virtual assistant tips

How to Fire a VA Client

So I had another interesting ‘case’ last week. I fired a client. Not the first one I’ve fired, and I’m sure won’t be the last, but this one brought with it an interesting experience that I thought I should share with you. The client was a referral last year. When we initially started working together, communication was sketchy. I noticed that this client would tend to get very upset when anything went wrong. If there was an error made by any member of the team, the curses flew (yep, she openly swore) and the relationship with the offending team member fizzled quickly and she usually found a way to fire them. Bottom line, she wasn’t my ideal client, but we… Read More »How to Fire a VA Client

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Quick – I Need You! How to Handle Emergencies When You Are A VA

Last week we had a family medical emergency to tend to. I felt fortunate to be working from home, and I was able to go and assist at the moment I was needed. All it took was a quick email to each of my clients to let them know what was going on. I also let them know what was done for the day’s work and what was still not done – and whether I could take care of the unfinished work or not. How do you plan to handle emergencies in your business? That inevitable moment when someone calls you and says, ‘Quick, I need you to…’ (whatever that may be). It will happen, and you should be prepared.… Read More »Quick – I Need You! How to Handle Emergencies When You Are A VA

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Three Questions To Solve Any Problem

“To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask?” – Jim Rohn I love this quotation. It tells me that to solve any problem, first you need to think through it, then you need to learn about it and then you should seek advice. I wholeheartedly believe in this process. I’d like to expand on it here. Take any issue you are currently having in your business – big or small – and do this exercise. First, what could you do to fix it? Think about the problem itself, and as many possible solutions as you can think of. Make a list… Read More »Three Questions To Solve Any Problem

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The Never Ending Balancing Act

As a business owner, no doubt you have had some experience trying to balance your home and work lives at some point. The key to doing this well is to put some rules in place that you follow, and that others follow as well. For work-life balance there can sometimes be a fine line that needs to be amplified – so you don’t lose sight of what’s important at that time. On the one hand, you want to be sure that you don’t immerse yourself in work every waking hour of the day. My son has seen me using the laptop while we watch TV at night and he asks, ‘Mom are you working?’ but I’m really just on my… Read More »The Never Ending Balancing Act

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Stop, Drop and Smell the Roses

Summertime is one of the busiest times for most small business owners. Kids are home from school, maybe there’s a cottage, and certainly there is more activity in general as everyone tries to enjoy the nice weather. With any luck, your clients will take holidays and the work pace will slow down so you can incorporate the new level of activity in your household. But even if there is more client work than you anticipated, don’t forget that burnout comes easily when you’re not paying attention. How to handle this? First of all, be aware of your limitations. If you know you are taking holidays, let your clients know with plenty of notice. Be sure that anything they need in… Read More »Stop, Drop and Smell the Roses

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3 Tips for Networking at Live Events

I just returned from attending a live event called Transform in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was hosted by Pamela Bruner, and there were approximately 300 people in attendance. It was a great teaching experience, but it was also a wonderful networking experience – imagine have 3 or 4 full days to connect with people – that’s a lot of time to make it around the room! This is one of the things that is so great about a live event – getting the time to get to know people better. So I thought I would give you my best 3 tips for networking at live events like the one I just attended: 1. Move around and be social. Move from… Read More »3 Tips for Networking at Live Events

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Are You Timely?

I am always on the lookout for new tools to help me stay connected with my audience. I use Google Reader, SocialOomph, HootSuite, TweetDeck and several other tools to help me keep myself up to date on who is sharing what, and also to find new and interesting things to share with you. You have probably heard of most of those, and maybe even use one or two of them. But I recently found another one that I thought would be good to share – because I don’t see a lot of people in my network using it right at this time. It’s called Timely by DemandForce – you can find them at www.timely.is  and I absolutely LOVE it. It’s… Read More »Are You Timely?

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Build Your Business Plan Easily

When I start mentoring a new VA, the first thing we talk about is the business plan. I am never surprised to hear that someone doesn’t have their business plan done. So many VAs just start their business by looking for clients and hoping to sign them. Writing a business plan is an essential part of any small business. It helps you to clarify everything about your business, and if you don’t have one yet you should look at sitting down and just doing it. A business plan will help you: plan what you are going to do realize how you are going to do it set goals and achieve them You don’t have to put together a complex business… Read More »Build Your Business Plan Easily

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