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Posted 02-07-2009 at 11:32 PM by lanelt
8:00AM – Wake up and grab Blackberry to check e-mails that came in overnight, whew, nothing too pressing. Review my calendar and note that I don’t have any appointments today. Should be a good day. I’ll have plenty of time to work on the items in today’s file, should be able to finish everything.
8:15AM – Cell phone rings with client saying he’s going to drop by the box of work I’ve been asking about for three weeks. Tell him I’ll be at the office and should see him there.
8:45AM – Rush out the door grabbing a box of cereal on the way out hoping to beat client to the office.
8:55AM – Arrive at office. Client already came and left but was able to leave everything for me.
9:00AM...
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Junior Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 5
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Posted 02-05-2009 at 01:56 PM by marketingva
As a virtual assistant I can tell you that no 2 days are the same! Everyday starts the same, I login to my email account to check on my clients.
Once I answer those emails, I check the status of the various helpdesk tickets.
Once that task is completed the fun begins! I can always tell when my clients are online working because that's when it gets exciting! I will have at least 5 tabs opened, 2 or 3 instant messages going, the phone ends up ringing and I have family members that are calling for my attention.
I only allow myself to sit at my desk 1 hour at a time before taking a break. Every break lasts between 15 minutes to 30 minutes. I will vary what I do with each break; for instance, I will jog in...
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Contributing Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 02-05-2009 at 02:43 AM by Kbennitt
I hope everyone enjoys this. I have too much of an imagination not to try this exercise. Please keep in mind that portions of this are fiction. 
Kristi Bennitt
http://seattleva.wordpress.com
A Day in the Life of a VA!
The coffee’s on, the kids have just gotten on the school bus and the house is quiet. In your slippers you walk into your cozy home office and turn on the computer. It’s time for the day to begin. As the computer warms up, a load of laundry is placed in the washer, the dishes are put away and the coffee is poured.
Feeling more relaxed that something around the house has been accomplished you open your email box. It’s going to be a good day, only 74 messages waiting... |
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 02-03-2009 at 11:58 AM by leedrozak
Do you really have days to read what a day in the Life of a Virtual Assistant is like? Why so you may ask? Well everyday is quite different and quite unique. You may have the same clients and the same type of work but if you are like the average VA, you have added outside interests to your schedule.
So what is my day like, I can sum it up in a nutshell. Wake up the family and send them on their way. Pour my first of many cups of coffee and enjoy while I read and respond to all my friends at VAF. Then I move on to Twitter and Face Book to see if there is anything pressing in the virtual world. Next, I look at my calendar (and yes this included my clients calendars as well) and my to-do list. I also check out the house...
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Resident Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 6
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Posted 01-31-2009 at 07:21 PM by Virtual Horizons
It has been proven by Jakob Nielsen that the most most common web reading pattern used by visitors looks like an F. This means that when a visitor first gets to your site they read across the top content area in a straight line (__). Then on they move to read the middle section, again in a straight line (__), but not for long. Finally your visitor will then scan the left side of your website page which forms the branch of the F (|).
So how is that important you ask? Well as you may know most web surfers don't actually read content - they scan it. So how you have your website content laid out will greatly affect the information a vistor actually scans.
So to get your great content read, your first two paragraphs... |
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 01-31-2009 at 06:57 PM by Virtual Horizons
When you think of website design I'm sure that like most of us you worked hard on your content and getting your logo designed but did you realize that the colors used on your website can have a psychological impact on your visitors? What does this mean you ask? Well since colors mean different things to different people you need to know who your targeted audience is as well as knowing what message you are trying to convey. Check out the brief color list below and see how some colors may make your visitors feel emotionally: - White: purity, innocence, cleanliness, simplicity
- Black: secrecy, death, power, sophistication
- Grey: reserved, neutral, moody
- Red: love, excitement, passion, food, warning, danger
- Purple: royalty, mystery, rarity,
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Posted in Blogging, Web Design
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Posted 01-31-2009 at 12:46 AM by Virtual Horizons
When I think of being community minded within a forum I relate it to how I would participate in my own neighborhood functions. Imagine if you would this picture... It is summer time and you are arriving at your annual neighborhood BBQ. You of course bring along your favorite dish as you know the rule that you don’t arrive empty handed at a party. You visit and catch up on what is happening in the neighborhood. You share plans with your neighbors, getting to know one another personally – you find out about their experiences, their quirks, and their goals such as an upcoming vacation. You volunteer to look after your neighbor’s home when they go away, wanting to be a help. Because you are known in your neighborhood by the way you maintain your...
