// BLOG
What’s Your Plan B?
March 7, 2010
Let me start off by giving a ginormous THANK YOU to everyone for being so patient over the last week with the website! As many of you who follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter already know VAsolutionsNOW’s website was hacked into and was reported as a attack site. Now this is plain jibber jabber to me, I simply do not understand why / how this happened.. but it did, and wa-la it’s fixed!
The last week and a half have been so incredibly hectic between trying to figure out what having a website that I’ve dedicated days to building become an attack site and battle the loss of power and internet connection. For those who were watching the news Friday February 26th, New Hampshire was beaten down by a wind storm. Not just one of those 
light breezes that I constantly pray for in 90 degree heat, NO! This was like the Big Bad Wolf vs Three Little Piggies.. only the wolf must have been confused and took out this state by accident. Naturally I panicked when I woke up to no power, but that was not what concerned me. Having no power was the least of my worries… it was having no internet that nearly knocked me over. My power can easily be restored with generators, but my internet?!! Take my right arm but not my internet connection!!
Being a Virtual Assistant means having to rely on internet I’d say about 80% of the time, depending on the task of course. I packed up everything I needed to and drove till I found a internet cafe open and continued my daily duties. Problem solved.
We eventually got our power and cable services working and lived happily ever after.
Believe me when I say I did by fair share of rubbing my ears while saying “Goosfraba”. Did it work? Not really, but it had me giggling. Laughter really is the best medicine!
The moral of today’s story is what would you do if something prevented you from completing your businesses tasks? Would you throw down your arms and say “Oh well, guess I can’t help so and so today, or I can’t blog today.. or this or that” or would you look for a solution to make sure that your needs are taken care of?
Having a Virtual Assistant who is dedicated to taking on any battle, at any time, and under any conditions might come in handy for days that you might not be able to escape. It’s always good to have security and a back up plan just in case something drastic does happen.
All we need is a little “me” time
February 16, 2010
Think back for a second and ask yourself “When is the last time I was able to take a walk, or admire my surroundings?” Better yet, ask yourself “When is the last time I was able to do something I wanted to do without having to worry if something else needed my immediate attention?”
Days have a habit of getting complicated, especially when you only have 24 hours to handle everything on your task list. Rather than feeling overwhelmed and like a one (wo)man band, why not try outsourcing your tasks?
For every challenge there is always a solution, we’re here to help!
Never feel guilty for wanting a little “you” time! Do not ever doubt for a second that you don’t deserve it. Learn to delegate tasks, whether it might be blogging, research, organizing emails and contacts, etc. Consult with a virtual assistant to find out which tasks you might be able to take off you plate so you can take that extra time out of your day to recuperate, even if it’s only for an extra 15 minutes.
What would you do with a few extra “me” hours per week?
6 Steps to Creating a Memorable Profile
October 15, 2009
When networking using Social Media there are plenty of do’s and don’ts that can keep a person blogging for days explaining reasoning behind these common sense factors. Today’s topic is going to shine a light on how to create a professional and captivating profile. When advertising yourself, your business, or your brand you want to make sure you are giving out a great impression from the very first second they land on your page. The appearance of your profile and its given information is crucial to making an impression that will benefit you in the long run all while setting you up for success.
- Define what you’re about- What are you passionate about? What sets you apart from the rest of those in your profession? Give a detailed summary on what motivates you to be exactly who you are. Try being interesting and creative to keep your readers learning more about you.
- Post a professional photo of yourself- Not that there is anything wrong with holding a beer, gun, or giving the finger… however having that being the first thing seen by someone who doesn’t know you might not give you the image you might have hoped.
- Linking- Include key links to your blog, website and other social networks. Guide them to other ways they can connect with you if needed by making these links easy to find on your profile.
- On your profile provide your “30 Second Elevator Pitch”- This will let everyone know what your mission is and if you can possibly benefit them with your services or product. Tailor this paragraph to specific social networks and try not to come off sounding as a pushy sales person; they tend not to like that.
- Add tags- Most Social Media profiles are indexed in search engines. When possible, tag your profile with keywords relevant to your business or product.
- Keep paragraphs short and concise- Last but not least make sure your profile is understandable and readable. Put yourself in “unique” viewer’s shoes and re-read the information that you have provided. Does it flow? Is it easy to keep up with or are you being pulled in every which direction?
And there you have it, the absolute best and most important keys to building a memorable profile! Fairly simple rules that will keep you shining in others eye when followed. In the event you already have a profile that you might have built awhile back, perhaps it would be a good idea to revisit and read the content that you have provided and make changes where necessary.
VA tip- Have your virtual assistant review and make the necessary changes to save your time and make sure things are done properly.
Fearless, Determined, and Hitting Your Goals
September 29, 2009
When you were younger you would strive to take your very first step and would do anything to make sure that it happened. No matter how many times you’ve fallen or on your behind and stumbled into things, sometimes bruising yourself.. you managed to brush off the pain and get right back on track. You refused to be defeated, you were unstoppable, you were on a mission, and nothing was going to get in your way.
Looking back and reminiscing at your accomplishments, do you feel as if you are that same person? Do you still believe that nothing is unattainable? Somewhere down the road we’ve lost our insight and imagination that anything is possible and that the only way for anything to be achievable is if self doubt doesn’t get in the way.
When did the word “can’t” become so strong, and believable?
When you were younger if someone said that you couldn’t do something, you made sure to prove them other wise, right? What happened?
It all starts with a vision. Are you willing to challenge that vision and making it into your reality, or will you feed into negativity and brush your dreams aside? Ask yourself, “What is my I.Q level?” What will make you throw in the towel, how dedicated are you to fighting your way through obstacles to reach the outcome that you desire? Define what it will take for you to reach your “I quit” point and figure out ways to tackle and avoid those challenges before they arrive.
Whatever your dream and mission is I applaud you, I challenge you to do whatever it takes to make that happen. Keep your eyes on the goal and stay focused. When in doubt seek guidance, someone who you know that will cheer you on and give you the necessary support for you to stay on track. Always remember why it is that you are jumping through these hoops.
Anything, and I mean anything that you put your mind to, you can do it. No matter what anyone says, no matter how impossible or unreasonable your goal may seem to others- achieve them, and not for anyone other then yourself.
Are you giving your business the attention it needs?
September 28, 2009
What you feed grows and what you starve dies. Not only should this knowledge be applied to things that are alive and breathing, but also your business. Think about it, the more you put into it- the more you will receive.
Take a moment to ask yourself if you are giving your business the attention that it really needs to grow and maintain success. Do you find that there are too many tasks to complete in a day to where you cannot devote 100% of your focus to completing assignments? Are you regularly forgetting or missing key points in your presentations because you are feeling rushed?
Relax!
Realizing the importance of covering every area possible to make sure that your business has the ability to expand or stay afloat is extremely important. We all have the same 24 hours to cater to all of our priorities daily, and can relate by saying that it IS difficult to handle everything that requires immediate attention. If you feel that you have a challenge dedicating the necessary time to help produce better results there is a answer at hand. Hiring a virtual assistant that specializes in tasks that may need to be delegated is always an option.
Always be rest assured that where ever there lies a problem there is always a solution.
