Entrepreneurs
Working from Home with a Supportive Family
Taking Care of Business = Taking Care of You
Thirty Seconds for a Successful Speech
Thirty seconds is not that long at all.
When you speak to people you need to understand that within thirty seconds a person has already made a judgment about you. You may never be able to rise above the opinion that someone sets within these few seconds, but you will want to do everything you can to make a great first impression and deliver an intriguing speech. The key is to get people thinking and wanting more by making a good first impression.
To do this you will need to get rid of your fears and be prepared. Before you walk into the business or meeting room, be ready by trying these tactics:
- Dress for Success. Keep in mind that the speech is important, but your looks and appearance can also affect whether you receive a positive or negative impression. Know what the attire is for the meeting and make certain you dress accordingly. Being too casual for an event where people are dressed to higher standards can affect your first impressions.
- Stay on track. Never ramble on, you can lose your audience very quickly. Learn how to control yourself and your words. I like to do this by writing out my intros and practicing them several times the two days before the meeting. I like to repeat my intro over and over on the drive to my meetings. I may look like a babbling fool to other drivers, but it helps me focus on the main points I want to get across. When you show confidence and use your pre-written speech you will exude confidence in your topic. Be confident, but not too cocky.
- Relax. Once you are at the meeting take a moment before you go in and try some deep breathing. This allows you to calm down and relax as you enter in the meeting. Everyone gets nervous, this is normal, but the breathing can help allay any nervousness. The calmness will help build your confidence.
Again, all you want is to get a confident and clear message across in the first 30 seconds in order to keep your audience thinking and wanting more.
Thirty seconds does not give you a lot of time, but it enough time to state who you are, where you are from, and why you are here. These tips can help you become more confident with your speaking abilities and allow you to ‘sell yourself’ more effectively.
Any other best practices you have to share? Please do so by posting them in a comment.
Entrepreneurs should try New Experiences
Well, I just had the most interesting experience buying some tires. The whole process reminded me how important it is as an entrepreneur to be willing to try new experiences. When you run your own business you fill a lot of the organizational hats – Marketing, Sales, Customer Service and more. Keeping an open mind and being open to changes and new experiences is a good trait to have as an entrepreneur.
Trying new tactics and methods can open up a world of opportunities for your business. So that is my advice today: Be open to Change and New Experiences.
What was my new experience of the week? Buying used Tires, all by myself.
It all started because we have a lease due up on our van (Yes, we still have a mini-van >> with 3 kids and a dog and sports, it’s the best value for space needed!) and need two tires before we turn it in. I didn’t want to get brand new tires, just ones that would work for the next month or so and pass the inspection. So… used tire hunting I went. I found a couple places listed online and started making calls; most places did not have my size – all but one.
I had a hard time understanding the lady on the phone but got the gist of the price and their location. I drove to the tire store and after a couple u-turns found it. It was not exactly what I expected and the ‘store’ was kind of hidden. The front doors were all locked and the only door I found unlocked was at the back.
So, I am starting to feel a little uneasy about this, as I was not exactly in the best area of the city, but I wanted the tires.
A gentleman came out the door as I was going in and led me to the utility trailers with all the tires. He couldn’t find any right away in my size (they are a bit of an odd size) so he said he would call someone to go check another trailer across the street and look for some. He also guaranteed me they would pass inspection. He motioned for me to come in the office and wait for him – but that I was to take my shoes off at the door 
I grabbed my coffee and in I went.
Very interesting office for a place that sells tires, but as I waited around I could see that the owners were very enterprising, not only did they sell used tires but also dabbled in Computer Services, Bridal Gowns and Tailoring for Clothes. As I waited a few people came and went – some asking if I needed help, I indicated I was waiting and after 10 minutes I was still waiting (at this point I was getting a little bit nervous and texted my husband to let him know where I was 
and kept texting to make certain I was in contact with someone.
It's actually hard to find a picture of a vicious cockapoo, but this is close.
As I waited a little dog came in (probably weighed about 8 pounds) and decided I was a menace and started barking and barking. I was simply sitting there using my lifeline phone and this little thing would not stop. In a minute another man came out from behind a curtain and took the dog away apologizing for the noise.