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Posted in Business Ideas, Virtual Assistance
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Posted 01-31-2009 at 12:05 AM by Virtual Horizons
What exactly is a 'Wordpress Plugin' you ask? A plug-in is a computer program that allows you to add additional features/functions to your Wordpress blog increasing its functionality. Listed below are six of my favorite plug-ins with a brief discription of their use:
- Sociable is a plugin which adds social media buttons to your posts, therefore allowing web users the opportunity to bookmark and share interesting sites they find online. Think of it as allowing you to be a social butterfly - pollinating someone's website with new traffic!
- Secure and Accessible PHP Contact Form is a contact form that is easy to upload and customize to fit your websites overall design.
- Google XML Sitemaps is a plug-in that will create
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Posted in Technology, Blogging
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Posted 01-30-2009 at 08:40 PM by Virtual Horizons
You’ve finally done it! You are venturing out on your own…you are excited at the prospect of finally being a business owner and living the dream. Like many of us, when you venture into the virtual world you recognize the need for a web presence however it doesn't take long before reality sets in and what started out as an exciting adventure is starting to look like a mountain to overcome. You’ve started to do your research into getting your web presence set up but have come to the realization that it isn’t going to be cheap! If you were anything like me, you don’t have that big of a budget so now what are your options?
Well the most obvious choice is that you can hire a web designer who will/can design your site to your specifications...
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Posted in Technology, Business Ideas, Resources, Blogging, Web Design
Comments 2
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Posted 01-30-2009 at 08:12 AM by leedrozak
Lately on Facebook the note of 25 Random things about me seems to be all the rage. And yes I did it too. At first I thought, I am not getting caught up in this but, did it anyhow. Funny thing though is I am learning a lot about my “friends” since I figured if they take the time to write I will take the time to read.
It got me to thinking; if you knew 25 random things about your clients it would help you to help them as well. People often reveal what they normally would not. For example, one person revealed they like to travel but are terrible at planning; EVENT PLANNING would work for them. And another revealed that her husband hates email because he can’t keep up with everyone, EMAIL MANAGEMENT would work well here too....
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 01-29-2009 at 05:49 PM by tsmith
I know blogging is not a new concept to most people. I admittedly have had a fear of the Blogosphere until recent weeks. I guess I had some type of blogophobia. I enjoy writing; however, I had two problems with the idea of a blog. 1) I questioned the idea of will others be interested in my opinion. Well, the answer to that is probably yes. Consider the millions that watch “reality” TV about regular folks. 2) The fear of commitment. I understand to have a successful blog you have to supply consistent and interesting content. Hmmm?
What exactly is a blog? Why do others blog? The word blog has only been around since the late 1990s. I decided to do some further investigation. According to Wikipedia a blog is a contraction of the...
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Posted in Blog About A Blog
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Twitter and my 140 Characters or Less Dilemma
Posted 01-25-2009 at 02:43 PM by D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance
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. ...
Continue reading...
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 01-23-2009 at 11:49 AM by tsmith
I was recently approached with the task of disclosing 7 interesting things about me via another blog. Initially, I thought, I am not that interesting. Then I thought this was just silly. Please note that I also thought the same thing about Twitter but I really enjoy it now. Anyway, I think this is a perfect opportunity for those that do not have blogs to start one here. Also for those that have not blogged in a while to get back into the Blogosphere.
Everyone has a story to tell. Here are 7 things that you may find interesting about me.
1) I lived in Florida for 10 years prior to my relocation to Indiana in July. However, I am originally from Racine, WI.
2) I served 4 years in the United States...
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Posted in Random Thoughts from a WAHM
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Posted 01-22-2009 at 05:16 PM by MrsAn
Hi ALL,
I am starting to get a blog going and find it facinating and frustrating. 2009 will prove to be an interesting year. I want to get things off and running.
