What’s bigger, your dreams or your excuses?
November 2, 2011
What if I told you there was an out to all of your financial situations? Would you listen? The vast majority votes no. How come?
It’s ironic how easy it is for everyone to complain about money, but when a opportunity is presented to them to be able to create their own paycheck, legally I might add, they are quick to splurt out excuses on what’s stopping them. You would think everyone would be against settling for medocrity, right? If this were true we’d all be financially taken care of.
Like a lot of you, I work in a corperate environment. I absolutely love what I do however at the end of the week I’m faced with the same paycheck. What do I mean by “same”? I could give 110% every day (which I do) when I walk through the door, or I could give it 90% or less and get paid the same hourly figure. Now the only motivation for someone to work as hard as they do in a case like mine is to keep their job. I know in my heart of hearts that I wouldn’t beable to survive financially the way I dream to with the salary that I make each year, even if I was givin a $5 per hour raise. Think about it, how many retail specialists, managers, etc are driving the car of their dreams and still have enough to fill the tank? Very little. It’s not cruel, it’s reality.
I own and run my own company charging competitive fees for the work that I do outside my corperate life. I’ve been burnt out for quite some time now, however keep chugging along because of the income I produce on a daily basis is what I need to survive. There is only a limited amount of hours I could work with my busy schedule so I have the option to hire marketing professionals like myself to take on more work, but then I’m faced with having to manage them and delegate more work. No thank you. I want to do things that I love to do, on my time, because I want to — not because I have to.
I’m a full time mom. Anyone who has kids knows how expensive and time consuming these little suckers are. School expenses, toys, medical bills, clothing, and food! Oh my gosh do they eat! I swear, I could make an entire Thanksgiving feast and she will gobble it down and offer to clear my plate as well, then beg for dessert, then after dessert she’ll want a snack, so on and so fourth. Ever read the book “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”? Very similar, only instead of a crayon and tape — it’s more food. I don’t get paid child support which only means I have to souly depend on my income alone to provide for my bottomless pit of a daughter and other expenses as well.
There is nothing worse then being stressed over finances, and why should I? Why should you? Why not put in the time and get rewarded for what your worth? Most have the mentality ‘When you pay me more, then I’ll do more.’ No, no my friend. Corperate world says you’ll work harder and then I’ll pay you, which is how it should be don’t you think? But why settle for 9, 15, or 20 dollars an hour? What’s stopping you from asking your employeer to pay you your normal rate and then throw in an additional $600 to put towards a new BMW every month? Scared? Something to take into consideration is to them, you’re just a number. You are easily replaceable, no matter how good you are. Do you think they are concerned with your well being? Of course not. Keep in mind, you are replaceable.
Lowes, one of my favorite depot stores unfortunately is closing down due to a lack of business. How many employees do you think will be out of thier jobs this month? How hard do you think they worked while they were employeed there? Do you think everyone was rewarded with a severance package or another oppportunity set up by them? I’m thinking probably not. So what’s their backup plan? Think about this for a second.
What’s your back up plan if this happens to you?
I might not have all the answers to everyones challenges, but I do have an opporunity that could change everyones lives for the better. How serious are you about turning your situation around and taking matters into your own hands, like I have, without leaving your current job or changing what you love?
What’s bigger, your dreams or your excuses?
Email Sica@VAsolutionsNOW.com if you’re ready to change your world and acheive your dreams 
Love and Success,
Sica
10 Important Rules To Live By
November 17, 2010
1. There is always a reason to smile, find it. If you are having a bad day, laugh at it! We all have them, but many of us let what happens eat us up inside. Life is too short to let the little things get in the way. It’s much easier to overcome hurdles with a positive attitude. Like Dr. Seuss said “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”.
2. Life begins every day you wake up. Anything that happened in the past let it go and move forward. Today is a new day; it is what you make out of it. Is the glass half empty or is it half full? Always be moving forward-Don’t waste your moments wishing your past was different, just appreciate the hand you were dealt and know that only you can determine what’s in your future. Hold no regrets or grudges! If it wasn’t for yesterday, you wouldn’t be who you are today!
3. Pick and choose your battles. If it doesn’t hold any significance or matter a great deal to you, walk away. There are far more important things to manage your valuable time with! Look and walk through another door that is open and see what is in store for you!
4. Never take anyone or anything for granted; always give credit where credit is due. Make sure you acknowledge even the littlest of things. I can assure you, if you can appreciate the tiny things others do – you will enjoy the greater things that will come out of it. Just share a smile and say thanks for being you!
