 |
|
We've all heard the expression, "You've come to a fork in the road." This usually symbolizes a choice you need to make. Do you go right or veer left?
As the owner of your business, you will be faced with many different forks in the road. Decisions that you will need to make; some will be easy and others will be extremely hard. One such decision you may face, is the decision to raise your rates.
The decision to raise your rates can come with a multitude of emotions: excitement, fear and even self-doubt.
The best way to face a tough decision such as this is to look at it from all sides. Then, ask yourself some key questions.
Let's say you have determined that your rates are...
|
Resident Member
|
|
Comments 1
|
|
This isn't going to be a long post, I am going to get right to the point today. I wanted to share a few simple words of encouragement, words I like to call, "The Ladder Philosophy".
When you feel as though you will never reach the top of the ladder you are climbing to get to where you want to be; instead of looking up at the long path ahead, look down to see how far you've actually come.
Rock on.  |
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 3
|
|
|
This month's VAF blogging challenge question is:
How has being a member of VAF made an impact on you and your business?
To put it simply, VAF is one of the reasons my business is here today. You see, early on in my search for independence (ie: becoming an entrepreneur), I stumbled upon Virtual Assistant Forums and several other Virtual Assistant forums as well. The VAF stood out to me because not only was it is a forum, it felt more like a community rather than a place to just post questions and look for answers.
Community is important to me. When I first arrived here at the VAF, I was a little scared, very excited and very wet behind the ears. What made an impact on me the most, was the fact that...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 1
|
|
|
Having a brand new website is a lot like having a new car. Everything about it is exciting, the colors, the style and what's under the hood. And you can't wait to get the car out on the road to see it's true potential. The big difference between having a new website and having a new car is the direction of traffic. With your new car, you are usually driving from one destination to the next. With your new website, you want to drive traffic to your site and very rarely (if ever) away.
With that in mind, here are some tips on how to drive traffic to your website or blog. In fact, I have used many of these methods for driving traffic to my website or to clients' websites.
1. Use video - create and post videos on...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 3
|
|
|
As a teenager, I dreamed of being a writer. Many evenings were spent writing stories, plays and poems. My stories ranged from downright silly, a play where the main characters met New Kids on the Block, my idols of the time. To serious, a dancer who was in a terrible car accident and lost her ability to walk. The story followed her through waking up from a coma, to being rehabilitated, falling in love with her physical therapist and finally, dancing once again.
I was determined to be a writer and in high school I took journalism and creative writing classes. It was during this time though, that my dream slipped away.
I wrote a story for my creative writing class and mustered up my confidence, walked up to my...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 7
|
|
|
The answer to the question "If you could meet anyone from the past or present or future who would that be and why?" is simple for me.
If I had a time machine and was able to travel back in time, I would travel back to the 1980s for afternoon cookies with a wonderful lady. This lady was strong, smart, loved to cook, bake and lived and breathed for her family and friends. She was a wife, a sister (she was sister number 8 out of a family of 9 daughters), a friend, a wife and a mother.
This amazing woman waited at home while her young husband fought in World War 2. Years later she became a mother. Along with her husband, they raised three wonderful children together. As with any family, there were some...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 5
|
|
|
This month's VAF Blogging challenge is simply: Essential.
Essential can have many meanings to each and every one of us. In fact, what one person finds essential in their daily business or life, may not be the same for another. With that being said, here are the things that are most essential to me when it comes to my Virtual Assistant Business.
It is essential for me to continue to learn; this allows me to continue to not only grow my business, but offers me much professional growth as well. I am lost when I am not learning something new.
It is essential for me to communicate with my clients; for that matter, it is essential that they in turn communicate with me. Communication is a major key to...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 2
|
|
|
This month's VAF Blog Challenge was a bit challenging for me simply because I am inspired by so many things! A photo, a movie, something someone says, these things can all resonate with me and inspire me to feel a certain way, think a certain thought or do something I wouldn't have otherwise thought of doing.