2009 Goals...
1. Get that website up!
2. Explore other ways to generate $$
3. Develop a solid marketing plan
4. Secure 2 clients.
5. Explore a new skill in copywriting 
Now #5 will be the most challanging I think. Ok, maybe #4 for sure 
I recently took an evalutation regarding my business from some professionals and although I did not score high on the computer "program" end of things the conselor asked if I had experience in copywriting. Well, other than... |
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 01-22-2009 at 12:45 PM by TimeForLife
I keep hearing people pronounce "5 minutes today, saves hours tomorrow". Being the skeptic I am, I decided to investigate the quote and put it to the test to find out how much truth there is to the proclamation. As a background, I am the type of person who gets very excited when introduced to new ideas or concepts then steps back and critiques all aspects of the situation. Good, bad, indifferent. Then I make an analysis and proceed to (what I believe to be) an educated decision. I do this because I am an idealist. That being said I have made a pledge to myself to fill each day with focus on my mind, body, soul and heart. So in the midst of my journey, here is what I learned:
Tasks I accomplished by committing 5 minutes...
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 01-19-2009 at 11:09 PM by VAF Admin
If there's a forum section you'd like to subscribe to, click into the main forum section of your choosing and select 'forum tools' at the top right, then select 'subscribe' and 'instant email notification' to rec'v notice in your inbox each time a new post is made in that section!
If you subscribe but don't rec'v the notifications - please check that our emails are not going into your junk folder and add virtualassistantforums.com to your whitelist
As always, you can still subscribe to individual threads - and we've updated that feature to include instant email notification as well (you can adjust your subscription settings in your profile).
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Posted in General Forum Information, HOW TOs
Comments 0
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Posted 01-18-2009 at 09:44 AM by leedrozak
When we bought our 100 year old farmhouse, we knew there was going to be loads of remodeling projects for us to complete. At first glance when we moved in it was very overwhelming, but then I took a step back and decided I project manage in my business so I am going to apply the same to this “project”.
I pulled out my project outline and went to work
- Define the Scope – At first the scope was vague, renovate the house and bring it into up to date. Then I remembered my own advice to other, give detailed and attainable goals and make your scope specific. So now it is: Remodel each room according to needs while keeping with the true nature of the home. I will not bore you with the room to room detail but they are there
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Posted in Uncategorized
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LLC Basics
Posted 01-14-2009 at 11:58 PM by VAF Admin
Hosted by Lily Chambers, President of Virtual Office Goddess. Lily walks VAs through the basics of setting up a Virtual Assistance practice as an LLC [Limited Liability Corporation] and the reasoning behind doing so. Click to read.
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Posted in Archived Virtual Assistant Forums Events
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Do What You Love & Delegate/Outsource the rest.
Posted 01-10-2009 at 02:28 PM by D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance
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...
Continue reading...
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 01-09-2009 at 12:43 PM by TimeForLife
We are often approached by individuals asking us to clarify the meaning of a virtual assistant (VA). Here is how I define a VA. The term virtual assistant represents an industry of professional administrative experts. In other words, it is a class of professionals that have bound closely together to form an entire industry based on years of administrative knowledge, best practices and tools to make for the most efficient workspace.
These entrepreneurs have collaborated because they identify and acknowledge the opportunity for advanced practice based on pooling of resources for the purpose of strengthening a reliable concept. Virtual assistants typically have years of involvement and qualifications in their industry as well as...
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Contributing Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
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HTML and CSS - The Basics
Posted 01-08-2009 at 11:54 PM by VAF Admin
Hosted by Hamid Alipour of Codehead, LLP. The idea of coding a website using HTML can be frustrating, intimidating, and seem difficult to learn - like another language. But it doesn't have to be. This series is designed to teach you to create, update, and maintain your own website, using current HTML and CSS standards in an easy to understand format.
- Session ONE
- Session TWO
- Session THREE
- Session FOUR
- Session FIVE
- Session SIX
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Posted in Archived Virtual Assistant Forums Events
Comments 0
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Posted 01-08-2009 at 07:24 PM by KathyCrofoot.com
Did you know there were only 168 hours in a week? Of course you did, everyone knows that right? When those hours, minutes or seconds are gone, you can't get them back.