5. Talk the talk, and always walk the walk. Never make a threat, suggestion, or a plan that you have no intentions of carrying onward. Your word is the only thing you have and if you go back on it, it’s more then likely people will begin to not take you seriously. Word your statements carefully and be sure to leave yourself an out in the event push comes to shove. Practice what you preach!
6. Never EVER Give up! Just because something isn’t working your way doesn’t mean that it will never work. Try tackling your challenge with a new approach and remain focused on your goal. If someone(s) have already completed this task and are successful, model them. It is OK to be a copy-cat as long as you are following the right cat!
7. Step out of your comfort zone. Undertake new adventures every day, even those you might be uncomfortable with. You only live once, make it memorable. Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking the walk!
8. Take things one day at a time. Understand that there are some tribulations that just cannot be solved in a 24-hour period. Take time to properly analyze and start taking baby steps to solving your challenge. Do not react immediately, (no knee jerk reactions), take time to think before you speak. Words can never be taken back once they are said. Control what is in your control, and let go of what is not. There is a time for everything and for everything, it has it’s time!
9. Do your best or do nothing at all. There is no purpose for killing your time if you are going to half-ass it. Give it your all and I assure you will be more fulfilled with the result then if you were with little to no effort. Pick and choose!
10. Be yourself. Seems like a no brainer, but many people I have seen lose their identity trying to get the public’s eye. “Love me for who I am and not who you want me to be”. If you are looking to change yourself, make sure it’s for the right reasons and not for social acceptance.
*** Be innovative, be flexible, adaptable, and don’t constrain yourself so much. Don’t be afraid to branch out or be a little impulsive! *** ~~anonymous~~
Should You Write a Script Before You Vlog?
September 22, 2010
One of my clients recently asked me how I felt about writing scripts before vlogging (video blogging) and whether or not I thought it was a good idea. In case anyone else was wondering about video blogging I decided to post my response below:
Q: Should you write a script before you vlog?
A: Yes and no actually, really depends on the person and I’ll tell you why.
Advice for the yadda yadda yadda’s: If you are a rambler and cannot stay on track then YES! However sometimes rambling is good, varies on the topic though. If you are discussing something important and carries a lot of value than by all means go into the nitty gritty details of that particular topic before moving to the next. Once you’ve switched topics it’s not in your best interest to float back to what you’ve just discussed so get it all out in the open while you can.
The perfect vlog time length should be around 2-4 minutes, again depending on your topic. If it’s a training manual or an instruction video then it might be necessary to make it a little longer. If you cannot cover a particular manner within that time frame then it’s best to break your topic into series. Doing this can build anticipation to your next video and also buy you some time to think of other future ideas.
One subject, like Social Media for instance can be broken up into 10 sessions, easily. Consider doing this with your Vlog, and regular blogs too!
Advice for the planner: If you have specific points that you would like to make without going off topic then by all means, map out your discussion ahead of time. Just remember when it’s show time to put a smile on your face and talk to your audience rather then chatting to the camera. Most of the time when there is a script involved, you can tell when someone is reading. I like to call it the Robotic Reader, people looks so serious, and talk exactly. like. this.
Advice for the spontaneous: Some things are better done when they are winged, on the fly, and free spirited. I know when I do video content or video greetings they need to be done without any notice or planning. For some reason my personality comes out brighter and I’m “me” when I get in front of the camera without any structure to what’s going to happen. I might trip on my words at times, but I’m not perfect and I don’t expect my videos to be either. Video editing is a magical thing.
So here’s my question to you.. are you a script writer before you vlog? Do you need a structure sheet to stay on topic or can you flow with the groove of things?
Top 10 List of the Most Popular Article Directories and Submission Web sites Ranked by Alexa
September 1, 2010
Article directories really are a dime a dozen. With the hundreds that are out there how do you know which ones are most effective? Here’s a list of the top 10 most popular article directories and submission sites on the net.
- EzineArticles- The big daddy of article directories. If you had to choose only one place to submit your articles to, this would be the one.
- Suite101- Become an author and write articles and / or register and search for recommended articles you might be looking for.
- Buzzle- Check out the latest trending topics, articles, and news that’s happening around the globe. Sign up to become an author and have your articles read too.
- Helium- Get published and get paid by becoming an author on Helium.
- GoArticles- ‘The webs largest free content article directory’
- Article Dashboard- Search through the database of posted material or become a member and post content for yourself.
- Submit Your Article- ‘The World’s Leading Article Submission Service To Submit Articles To Hundreds Of Publishers and Websites On Autopilot’
- iSnare- Distribute your articles to thousands of article sites for only $2 and below
- Article City- Your one-stop shop for free articles
- Search Warp- Read. Write. And Discuss.