Once, as a teenager, I watched the movie Alive. The movie was a story about a plane that crashed in the Andes and told the story of the passengers on the flight. It was graphic, at times hard to watch and extremely powerful (at least for me). Moments after watching that movie, I closed myself in my bedroom with my teal painted walls covered with images of kittens and rock stars. I took out a pack of white index cards and...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 6
|
|
|
Ah, yes, Spring Cleaning time is here again. And that means it is time once again for window washing. There are two types of window washing. The first type, I absolutely loathe and if I could, I would hire someone else to do. This type includes windows of the glass variety.
The second type of window washing, I thoroughly enjoy and oftentimes, find it to be a time of reflection and enjoyment. This type of window washing involves my computer. Oh yes, I am talking about spring cleaning my Windows OS.
Why not use this time of year to clean your computer? You are already in the cleaning and organizing frame of mind, right? I like to go through all of the folders on my desktop and in my documents, organize my files,...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 2
|
|
Determining success as a Virtual Assistant is something different for each and every one of us.
The actual meaning of the word success is:
1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors.
2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
3. a successful performance or achievement: The play was an instant success.
Success as a Virtual Assistant can be any one of those things, a combination or something else entirely.
I think the most important thing to remember is that we travel through life at our own pace. We are all at different points in our journey. A Virtual Assistant that has a full practice and is doing well, may be considered...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 6
|
|
|
The sun beats down on me and I am surrounded by trees, plants and the sounds of nature. A cool breeze touches my face. I spot a bluebird out of the corner of my eye and see a chipmunk quickly scurry away. I take a sip of my hot tea (a touch of milk and a bit of honey) and take a deep breath, then sigh. This is the life...
Then I hear the all familiar sound of my laptop buzzing to life. I swivel in my office chair towards my desk and away from my own personal real life painting of nature (my backyard). Oh yes, this is the life. The day in the life of a Virtual Assistant...me!
First thing on the do list is check my email, which on some days can be a dauntless task. As I wait for my email to load I watch as my co-workers...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 6
|
|
I had been hearing about Twitter online and on some of the podcasts my husband and I listen to together, so I decided it was well time to check out this new site that was all the buzz.
So, I typed twitter.com into my web browser, clicked the Get Started Now button and I was on my way.
Once logged into the site, I quickly realized that in order to tell people "what I was doing" I had to do it in 140 characters or less. What?!?! Anyone that knows me, knows I have a tendency to talk (and type) a lot. How on earth was I going to get the hang of this?
It was slow going in the beginning and lots of -20, -50 and -60 text appearing bright red on my screen. I did however get the hang of it. ...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 1
|
|
|
One of the most common questions asked by new entrepreneurs is "What services or products should I offer?" My simple answer is: Offer the services and products that make you the most happy and that you are good at too. Offering services that you not only enjoy, but are good at exudes a certain confidence about you. It will make clients want to work with you. It will show in your work and it will certainly improve your outlook on your business.
Nothing is far worse than offering a service or product that you have little to no interest in. You will be miserable and you may even start to resent the task you are doing (and quite possibly the client you are doing it for -- even though it was your choice to take on the...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 2
|
|
|
Networking can be scary for new business owners, but it really doesn't have to be. In fact, there are so many different opportunities out there that can suit you and your networking style.
There are the traditional networking groups where you go to a facility (usually a restaurant or conference room at a hotel) for an hour and network with other business owners in person. The opportunity to learn about other businesses in your area and exchange business cards is great.
Ok, so perhaps you have gone to a network group and just didn't feel comfortable. That is ok - give the meeting one more try and/or find another group. There are MANY networking groups out there. You can go to as many as you have time for (keep in...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 7
|
|
|
I ventured out in the cold and blustery day here in NJ to do some Holiday Shopping. It was my first and hopefully, last day of shopping! I wanted to tell you about a chance encounter I had while purchasing a gift for my mother at the mall.
Each year at the local mall, crafters set up tables in the main corridor and sell their hand-crafted items. I absolutely love to look at and purchase hand-crafted items. I am a lover of craft fairs and now also enjoy purusing the items on etsy.com. I came across a jewelry crafter. Knowing my mother loves earrings (especially ones made from stone) I decide to take a look. The items the woman had were beautiful. I found a perfect pair of earrings for my mother -- made from Moreno glass from Venice,...
|
Resident Member
|
|
|
Comments 4
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:53 PM.
|
|