"Let's stop and think on that for a minute, shall we?"
I had this conversation with a client recently. He was trying to plow through a pile of paperwork, sort and mark them to make my job easier before he sent it to me for a project. It was causing him some angst because his heart wasn't in it. He wanted to spend time with his boys. When he was spending time with the boys, he felt bad because I was waiting on the information to do a project for him.
Here's what I told him. "Your boys will only be little just...
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Posted in Client Relationships
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Posted 01-08-2009 at 02:20 AM by JKVirtualOffice
I am happy to see so many of us on Twitter and so many more Virtual Assistants joining daily. Twitter really is a great platform for networking vitually and quickly becoming a must have tool in the toolbox for Virtual Assistants.
However, there are a couple of things that I wanted to mention which are really important when you set up your Twitter profile.
1. Upload an avatar. People are hesitant to follow other Twitterers who have the stock brown/blue Twitter avatar.
2. Do not lock your updates. This will also keep people from following you and one of the key points to Twitter is to increase your sphere of influence by increasing the number of people who are interested in following you.
...
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Posted in Twitter, Social Media
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Posted 01-06-2009 at 08:46 AM by leedrozak
I took some time over the holiday to clean out my personal email account. Funny thing is that my business accounts are well organized, have rules to keep the clutter down and me on top of things and a system for filing, follow-up or needs attention now.
But my personal account was a mess. The only rule I had was to keep the inbox sorted for my email and that of my husbands. Yes he also has an account but NEVER checks it; I guess maybe I should start charging him for that service.
As I sorted, deleted, did follow-up and just plain cleaned the account out, I realized this was the time to remind everyone of the email do’s and don’ts to leave we organized folks less stressed.
Email Do’s:
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Free Reading Resources Available
Posted 01-05-2009 at 01:11 AM by Virtual Horizons
Aha! I am sure that I got your attention with that (as was intended)  . I recently was perusing one of the threads on VAF and found that one of our VA's had highly recommended a book title that interestingly enough I had just considered purchasing at our local bookstore. Now I didn't buy the book however as I was feeling my tightwad spirit come out post-holiday season and so I made a mental note to look into it for a later date.
As I continued on reading the thread about this recommended book there was a comment from another VA which is where I found this amazing free reading resource - the local library! I have to admit that I am an avid reader but I sometimes forget that I have this amazing resource right at my fingertips....
Continue reading...
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Contributing Member
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Posted in Business Ideas, Virtual Assistance, Resources
Comments 6
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Networking that works -- for you!
Posted 01-02-2009 at 02:01 PM by D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance
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...
Continue reading...
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 7
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Official Blog Starting on VAF
Posted 01-01-2009 at 06:36 PM by MountainVA
 What a way to kick off 2009 and start updating my blog entries as part of my membership to this forum. Best wishes to all for a prosperous and successful New Year! |
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 12-31-2008 at 03:10 AM by Your Virtual Wizard
Hello,
I read an interesting article about this website which listed overused and abused words in our 2008 lexicon; suggesting these should be banned from our 2009 vocabulary.
I thought I'd start an impromptu list here and ask my VAF peers to give their opinions on which words they thought should be removed from our lexicon. This list would include words which have lost their meaning because we just hear them all too often.
Some words or phrases which I personally have grown weary from hearing (and using) are:
- Main Street to Wall Street
- anything which uses "green"
- I'll include 'awesome' here but I believe
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VAF Blog Challenge Moderator
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 8
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Posted 12-30-2008 at 04:15 PM by TimeForLife
Last night I fished for answers in my mind on how I truly could gain welfare from a New Years Resolution. Keeping a resolution has ever been a problem form me simply because I have never fathomed the need to frame one. However, with a fresh year, a new business and a refreshing perspective on life in front of me I revealed a challenge to myself. Today as I read a blog post by Kelli Parisian, I was reminded of the difference between resolutions and solutions. This post lead me to the culmination of how I would integrate my personal demands for the new year into a "solution" rather than a "resolution". Therefore, I vow to devote one activity, event or piece of information each day to my mind, my body, my soul, and my heart....
