Posts Tagged ‘motivation’

I have been taking a course from Coach U – Building Personal Foundations  – and one thing that has really been a key topic is how important it is to take time out of every day for me.

This time is meant  strictly for me – not my work, my kids, my husband, friends. But me and me alone.

I made a goal of starting with 30 minutes every day and this past week I have managed to be successful with this.  My biggest struggle working from home is juggling work and family schedule. Being able to optimize my time with family is big for me – after all that is the reason why I started a home-based business.

This class has really made me think about many aspects of my life – family and work life.  I realize now more than ever how important it is to actually schedule in time for me.  Life is hectic and busy for everyone and taking a timeout can help re-energize and rejuvenate you.  It will also help motivate you in many ways – breaking away will do that.  It may seem difficult at first, but you mind, body and spirit will thank you in the end.

What strategies or plans do you use to set aside ‘your time’?  I’d love to hear them.

Technorati Tags: Entrepreneurs, motivation, virtual assistant

Well… I am back from Niagara Falls and the FoVA (Forum on Virtual Assistance) and have had a little rest to gear myself back up at work again.

What I find most different about this morning as I sit at my desk is that I have a new outlook on how I plan to run my business and work everyday.

The people I met at FoVA were so very inspirational and full of experience and insight into running a successful VA business! Virtual Assistant Leaders from all over the world came and shared and taught us so much invaluable information! I would like to thank each one of you for taking time out of your own business so that new people like myself could meet and learn from you.

As I said in my anticipation blog post about going to this conference, I was really looking forward to meeting so many people in person. People who I have been connecting with online for the better part of this past year, mostly at VAnetworking and CVAC, and they did not disappoint! I have solidified relationships that had already started and created new ones as well.  And many of these relationships, I feel will turn into more than that – friendships developed as well.

I said it before and will repeat again – Conferences are so needed and valuable for any business owner, but even more so for those of us working from remote or home locations.

Off I go to start working with so much more motivation and ideas than ever before!  Thanks FoVA and friends!

Technorati Tags: motivation, Small business, social networking, thanks, training, virtual assistant

As part of my Charter Membership with Nova Scotia’s Come to life program, I recently attended a one day Media Training Session.  It was meant to help the members learn how to “tell your story” whether to print media, or radio or tv.

Jim Meek, Jennifer MacIsaac and Hugh Fraser of Bristol Group were on hand to lead us through a day of learning many new things; most notably writing press releases and being interviewed on camera.

I think the biggest message I received from the day of training  was that “I have to stop selling my skills short”.

It’s easy to do, most of us find it very difficult to talk bout ourselves and our accomplishments and abilities. Sure, we can rave about others, but when it comes to “me”, most people tend to take a step back and save the “raving” for others.

As a business owner, trying to sell your services to others, it is not the way to do it.  You have to train yourself to speak up more about you and your services or products.  If you don’t tell people they are quality products and services and of value to others, who will?

Technorati Tags: elevator speech, motivation, Nova Scotia, promote business, Small business

This post was inspired by an action taken by a colleague of mine.  We have been working together for 6 months now and out of the blue the other day she sent me an email with a little testimonial for me!  It was a nice surprise and very flattering that she took the time to write it down and send it off.

Testimonials are something many businesses use, especially ones on the internet, and they can be very helpful additions to your website content.  Potential clients can see what others have to say about you and how you work with, and for, others.  It also allows to link back and forth to each other, which is great when you have a website! It’s like a direct referral system.

Linked In uses recommendations, and even prompts you to  “return the favour” by sending one back to the other person.  This is great, except the process never gets started unless one party takes the time to send a testimonial or one party “asks” for a testimonial.

That’s the part about testimonials that gets awkward, the need to ask.  It is for that reason that people should take time to send testimonials without having been asked.  Really, it follows the same principals outlined in a post here about Comment Cards, which in a nutshell is:  Take the time to say “Good Job” to someone.  The hard part isn’t writing it down, it is remembering to do so and send it off!

Technorati Tags: motivation, networking, recommendations, testimonials

A Virtual Assistant (VA) contact of mine, Candy Beauchamp – who I met through my online networking at VAnetworking – runs a very successful VA business, and has just launched her latest venture >>>>

2 Minutes with a VA

People were always asking her for advice (I know I did :-) )and being so busy, she found it hard to answer everyone. Always wanting to help others, and as smart and savvy as she is; she comes up with another great business idea.  A Video Blog that helps other VAs by giving two minutes of her time.

Kudos to you Candy!  It’s always great to see others share their success and knowledge to new people (and old) in any industry.

So if any of you are thinking you have some questions about being a virtual assistant – Take 2 Minutes with Candy – I’m certain she’ll be able to help you out!

Technorati Tags: Blogging, motivation, office support, VAnetworking, virtual assistant