business apart and makes them unique. You can look at any two businesses and they will never have the same story. Your business story tells others about what your business looks like, why you do the things you do and how. It tells others all the important things so that they can truly understand your business as you do.
When we start our business, we have this vision in our head. We know what we want to do, how we are going to do it and why. Some take the time to write out a business plan, while others jump in with both feet figuring that they will “wing it” as they go. We spend a lot of time as business owners reading about the importance of business planning and many financiers and investors would never give you money without being able to see a solid business plan. So, if you took the time to write this plan when you started your business, have you ever taken it farther? Do you update your plan as your business changes? Have you written out your policies, your procedures, your BUSINESS STORY?
Your business story should be written in such a format that anyone can read it and step into your shoes. They should know your purpose and your vision, together with the steps necessary to achieve that vision. Here are five key ingredients to include in your business story:
- Description of your target market, your niche and the products or services you provide and why. Let the reader get a feel for exactly what your clients look like, act like and desire and what products or services you deliver to fulfill their needs and desires.
- Your visions, goals, hopes and dreams for the future; the exact steps you hope to take your business in to achieve these dreams.
- The policies you have put into place to protect your clients, your products and services and most importantly your business reputation.
- The procedures you follow each day to achieve those successes including all the behind the scenes tasks, your sales process and your formula for creating the top notch products and services you provide.
- Your no-fault, absolute, make everything better, disaster recovery plan, a.k.a. your contingency plans. Those things that you will put into place to make sure that anytime there is a “hiccup” in your business it will go unnoticed by your clients.
Creating your business story is easy you just have to look within your heart and your head and it will almost write itself. Now you just have to set aside the time to write it out. This is important and you won’t realize how important until one day you face that obstacle and say “If only I had written my story!!”
How to Keep Going When You Feel Like Giving Up
How to Keep Going When You Feel Like Giving Up
When you are your own boss, motivation can be a tricky thing. Those who work for someone else are usually presented with incentives to keep them motivated and working hard. But when you have no boss, it’s up to you to find ways to motivate yourself.
Taking the road less traveled is difficult at times. By choosing to be your own boss, you put your success in your own hands. This can be much more rewarding than working at an hourly job, but it is also much harder in many ways. There will be times when any business owner feels like throwing in the towel.
It is completely normal to feel like giving up at times. But when that happens, it is important to keep on keeping on. Here are some ways to do that.
1. Make a list of the reasons you decided to do what you’re doing. Just getting started in business takes a tremendous amount of motivation, so going back to that time can help us get back into a similar frame of mind. Once your list is finished, keep it in a safe place for future reference.
2. Set goals and reward yourself for achieving them. Setting goals for our businesses helps us stay on track, and rewarding ourselves with something meaningful gives us the extra incentive we need to attain them.
3. Network with fellow business owners. It can be reassuring to know that others have been where you are and come out on top. They may also have helpful advice to share about any specific problems you are having.
4. Consider investing in some motivational videos, CDs, books, or seminars. The people who make these have a knack for getting people on their feet and helping them succeed. There are lots of choices when it comes to these items, so if you don’t know which speaker or author to choose, ask a fellow businessperson for a recommendation.
5. Get away from it all. One of the biggest motivation killers is burnout. If you’ve been working long hours and not seeing the rewards you think you deserve, consider taking a long weekend and going on a mini-vacation. Have someone else attend to calls and emails if possible. When you get back, you can get back to work with a clear head.
6. Outsource. If there is an aspect of your business that you aren’t crazy about, you might consider hiring someone else to take care of it. This will free you up to work on the things that you are passionate about.
Staying motivated is essential to success. When we lose our motivation, our work suffers and we lose ground. By reminding ourselves what we want to accomplish and taking steps to re-energize ourselves, we can regain the momentum we need to get through the tough times.
Until next time…
Heather
Free and Open Source Software: What is it and why do I care?
Many Virtual Assistants start their businesses on shoe-string budgets. If you know about free and open source software solutions, it can not only save you money but also save your clients money as well.
What is Free and Open Source Software?
Free and Open Source Software have different licenses in place than commercial software. Free Software and Open Source Software differ in their licensing as well. Open Source Software is licensed so the source can be read, redistributed and modified. People can improve it, adapt it, and fix bugs which gives us better software quicker. Software under a Free software license may be free for you to download, use and redistribute, but the source code may not be avaliable for modification. Free and Open Source software is different than freeware (zero price) and shareware.
Check out the Open Source Advocacy site for more information.
What does this mean to you? Why should you care?
- You save money! There are high quality software programs out there available at no cost to you that work just as well as (sometimes better than) software you pay hundreds of dollars to use. You also do not have to pay for upgrades or updates.
- You save time! Some of the programs I will share with you will save you time as well – increasing your productivity, making tasks easier, and giving you opportunities to grow your business or take a nap.
- Freedom! On the Internet, there are many open source solutions. If you begin working in one solution and it doesn’t quite meet your need, you have so many more options than you would with a commercial solution. You are free to make changes to the source code yourself, or if you aren’t a techie / programmer type of person, you can hire someone to make changes for you. Commercial solutions are typically closed-source which means only a very few elite programmers can make any changes.