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 12-24-2008 at 11:49 AM by TimeForLife
On this eve of Christmas I laid in bed thinking about all the wonderful blessing I have around me, doing my best to block out the tragedies and losses endured over the past two years. I immediately stopped when I realized that without those horrific moments I don't think I would be reminiscing so meaningfully on the positive times I am now surrounded by.
Therefore, I choose in the coming year to turn the sadness into positive energy directed at creating my business and keeping myself moving forward, loving my family and friends and keeping an open mind and heart.
Those lost will be with me everyday. All the wonderful attributes they possessed will live on through me. Always loved and never forgotten.
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 12-23-2008 at 11:10 PM by KathyCrofoot.com
"There is one ingredient that separates the champions of our world from the masses...Courage. What Courageous action will you take today?"
I woke up one morning this week to find this message from a mentor and client on my FaceBook wall. In the back of my mind I thought about some lessons learned from this spiritual and powerful leader.
My courageous action that day was simply letting my voice be heard; speaking my truth.
"Public" speaking is very difficult for me. Putting myself on public display in front of the world via the internet is excruciating. Expressing myself through social media gives me the shakes. I do fine in intimate groups, with people I've developed...
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Posted in Self Development
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Posted 12-23-2008 at 10:23 AM by vainparadise
For those that know me they know that I detest writing.  I think that is why I like Twitter so much because I can get my idea out there real quick and move on to the next task at hand.
I have been putting off starting a blog for about a year now. I just could never find or shall I say devote the time to starting one. I am the Queen of Justification and basically talked myself into not starting one because I feel that it is essential to update your blog regularly and consistently.
While working on my 2009 business and personal goals this week I began reflecting on the past year. I have had great successes within my business, many personal situations that were trying and an amazing amount of personal... |
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Tis the Season....
Posted 12-22-2008 at 05:34 PM by D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance
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,...
Continue reading...
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 12-22-2008 at 02:18 PM by KathyCrofoot.com
Updated 12-22-2008 at 03:00 PM by KathyCrofoot.com
(typo)
This is a Universal Principle. When you focus your attention on anything, this is where your energy also focuses. Think about it, when you were learning to parallel park, did you think "must not hit the curb, must not hit the cone, must not be too far from the curb"? Did any one of those things happen? Or do you avoid parallel parking at all costs? How about when you are driving and spot a pothole? Do you think "must not hit the pothole"? And do you? If you're like me, if you think about it, chances are you at least drifted towards that hole.
Have you noticed when you focus on how difficult a project is, the more difficult it becomes? The more you dislike the project, the harder it becomes. We...
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Posted in Self Development
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Posted 12-22-2008 at 02:17 PM by VAF Admin
Updated 02-01-2009 at 04:20 PM by VAF Admin
With a recent update to the software behind our Virtual Assistant Forums Chatroom we decided to make it a more focal part of the site. You'll find the chatroom on it's own page.
The chatroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you to connect live and network in real time with fellow members. Feel free to log into the chatroom whenever you like, invite your friends via PM to join you there, or just post a thread in the Talk section letting other members know you'd like to get the conversation started!
And of course, we're also planning some great live topic chat events in 2009 - so stay tuned!
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Posted in New Forum Features
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Posted 12-22-2008 at 11:39 AM by TimeForLife
Every year when the holiday season comes knocking at our doors people tend to open their heart, minds and pocket books for family, friends and even strangers. A wonderful reminder of those we love and those less fortunate. This year seems different and has touched my heart in a different way. I approached the "give unto others" part of the season with a different foot forward. It is amazing to me that in the past I have spend thousands of dollars on gifts for people. I always take the time to put thought into my offerings, but this year I decided to make them from the heart. I cannot believe the difference in levels of appreciation I have received for creating my gifts instead of spending money at a retail store. Is it because of...
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 12-21-2008 at 05:20 PM by HandyVOA
I only have 2 more days of work at the junior college I work at and then I will have a nice break until Jan. 5th - I am looking forward to it.
