Do you have the right tools for your business?
Over the weekend I made a purchase I have been putting off, simply because I didn’t want to spend the money and even more… I didn’t want to go through the hassle yet. At least not until I had some time (have you heard that excuse before?). Thankfully, I changed my mind!
I have been a huge fan of the eMachine computers (I know… don’t laugh too hard!). They have been awesome computers for me, just outgrew my 2nd. Rarely had any problems and both lasted for a long, long time.
But the poor little guy was getting old, I needed way more space and a quite a bit more computing power. In comes the granddaddy of a computer… an HP with a 1 TB hard drive and a wonderfully huge 6 GB RAM. Woohoo! Now this might not seem like a big deal these days but consider that my desktop pc was chugging along with only a 160 GB hard drive and 1GB RAM, it was a trooper each day, especially with what I was putting it through!
Using it has been a dream, at least it was after I got everything transferred over, that took a long time and I still have a few programs that need to be installed. I am faster, more efficient and I’m no longer wishing for greater speed or wondering what I can delete or uninstall to give the poor computer some breathing room.
So this got me thinking, what other areas in my business have I put off, or ignored, getting the right tool for? It hit me the other day that I have not been taking advantage of the help of other VAs. Yes, I have been ignoring the very thing I tell my clients to do. So last week one of the VAs I had worked with earlier this year, got in touch to say hello and check in and my goodness what excellent timing! I realized right then and there that this was a tool I needed to have in my business and keep in my business. Good ole’ fashioned help. (Not to generalize virtual assistants as tools… really more of an asset 
but I think you get the drift)
By bringing on another virtual assistant to help me out in my own business, I am going to become even more efficient, the to-do-list and want-to-do list is going to start being tackled (it already is!), and I am going to be able move some of my projects forward. Wow novel idea!
So I am taking a closer look again at that to-do-list and see what other areas I can have her take on so that I can keep moving my business forward and tackle some of those wish list items that seem to keep falling to the bottom of my to-do-list.
What tool do you need today to keep your business moving forward?
If you had an assistant, what could you tackle and cross of your to-do-list today? This week?
P.S. If you have ever considered bringing on a virtual assistant onto your team check out our FREE special report “How To Find And Hire A Virtual Assistant”. Sign up for it here on our site for instant access.
Re-Inventing Your Business
There has been a lot of talk these days about re-inventing your business. It is 2010, the “new economy” and all that. And yes there is a lot of truth in the thought that the economic climate we are in creates a need to streamline, get more focused, watch our dollars and cents etc.
But guess what? We are entrepreneurs!
We have tons of new ideas, projects to take on, something new to learn – entrepreneur is synonymous with change and it is time to embrace it, learn from it and grow from it. We are always re-inventing, streamlining and moving forward to something new.
Now for me personally (and for many of the entrepreneurs I know…), the truth is I get bored! Just ask my Mom, I have been that way since I was a kid and I doubt it is going to change any time soon. As an adult and as a business owner, I am learning to accept that this is just the way it is, so why not take advantage of it and work from that strength?
Recently I have been doing a lot of reading on ADD/ADHD and specifically adults with ADD/ADHD, who are entrepreneurs. Several members of my immediate family were recently diagnosed and it got me curious. We compared notes and I had several “aha!” moments explaining a few things about me… especially the getting bored easily and never able to have just one project going at one time because, you guessed it, I get bored with just one!
In the past couple of months I have been working with my doc on this and doing even more reading on managing my time, my thoughts, project lists, ideas and did I say my time? The more I read about it the more I am convinced that while it is something to address and manage it is also a gift.
- My list of ideas that “need” to be tackled is never ending
- It is a great asset when brainstorming with clients for new ideas on marketing, web design, product development
- There is a never ending list of new things to learn, new skills to develop
So back to the Re-inventing Your Business idea…
As an entrepreneur it is important to keep up with the trends in your industry, what your clients are wanting, discovering new ideas, developing new skills and most importantly keeping you interested! If you are not maintaining a high level of passion in your business it is time to step back and take a look at what is happening.
Do you need to tweak your product line or your list of services? Do you need to try a new avenue of marketing to reach an entirely new group of people? Do you need to get involved in a group that supports you, energizes you and gets you and keep the creative juices flowing?
