Okay, who put Tetris on my iGoogle home page?
oh right… that was me!
Do you have those moments when your brain is just screaming for a break? Where do you go? What do you do to give your mind a rest?
Well for me since I am on the computer most of the day, I tend towards my iGoogle home page and play Tetris. Sigh! Do you have any idea on how many times this has been taken off and put back on? There was a time when it was Frogger (pretty hard to go wrong with going retro in your game choices). Pacman and Ms Pacman have made an appearance even.
As important as it is to give yourself a break, you do need to make sure it is a break! I’m sorry but going and checking out Twitter and Facebook do not always count. When you meant just to take a couple minutes break… on Twitter and Facebook a couple hours can fly by.
Personally that is what I love about Tetris, it is a problem to solve but at the same time my brain can partially shut down and rest. Work on a problem, let my fingers direct the silly little blocks and feel excitement when you just about reach the top and yes! you find just the perfect piece and your take a step back from the brink.
When you are able to focus on something like Tetris, your brain is able to let go for just a few minutes with relief some days. This is when creativity can start to flow, answers to questions, solutions and new ideas start to pop up. The unconscious part of your brain says, finally! Thanks for letting me have a turn, here are a few things I have been thinking about.
What do you do when you just need a break and don’t have much time?
Oh and before I forget, check out by-art.com, a whole slew of games to play 
My favorite is Mahjong in case you were wondering.
How to find & hire a VA – Tip #2
What type of virtual assistant do I need?
This is a question that surprises many people, what do you mean by type? Yes there are types! Not only are there different specialties but there are types and each have their place. It is a question you need to ask in order to find the best fit for you.
1) Task-Oriented: This type of virtual assistant you can send a whole big huge list (okay maybe not a WHOLE big list but you get the idea) of tasks that you need done. The VA will then tackle that list, mark them as done, send you feedback on what they found and you are off to the next round.
What could be on this list?
- Keyword research
- Internet search for resources of just the right gift for your client
- Assemble a list of article marketing sites
- Update a database…. I could go on but I won’t
2) Big Picture Thinker: This type of VA, is in it with you for the long haul. They get to know you and your business, they share your vision and are dedicated to its mission. You have shared values, work ethics and views on customer service.
They can become a strategic partner:
- Helping you develop strategy
- Keeping track of the pieces of the puzzle to launch your next project, website or eBook
- They know your likes, dislikes and can tailor their work to meet your preferences
- They can become an integral part of your team.
So which is right for you? In the end only you can answer that question. Remember to think long term, what are your goals in the next 6, 12, 18 months or 5 years? Are there projects you will need help with that you really don’t want to have to learn from the ground up? Is there a specific skill set you are looking for or level of experience and expertise?
If you don’t know… please ask! As a virtual assistant it is just as important to me that we are a good fit as it is too you.
It is possible to find out in the end, that you need 1 of each! It is not always necessary to pay your $40/hour VA to look up gift websites when a $15 or $20/hour VA could do it just as well – not that they couldn’t mind you! There are times when the convenience of working with one VA or VA firm is worth the extra expense, you will have to weigh the cost of convenience against your budget.
What type of VA do you think you need?
What is a double optin and do I need one?
To double optin or not to double optin, that is the question. The trouble is… there are great points to both sides of the argument.
The Pros:
- Extra layer of protection against spam reports, you can show they went through the double optin process
- Keeps your list clean and removes bad email addresses
- Creates a more targeted and interested list to market to
The Cons (and it is a biggie):
- It will slow your list building rate, not every one will want to go through the extra step of the double optin
With that said, I still highly recommend that you use the double optin process to reduce spam reports and creat a higher quality, more target list.
Most of the list services out there, make this a simple process to set up, make sure you find out their double optin vs single optin options before signing up. Know this ahead of time will help you decide which service would work best for you.
I’ll post soon, steps to improve your double optin rates and steps that need to be taken to let your subscribers how it all works.