I plan to work on my website and market myself more. I will also visit with friends and family. I am still excited about working with my first client and getting the word out about my business here in Kansas. Since my husband is out of work right now my budget for marketing is low at this time. Paying bills is more important this time but once he gets back on track then I can begin to put more money into my marketing campaign. Have a great holiday everyone and let's hope it will be a good New Year. |
New Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
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Posted 12-20-2008 at 07:48 PM by JKVirtualOffice
TwitWall is something everyone who has a Twitter account automatically has access to. It is like a blogging feature that for your Twitter Account. You can write posts, add video or pictures and once you post it to your Twitwall, it will automatically tweet the post for you. There's also a button that other people can click on if they want to re-tweet your post.
The other thing I really like about about Twitwall is over in your profile area it lists your twitter bio, your twitter grade (as determined by Hubspot) and you can post links to all your social media profiles and your website or blog. I've posted to my Twitwall a couple of times and you take a peek HERE if you're interested in what I've posted on my Twitwall.
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Posted in Social Media, Twitter
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Posted 12-20-2008 at 12:32 PM by TimeForLife
Being new in the virtual assistant arena, many things have become clear to me as I meddle my way through the process of researching, writing, editing and creating my business from scratch. As I am sure many of you have encountered this or are in the process now, I would like to point out the biggest "ahha" moment I have had. Being a perfectionist is not always a good approach to building a business.
I have seen and heard several comments from VA's who recommend just getting started after a solid plan is in place. This is much easier said than done; nonetheless, true. Last week I was stressed about getting my website content perfectly written to my target audience; however, this week I have a new approach. Just get it done...
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Contributing Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 4
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Posted 12-19-2008 at 09:12 AM by leedrozak
Let me begin by giving you a little history of my story. Several months ago my family moved to a new home in rural location with 21+ acres and a 100-year old farm house. Or as we like to say our new “old” house. We moved in late summer so critters were not our problem, well inside anyway. I’ve got used to the bats, great for the insect population and even bought them their own house. But that is another story.
First thing we did when fall arrived was check the attic for adequate insulation. I was too chicken to go into the attic not knowing what has been up there for 100 years so I gladly sent my husband and son in my place. When my son came back down he announced, “There are some mice skeletons up there and I think some...
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Resident Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 5
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Posted 12-19-2008 at 04:30 AM by virtualguy
I just spoke with a friend of mine from Detroit today. She's just as new to the VA profession as I am. She told me about her first day as a VA and a client that was in her own words "hastily signed." The client was a busy executive type who needed to get a letter drafted and emailed out to some of his colleagues in his field.
My friend didn't probe this gentleman's needs in depth and failed to fully understand the scope of work that she was to perform. She admitted that she made a mistake as we all do on occasion. She was under the impression that after getting the letter approved, the client has all of the contacts and email addresses in Outlook or in a .csv file. Unfortunately that was not the case.
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Contributing Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 2
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Posted 12-19-2008 at 03:18 AM by virtualguy
I first started working in the administrative field when I was 20 years old. My first admin job was working as a secretary at the county juvenile probation department. My was that an awkward feeling. Awkward because I was the only male in a secretarial pool of seven people and the rest were females. Imagine all of the strange looks from the juvenile probation officers that passed through the admin section and visitors who came into the lobby while I provided receptionist relief.
The Chief Juvenile Probation Officer and the Juvenile Court Judge thought that I was from the Information Systems Department. I asked myself, "What have I gotten myself into?" I just knew that I had chosen the wrong field to get into. As time...
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Contributing Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 5
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Posted 12-19-2008 at 03:10 AM by Virtual Horizons
The countdown is on...there are now only seven more shopping days (maybe only six depending on your timezone ) until Christmas. If you had unlimited resources this year and could purchase five 'business' toys - what would they be? I was thinking of this as I finished up my Christmas shopping today and thought I would share with you my official Santa wish list. In no specific order here they are: - Neat Receipts - I keep getting drawn to the office section at our local Costco and I have even picked up the box to read exactly how it will 'Simplify my life'...you know how it goes, trying to convince myself to buy it. Still not totally convinced yet but I would love to have a way to organize all my loose papers that I always mean to file but never
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Contributing Member
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Posted in Technology, Business Ideas
Comments 3
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Posted 12-17-2008 at 06:49 PM by JKVirtualOffice
This has been a crazy week...the snow, ice and freezing temps have kept the schools closed all week so far and the rumor is that they'll probably stay closed for the rest of the week. I don't mind having my son home so much, but I typically use the time he's in school to get a good chunk of my work done for the day without interruptions- and I feel guilty letting him just sit and play video games too much during the day. He also has a head cold so going outside to play hasn't been at the top of my list of things to do.