Monkey See Monkey Do: What Kind of Example Are You Setting?
August 25, 2010
Winning an argument with daughter is just about as difficult as teaching a new born algebra. A few weeks ago she was caught pointing at Tigger from Winnie the Pooh and shouting “Tigger is being stupid” and when she was confronted she argued that it was okay to say that word because SpongeBob Square Pants says it. She could have said far worse things but a 4 year old calling things stupid is unacceptable. Of course I never thought this was true because nine times out of ten my angel will pull reasons out of the sky to avoid any consequence. For example she feels that she cannot finish her dinner because someone else’s back is hurting, so hers is in too much pain to finish her veggies.
I’ll admit that the excuses are adorable, and quite hilarious but of course we as parents have to refrain ourselves from laughing at moments like this. It wasn’t until this morning when my daughter and I were watching tv with her that I actually heard SpongeBob say “Im stuuuupid” in a episode where Patrick Starfish’s parents were coming to visit him. At that very moment my daughter and I looked at one another in shock and our looks confirmed we both heard the very same thing. We knew exactly what was about to come out of my daughters mouth and not even two seconds.. “See Mommy, I told you he says it”. Try explaining why it’s okay for a children’s program to say something you don’t want the viewer to say.
What monkey sees is what monkey does. Are you displaying proper behavior around you peers? Think about it, if my 4 year old daughter is clever enough to pick up that “it’s okay to do _____, because so and so does it” anyone can. When you are with company, at work, or anywhere for that matter make sure you take a look at your actions before you are so quick to judge why other people are doing something. Perhaps they are picking up some bad habits from you. It’s easier to have the mentality “Don’t do as I do, do as I say” rather than step up to the plate and take responsibilities for your own actions.
Join us on Facebook!
August 20, 2010
Are you on Facebook? Join our community! VAsolutionsNOW discusses various social media topics, tips and news clips, and whatever’s trending for the day. Share your links, advise, and join the discussion today on Facebook!
Visit VAsolutionsNOW’s Fan Page and make sure to click the “Like” button to join in on the fun!
Handshake Etiquette: How to Properly Shake Hands
August 11, 2010
Have you ever shaken someone’s hand and instantly felt every bone in your fingers break to pieces? Or, even worse, felt as if you were shaking the hand of a dead fish?
True: Handshakes have been around since the birth of civilization.
False: Everyone knows how to shake a hand.
Firm handshake – this means you too ladies! Obviously the goal here isn’t to break the person’s hand, but by having a firm handshake it show that you are confident, mean business, and excludes a professional demeanor and attitude. A handshake can tell a lot about a person and believe it or not there is a right and wrong way of something so simple.
When you go to shake someone’s hand, take notice where your hand is being placed. If your hand is positioned on top this means either you or the person shaking your hand thinks that you are better than them. If you are positioned on the bottom, it means you or the person feels that you are the lesser of the two. Make sure your hands are parallel; this shows that you both are equal.
Next step, allow them to grip your hand first, if someone shakes your hand softly, this means you should speak to him or her softly, if it is firm, speak to him or her with more authority.
Communication through a handshake is very powerful and it is one of the key elements in getting to know who it is you are speaking with and it is YOUR first point of identifying with
this person and making yourself known!
And one more element to your first met and greet. When introducing yourself, make sure you look at your partner directly in their eyes and have constant eye contact. Wandering eyes is a dead giveaway of lack of confidence or respect.
The Do’s and Don’ts: How to Effectively Network Your Business
August 4, 2010
If you haven’t already it’s time to crawl out of your comfort zone and start introducing yourself! If you are attending an upcoming meet up event, seminar, or anywhere where there will be a room full of business executives you will have to learn how to network successfully. Here are the basic do’s and don’ts on how to effectively network using yourself and your business.
DO reach out and stay connected. The key to networking is communication, engaging, and connecting. Never assume that you are important enough to never have to approach people, even if you’re already a celebrity. Stay connected with people by picking up the phone every now and then; send them a tweet, an email, anything to keep you engaged with your peers.
DON’T presume or make distinctions while meeting people, never ever judge ANYBODY. You never know who you might be talking to. Remember: It’s not always about who you know.. it’s about who THEY might know. Draw your conclusions after you have spoken to them, if necessary.
DO circulate when you meet people in a group setting. Don’t confine yourself to one crowd and not talk to anyone else, this is not high school. Get around the room and introduce yourself and express interest in what others are doing in their line of business, who knows maybe they’ll reciprocate and ask you about your business.