Soon the first gentleman came back saying I could look at the tires outside and then left with his wife for a Doctor’s Appointment. He did say the other man and woman would help and after checking the tires (they were in great condition!!) I said I wanted them. They asked how I was going to pay for them – by Debit Card was my response.
This got a couple looks between the two of them … hmmmm. “Okay” the man said, “You go to the yellow store and pay by card there.” He then walked me to the front and pointed a few buildings down the street and said “The Yellow Store”.
I walked over, kind of wondering how all this worked as I did not have a sales slip of any sort to give them, and came upon “the Yellow Store” (this was the actual name of the store). In I go, still curious, and walked to the man at the cash and said “They sent me here to pay for my tires by debit card”.
Well, that got a couple good looks from the two men behind the counter… even the customer behind me was grinning like I was nuts. As I waited while they tried to figure out what the heck I was talking about, I had a flash of cohesion… Corner store = ATM Machine. “Oh, maybe you have a bank machine here?” That got everyone looking happy and less confused. Yes, that was it – they have a bank machine and I had been sent to get out the cash to pay for the tires. DOH!
Back I go with the cash, pay for my tires. But Cujo, the guard dog, is now at the door and barking again like a fool and I cannot get in. It would be my luck to open the door and have him run out and get hit by a car. I waited as he barked. Soon another lady came to the door (with a tiny baby in her arms) and held on to the dog so I could get in. She asked me how much I was going to pay her, so I said $45 for each tire, gave her my cash and left. I realized later I didn’t get a receipt but that was not exactly top on my priority list.
I’m still kind of smiling about the entire experience. It was interesting and invigorating to say the least.
When I got home my husband called from work, he had just read my texts. “What the heck kind of message is that????“ I guess I had actually been a little worried when I texted him – the message had been:
“I’m at a used tire place called XXX on XX Road, just in case I never make it home, I love you all”
Tech Support is Vital to Small Biz Owners
Who is your Tech Support Department?
I recently did a presentation to the IAAP Halifax Dartmouth Chapter (International Association of Administrative Professionals) on Working Virtually with Clients. Essentially I was giving traditional Admin Professionals a view on what you need to start your own Virtual Assistant Business and how you can work virtually with people.
The essence of the talk is that as a Virtual Assistant (VA) you are a small business owner and now responsible for all things related to your business: operations, sales, marketing, accounting, as well as the main business services you offer and then of course, technical support.
Technical support as a small business owner is not something to be taken lightly. Especially for a business like a Virtual Assistant. Everything we do is on our computers – client files, info are stored here and almost all of our business is done via our computer. Without our computers we could hardly carry on any business. Yet, it is an area that many people take lightly and tend not to weigh as important as it should be.
In my talk to the IAAP, I recall using these exact words when it came to technical support:
You now own your own business and are solely responsible fro Technical Support – there is no longer a helpful person on call when needed to help fix your computer issues or help you when your computer screen goes blank for no reason. There is also no mysterious backup system in place that backs up all your files overnight while you are home sleeping.
You will need reliable tech support and I do NOT mean your friend’s 14 year old son who is “good with computers” .
A friend who owns her own business recently took the plunge and got a computer; prior to this all paperwork had been done by hand or in a spreadsheet: client records, orders, inventory… everything. They have moved into the computer generated world, which is a good step. I learned of this upgrade when I drove my son home from school last week – he mentioned his friend will not be going to Scouts that night because he was going to be setting up his mom’s laptop and computer for her business. His age?? 14.
Her computer will help run the business in an easier more efficient way and allow clients to make online orders via email from away… a good step forward. Her choice of tech support professional however, is not one I would recommend.
As a business owner you need to make certain you have reliable technical support. Get a professional to help you determine the needs for your computer system, recommendations for firewalls and anti-virus systems and the most important part, your backup system. You need to make certain if your computer crashes that you can be up and running as soon as possible. If you have lost all your files, records, and programs you can be sure that it may take days or even weeks to restore everything you need.
Think about this… and think about what system you have in place. Don’t let a poor choice of support for your business be the cause of days and weeks of lost work and revenue and worst of all – your client’s confidence in your services and abilities.
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