On top of that, we had no power on Monday for 6 1/2 hours while it was about 20 degrees out AND our Christmas tree fell over (again!) yesterday with ornaments flying everywhere and water pouring out of the tree...
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Resident Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 7
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Posted 12-17-2008 at 08:43 AM by leedrozak
I thought for 2009 I would do something different since I tend to not keep one resolution I make every year. I am going to make others for themselves. This will certainly make my life easier and I won’t be so disappointed when they are broken. So here goes…
My dear husband – will learn to not get so frustrated and cranky when working around the house. We know it is old but it has character (just like you!)
My darling daughter – will not get so wrapped up in her life and visit her family more. Who cares that she is in college and becoming independent.
My sweet son – will stop using cuss words in everyday language. I know you are trying to find yourself but frankly those words should be saved...
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Resident Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 3
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Posted 12-16-2008 at 11:48 PM by Virtual Horizons
I just discovered this neat little site called Wordle.It allows you to enter a string of text into a text box and then it generates a 'word cloud'. Once you have entered your text it allows you the option of customizing your 'cloud' with different fonts, layouts and colours. Very neat! Have a peek and let me know what you think.
Until next time... |
Contributing Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 5
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Posted 12-16-2008 at 04:28 PM by Virtually Assisting You
WooHoo, I got a Wii for the boys. Some of you know about my midnight shopping trip on Saturday night/ Sunday Morning, it was not fun at all. Here's how the story begins -
On Saturday,I had my Mom come over and sit with my boys while I made a short trip to Walmart. I get there and no Wii's. I ask a sales associate where all the Wii's were? Her reply was oh we put them up, as in, in the back until 12:01am. I ask her why, she said that's when the sell starts. My next question was what time should I be back here? around 11:30pm should be good, she says. I go to Walmart at 11:30 as told to do. There is already a line, but it was a short one only about 6 people in front of me. No big deal, right! WRONG. They only had 4 Wii's to sell...
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Active Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 3
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Looking Forward - 2009
Posted 12-15-2008 at 02:22 PM by Virtually Assisting You
As the year ends, taking a moment to reflect where I am with my Virtual Assisting Practice, and where I want to be in 2009 at year end.
I hope to soon be able to complete my website. Although, I already have a few clients, I want to take my business to the next level this coming year. Would like to add a few retainer clients. I have goals set and plan to accomplish. I guess a review of my notes to get a clear picture of my business needs, would be a good start. Another thought is...what would it take to improve my virtual working relationship to gain more.
It seems as though with the economy and job security getting more unstable, Virtual Assistants continue to grow and prosper and encourage their clients to...
Continue reading...
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Active Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 2
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Posted 12-15-2008 at 09:08 AM by leedrozak
So a new year is almost upon us and how quickly they seem to go by. You are probably already thinking, what I want to do differently this year. Here are 5 quick tips to get you on track and help you stay there so you can achieve any goal that you set.
1. Clearly identify your goal.
Be as specific as possible. If your goal is to increase business think about how much: one new client per quarter or increase income by $1,000 per month. When you list an identifiable goal it is easier to reach and you are less likely to stop being deterred. However, be realistic because it is easier to achieve smaller goals and work your way up then to strive for the moon and not even leave the Earth.
2. Practice thinking...
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Resident Member
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Posted in Uncategorized
Comments 2
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Posted 12-14-2008 at 07:07 PM by VAF Admin
We just turned the marketing power of your forum profiles on - and then up another notch!
Now, inside your profiles here on VAF you'll notice a 'Customize Profile' link at the top right of your information tabs [About Me, Contact Info, etc.] - use the link to change the colors, font styles, background images and more of your profiles.
And, in order to give you as much marketing leverage as possible we opened up the thousands of member profile pages to the search engines - Google, Yahoo!, MSN, they're all indexing YOUR pages right now - so be sure to take advantage of the huge SEO-positive impact of VAF and fill in your details.
We'll continue adding even more fields for you to add more of your information...
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Forum Administration
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Posted in New Forum Features
Comments 6
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