Open source solutions are out there for millions of programmers to see and use every day. These programmers can easily make changes, adjustments and custimizations for you – and you have the freedom to choose the programmer to deal with! Not to mention that the competition out there between programmers for open source brings the price down considerably than what you might have to pay to get a commercial solution customized.
I’ll be sharing information about specific Free and/or Open Source Software (FOSS) that can benefit Virtual Assistants. Stay tuned for software recommendations!
Lisa B.
Open Source Maven
WordPress Maven <– Coming Soon!
Why Virtual Assistants Are Good For Your Business
This Article was written by, “Mary Ruth ”
Greetings from Virtual Writing & Communications Solutions! I’m pleased to present here a series of articles relating to the definitions and uses of the Virtual Assistant industry in today’s business and professional worlds.
It’s fairly rural where I live, so it’s understandable that no one here has ever heard the term, virtual assistant. But even the current web presence of this intimately internet-connected field is relatively small - though it’s also growing at a breathtaking rate!
Virtual Assistants are revolutionizing the working world. I hope you enjoy reading about my take(s) on this wonderful, sensible phenomenon!
I invite you to visit my business website, as well, at http://www.asthemoonclimbs.com/.
Business owners and managers of all kinds must deal with a dizzying array of organizational challenges, all centered around establishing or strengthening the business’ sustainability. Today’s leaders must be ‘all things to all people’, and it can be a daunting challenge.
In the business world, as executives and managers constantly juggle planning, production, PR, finances and reporting, they must also constantly configure the delegation of tasks. And then when they hire staff, leaders find themselves spending a lot of time worrying about how to manage them.
If you have employees, you must regularly check to ensure their workflow is structured properly, their production levels are up to par, their work ethics are in order. You pay wages/salaries, benefits, taxes, rent and utilities and all office bills. You endure a costly and often stressful interview/hire process when one of your employees quits.
If you’re just starting out and working alone, at least for the time being you’re probably having a great time exploring your business idea. Perhaps you’ve already seen some success, and the thrill hasn’t worn off one bit. But you do wonder if you’re losing too much sleep, and your partner is beginning to complain about the long hours you keep.
Whether you already have employees, or just want to unburden some of your solo work, take a serious look at working with a Virtual Assistant.
Here’s why:
• Virtual Assistants work from a remote location, often their home office. This means: no facilities costs for you; no costs for office equipment; no wages, benefits or taxes (Virtual Assistants do business by independent contract); no missed work because of inclement weather or traffic problems.
• Virtual Assistants provide a huge variety of services, but most of them offer basic services in administration. You can see the services offered at the VA’s website. If you need general office skills – phone answering, typing, copying, email management, correspondence, etc. – you’ll have many VAs to choose from. The magic of cyber space has made this possible. What areas of your operation could be ‘outsourced,’ even though you always assumed they had to be in-house?
• Virtual Assistants often specialize in something. If you need financial assistance, many focus on bookkeeping. If you’re looking for website development or marketing help, VA sites again are the place to go. If you need an all-round executive or personal assistant, a VA is there for you. If you want research, design or even project management, you can find them among VAs. There are dozens of other specialties as well.
• Virtual Assistants contract by the hour or by the job, with all conditions set up in advance. You are charged for time actually spent on your work, only. Most VAs use time tracking software to keep their billing accurate. No more paying for coffee breaks!
• And yes, there’s one other reason: VAs are usually at home, in comfortable environs, doing what they love to do. They tend to be well-adjusted people. This translates into no more employee worries for you! You can find a VA who smoothly, professionally takes care of business because it truly is in his/her own interest to give you top notch service.
Maybe you’re starting to see why a Virtual Assistant may be just the solution for you. You will save time, money and hassle; and very likely you’ll receive higher quality product. You can agree to a short or long term contract, or simply go week to week. Many VAs serve the same clients year after year; others will complete a time-bound project for you. The variety is immense.
And speaking of immensity, I’ll do the next article on how to decide which Virtual Assistant(s) to contact, since the Google listings may boggle the mind … See You Online!
Happy New Year - Today is the first day of the rest of your business
I know it sounds cliché…but it’s true. The time leading up to the new year is the perfect time to set goals and reevaluate where your business is currently and where you would like it to be. We often think about the things we would like to do differently or perhaps just rewrite a small portion of history. An important aspect the many people forget about is to leave behind all the issues that may have plagued your business. Now, I’m not telling you not to learn the lesson. In fact I’m telling you to do the exact opposite. Examine the situation and its outcome. Take what you need to learn from it and move on. If you spend to much time dwelling on it, it will distract you from moving forward an possibly on to bigger and better things. You can’t change the past nor can you rewrite history, it is what it is. You can however, start writing tomorrow’s history today. Right now make your mind up that 2008 is going to be your best year ever and work towards making that happen. Will you make mistakes?…I guarantee it. Will everything go as smoothly as you planned? Nope…not at all. Will there be days that make you question why you do what you do? I give you a resounding YES! I’d be worried if it didn’t. Is it all worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!
The year is yours for the taking. Start writing your history today! Make bold moves and take chances. Today is January 1, 2008…it’s the first day of the rest of your business. Cheers to your success!
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