Do you have the right tools for your business?

July 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Small Business, The Blue Jeans VA, Virtual Assistants Tagged With: , , , , ,

Your Virtual Assistant Partner

April 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

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?

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, How To Find & Hire A Virtual Assistant, The Blue Jeans VA, Virtual Assistants Tagged With: , , ,

Why do I need a VA?

July 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
  • I need help!
  • I can’t keep up!
  • I can’t do this on my own!?
  • I don’t know how to do this?
  • I’ll never make that deadline.
  • My to do list grows no matter what I do

Any of these sound familiar? They do to me~ Not only do I hear this from my clients and colleagues, I hear it also from me. Yes, even VA’s need VA’s. The plain ole’ big truth of the matter is, none of us, no matter how hard we try, can do it on our own.

Sure we try and for awhile it looks as though we can do it. Then you get sick and things pile up. You miss your daughter’s soccer game or taking your Mom to a measly 1 hour appointment to see the doc seems like an insurmountable fete.

That is when the little voice inside your head starts asking:

    • Why am I doing this?
    • Is it worth it?
    • Am I crazy to think I can do this?
    • I’m too exhausted to think.
    • I just don’t know what to do.

We have all been there! Some of are still there….

As entrepreneurs it is hard to ask for help, let alone admit we need it.

We are the lone gunman, the swaggering John Wayne, the tough guy (or gal!) who is ready to take on the world and make it better. The thought of asking for help, getting it and then being brave enough to accept it…. can be a scary prospect.

You must be ready to ask for help and you have to be open to accepting it. You may come into it kicking and screaming but with just a little change of attitude and direction, finding the right help can be easier than you think and more liberating than you ever realized.

Once you find help, take the time to share your goals, show your vision of where you are headed. A good assistant or team member will walk along side you believe in you and your business and join you on this amazing journey.

So, why do I need a VA? I need help, I need to take my biz to the next level, to its next evolution and I can’t get there on my own!

Want to listen rather than read?

Filed Under: The Blue Jeans VA, Virtual Assistants Tagged With: , , ,

What is your definition of a virtual assistant?

July 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

There are countless definitions  of what a virtual assistant is. If you look at Wikipedia, the IVAA or the VANetworking.com sites, you will see 3 slightly different variations on a theme.

blog1When asked this question, I have tried a few different versions myself, to see what a) is easy to say and b) is easily understood. I have narrowed it down to a super simple definition:

A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative and/or technical support from a remote location.

It’s simple, short, sweet and to the point. The cool thing is that it usually leads to more questions and gives me the opportunity to talk about The Blue Jeans VA and what it is we do.  It’s certainly not any magnificent “30-second” elevator speech but… I’m working on it :)

For many there is a very narrow definition of who and what a virtual assistant is and does. It can get tricky and  I wonder,  where is that  line that says, up to this point you are a virtual assistant but once you cross that line you are  now a consultant or a freelancer.

I tend to lean towards the other end of the spectrum, towards a broader, more generous definition.

With the incredible advances in technology, changes in how and where business is conducted (for both small and big business) the VA industry has grown as well, it has had to.

I think the line between virtual assistant and freelancer/consultant is narrowing and is becoming a bit on the blurry side. Many in our field start a VA business in the “true” sense of the word, meaning starting with the basics and offering  administrative support. Then we grow, expand and find an affinity with a certain topic, skill or type of work that grabs our imagination and draws us in.

As we grow, do we stop being VA’s or are we just stretching and expanding the definition, perception and idea of what a VA is or can be? What is your definition?

Want to listen rather than read?

Filed Under: The Blue Jeans VA, Virtual Assistants Tagged With: , , , , , ,