For me that group has been the Free Agent Academy and my business coach Justin Lukasavige (also professor at FAA). An incredible group of people who willingly share their knowledge, offer feedback and also let you when you are not stepping up to the plate. Right now we are working on branding and business planning. It is exactly what I need right now.
I resisted at first because planning is not my favorite thing in the world, but I’m finding it to be an incredible challenge and an opportunity to examine my business with a fresh set of eyes and a whole new list of ideas. Especially through the lens of my strengths and weaknesses, it is helping me be more me in my business.
These ideas will be coming out over the next couple of months and I am getting excited about the possibilities and opportunities on the horizon.
- New services
- New packages
- New ways of doing business
This should be enough to keep me from getting bored in the near future, hopefully…
How have you re-invented your business? Small changes or major overhauls?
WordPress Wednesday – Pretty Permalinks
Not only will setting up your permalinks help in your SEO efforts but it also gives your blog posts and website a more professional look and feel.
Here is the information from WordPress on different style of permalinks you can use:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Permalinks
WordPress Wednesday – Favorite Plugins List
The beauty of WordPress is that there are so many different options out there that add a tremendous amount of functionality to your site. Plugins are fun! Here is a quick list of some of my favorites:
- Akismet – Control the spam comments that bloggers get attacked with. Akismet works great for my sites.
- Audio Player – Great option for adding a simple player for your MP3 files to a post or page.
- Exclude Pages from Navigation – Simple way for you to manage which pages do and do not show up in your navigation bar.
- My Page Order – If you want a simple drag and drop way to organize your navigation bar, this is a great tool to have on hand.
- Sociable – Make it easy for your subscribers and visitors to share your blog post on social networking sites.
- Subscribe to Comments – Allow your visitors to get updates when you reply to a comment or a new comment is started. Great way to keep the conversation going.
- TweetMeme – Super duper easy way to retweet your blog post, probably one of the more recognizable features on a blog these days.
- Twitter Tools - Sorry to say but this has been mostly replaced by TweetMeme and Sociable but still a great option to connect your Twitter account and keep it updated as new posts are published.
- What Would Seth Godin Do? – Love the name… offer an easy way for your visitors to subscribe to your RSS feed.
- WordPress Automatic Upgrade – Keep your WordPress up-to-date with a simple upgrade option.
- WordPress Database Backup – Keep your content safe and set up a weekly back up of your site.
There are so many different plugins to choose from. These work great for me but your site and needs may be different and most likely there is someone somewhere with the same needs who has created a great solution. Check out the plugins directory here.
How to choose a WordPress Theme
Choosing a theme for your site is hard, at least it is for me. I get caught up in looking at alllllll the options and the possibilities. If you were sitting next to me you probably would hear a lot of, “Oh that looks cool”, “Oh yeah those colors work”, “Oh neat feature, how could I use that?” and on and on….
Like most I have waded through my share of the free themes on WordPress.org looking for just the perfect theme. In time I learned a few things…
1) I really like working with WordPress and that in order to do the things I wanted to I was going to need to get some training. Which I did and became even more hooked!
2) Many of the free themes were incredibly frustrating to adapt to what I needed and had little to no support… usually no.
3) The code many times was sloppy and not well organized – making a simple change to even the font size could be a messy business.
It didn’t take me long to get the clue that the Premium Themes were with the moolah. I could find a layout I liked and could use and adapt it with my colors, logos, styles etc. It was a dream! At that point I could concentrate on setting up and customizing the code and not spend half my time wading through code that would make little to no sense.
That is when I discovered Brian Gardner and some of his earlier Free themes – on the recommendation of one of my blog training courses. This opened up a whole new world. That soon led me to purchasing a Premium Theme package from Brian Gardner’s Studio Press. Then I was sold! Since then, I have looked back and refer to them often. In working with my clients I have also used iThemes with great results, features and support.
This is definitely a case of you get what you pay for.
So what should you look for in a WordPress Theme?
1) As with any theme – layout is important.
2) What page options do you have? Full, 1 Column, 2 Column, Blog etc.
3) Reputation of the designer – do an Internet search on the designer’s name or the business name, you will get a clue fairly quick on their reputation.
4) Is their an active support system. Do they have a help desk? Do they have forums – active forums? This will also give you a good idea on the responsiveness of their support and a chance to find answers to your questions… usually with solutions or new ideas.
5) Most importantly…. do you like the designs offered?