DON’T ramble or go off track when describing your work, mission, or who you are. Work on your “elevator speech”. It is said that you should always be prepared to tell an individual what you do in the time it would take you to get 5 floors down in an elevator (usually 30 seconds). Stay focused and on track. Keep it simple and to the point, if they have questions they will ask. No one likes a person that throws up a world of knowledge within the first 5 minutes of introducing themselves.
DO look you best when going to a meeting or seminar. Look friendly, approachable, and likeable rather than stiff, uncomfortable, and overly flattering. Stand with self confidence. Hold your head up high, but not too high. And of course.. Always remember to smile.
DON’T come off as a sales person. The objective of networking is to meet people not scare them away with high pressure sales tactics. Believe me when I say if they are interested they will inquire. If the person you are talking to is interested in your services, schedule another time with them to meet and discuss the details outside of the networking event.
DO listen. Listen, listen, listen! Counter questions, inquire details, and offer suggestions when asked for them. Listening goes a long way.
If Your Why Doesn’t Make You Cry Then It’s Not Good Enough
August 2, 2010
“If your why doesn’t make you cry then it’s not good enough.”
For every action there is a cause behind it. What is your reason for succeeding? Is it to keep your family off the streets? Really analyze your reason for getting out of bed every morning and doing whatever it is that you do. Don’t say “Because I need money”. It can’t be money, it has to be something stronger than that. Every one needs money, we all know that. Really dig deep down inside and find your reason.
This week ask yourself: What is my motivation to succeed?
Time Management Tips
July 30, 2010
Have you been feeling the need to be more organized or productive lately? Have you spent your day in a frenzy of activity and wondered where your time was spent since very little has gotten accomplished?
Time management skill is essential, especially for small business people who often find themselves wondering where the hours of the day went. Here are some basic time management tips to help you stay calm, collective, and productive during your next work day.
Find out where you’re wasting your time.
The first step to effective time management is figuring out where your time is going. What are your time bandits? Chatting with coworkers at the water cooler, surfing the net, reading emails, making personal calls, or getting caught up in office drama – any of these sound familiar? Start your day off by tracking your daily activities so you can form an accurate picture of what you do on a day to day basis.
Create daily goals.
Remember, the focus of time management is changing your everyday behavior, not changing time. Every morning before your “shift” make a list of all the things you would like to accomplish for the day. Using tools like Remember The Milk, Central Desktop, or Google Tasks can increase your productivity by keeping a list on your desktop, online, or downloaded as an app to your phone. Once you’ve accomplished the goal you’ve set for the day just check it off and move to the next task. Try setting specific goals, for example if you work in a call center set a goal for how many calls you would like to make that day. Put a little pep into your day by challenge yourself to exceed your goal.
Execute a time management plan with a schedule.
Thoroughly plan out your day and if possible try planning your entire week. Try to structure your week by setting timelines. For example from 9:00 to 11:00 I will focus on ____ and from 11:05 to 12:30 I will accomplish _______. Track how long you think each goal would take for you to achieve and then mark it in your calendar. If you’re working on a project that takes more than a day’s time then it’s best to track your progress with milestones. For larger projects break them down and dissect what you have do to complete it on time while giving it your full attention to detail. Using Central Desktop and other tools can help with this as well. Get in the habit of setting time limits for tasks.
Prioritize ruthlessly.
If you take a look at my daily plan you will realize that I have dozens of little goals, and even more big goals. Learn to PRIORTIZE. If you have 10 different tasks to do for the day figure out how many of them you truly need to accomplish. Always put the most important things at the very top of your list to make sure they get done. Once you start a project, follow through till the very end (unless of course you are breaking it down into milestones)
Learn to delegate and outsource your work.
No matter how small or how large your business is there’s no reason to feel like a one man band. For effective time management try passing some of the work to someone else whether it would be a co-worker or a virtual assistant. Find someone who specializes in your field and have them take on some of the load. Ways To Utilize a Virtual Assistant gives you a variety of services to delegate to a virtual assistant. Make sure to do your due diligence and research a virtual assistant prior to hiring them. Here’s a list of Questions You Should Ask a Virtual Assistant during the interviewing process.
Be sure your surroundings are organized.
Nothing frustrates me more than a cluttered mess. Make sure your surroundings are neat, clean, organized, and everything is easy to find. This includes computer documents, folders, and filing systems. A big hunk of time can be lost chasing missing items. Try avoiding this as much as possible by organizing your office.
Don’t waste any more time. PERIOD
In the end you control your time, you are in charge of your actions, and you have the power how your day is being spent. Once you come to grips with how to effectively manage your time you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. An old friend of mine often says “You can either make money or you can make excuses – but you can’t make both”
Which do you choose?