There are TONS of premium themes out there, which is good, a lot of options for you. Just make sure to take the time to research the options first and feel free to ask!
Your Virtual Assistant Partner
This is an interesting concept… one that has different connotations for different people.
Last night I was researching and surfing the net for ideas and ran across this article from Karyn Greenstreet with tips and ideas on finding and working with a virtual assistant. In this article she talks about the idea of the Virtual Assistant as a partner, it made me stop and think.
“Some VAs are taught that they should be a “partner” with you in your business. On the surface, this sounds great. However, I have heard too many horror stories about VAs who did things without asking permission, from modifying website text to changing established class titles”
When I am talking with clients, both perspective and current, are we clearly defining that role together?
Personally I consider myself to be a partner in the success of my clients business. But! I think that the term partner needs to be defined.
I like this definition of partner from Wikipedia:
“A friend who shares a common interest or participates in achieving a common goal.”
And this one from Dictionary.com:
“A person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor; sharer; associate.”
Each of these definitions include the word share and that is a key part of my own personal definition. As a virtual assistant my role is to support you, my client, using my skills and expertise. For some clients that means an occasional project here and there and for others it means stepping up to a bigger role of working in their business on a daily basis.
Being a partner also means getting to know your business and being able to say, “Here is what I can do for you” and not just asking, “How can I help?”. There is a difference.
As a virtual assistant who works closely with a client you see and understand the dreams, the goals and the overall big picture. When you commit time and resources to that big picture you have a vested interest in helping them succeed.
You understand their vision, you see what needs to happen and can create a suggested plan of action to get them there. As a VA, this is an exciting place to be.
It does not mean the VA takes over and makes the decisions, it does mean we tap into our education and knowledge to share with you tips and strategies that we see would make a positive impact on bringing that vision to life. Together we decide if this is a course of action that will work.
The word partner is a collaborative word, not an independent word.
How do you define the word partner?
Moving from Firefox to Chrome
I have been a diehard Firefox fan for a long time. It is completely decked out with just about everything I needed within reach of a click of the mouse. It did everything I wanted it to do….
First my HTML signature plugin stopped working….
My Facebook toolbar decided, nope don’t wanna any more…
Then PDFs wouldn’t open up in the browser, it would actually freeze up the entire system and take long minutes to reset to the point I could use it again.
Then Gmail would take forever to open and then get stuck in the “loading” step without really getting to loading.
Last but certainly not least… Firefox wouldn’t always open up!
It was becoming a waste of time and way to frustrating but was unsure what to do. Internet Explorer and I have not gotten along in a very long time, Safari yeah it was okay and Google Chrome was actually not to bad but all my settings were in Firefox, what’s a girl to do?
Then lo and behold first I hear about Wisestamp… cool now I can get my HTML style signatures back in Gmail, even in Google Chrome! (Okay it is only 2 signatures but after living with none, I’ll take it!).
Next I find that my Xmarks will indeed work in Google Chrome, now we are talkin’.
My bookmarks once again sync between computers. Sweet!
Best of all… Chrome opens up right away… now I am back up and running. If you haven’t checked out Google Chrome out yet, you might want to.
What an incredible gift
I’m blessed….
I don’t take the time to acknowledge that nearly enough but I am blessed in owning and running my own business. I have a virtual assistant practice that is doing well and I have the opportunity to grow it, remain where I am and change what I need (or want!) to change, it is my choice as simple as that.
For over 15 years I worked with a company – (13 years as a full-time employee and the remaining time part-time employee and independent contractor). But last week I had to say good-bye to lots of people I have knows for years as the company closed it’s doors. It was hard… after 15 years these were members of my family, I am worried for many of them, especially in this economy. I know many will land on their feet no problem and will find incredible opportunities in front of them but you can’t help wondering what will happen to them.
When I first heard the news it made me take a step back and realize what an incredible position I am in. I have a viable business, I have been busier in the last 8 months then I ever have been before and the business is growing. In the last month I brought on new team members to help out and new changes are in the air. The opportunities in front of me are mind blowing at times. Now I will have even more time to focus on the direction of The Blue Jeans VA…. I have several ideas, but where to start! (more on that later…)
Even in this economy as things change and constantly in motion, being an entrepreneur is an incredible gift. What is your favorite part of being in charge of your future?
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?
