Time To Take Stock (again)

I know that they say as you get older, time goes much faster, but it seems to me that even younger people are complaining these days how fast the time goes.  Perhaps it's not really because we're getting older, but rather as we (mankind) progress with our technologies, and fill our lives from daylight to sundown and beyond, the reality is it's the busy-ness of our lives that makes time seem to fly by.   Mind you, I'm one who gets bored easily so I always fill my time with projects and things to do - so I won't get bored.  Kind of a chicken and egg thing, I can never really complain about boredom because I am always busy - I like being that way.  However busy we all are though, we need to take time out and review what has taken place in the past twelve months and look ahead to the next twelve months. It's time to take stock of our lives and the best way to do that is to take some time out.

We all need to take a break (even me), and so my husband and I are looking forward to our forthcoming trip to Ireland in a few weeks.  Why are we going to Ireland? Because we have a daughter who's been accepted into a 6 month course over there, to work with horses on a stud, and the course is much coveted by many students of horse breeding and management the world over. We couldn't possibly let her go on her first international trip alone, now could we? Well, that's our excuse, and she's more than happy to have our company as she embarks on this new chapter of her life.

I've already made contact with Virtual Assistants on the other side of the world and I look forward to meeting with some of them and put faces to names.  But if there are others reading this who would like to make contact - please send me an email. We'll also be travelling (briefly) to London and Paris. 

For my clients who read this newsletter, arrangements are being made for support for you in my absence - the team are very capable.  Or, if you were planning to make contact with me for some work to be done, please do get in touch before 20th January so I can make connections for you with a member of my team to carry on in my absence.

I look forward to reporting about my trip when I return.  In the meantime, may I wish you a most blessed, safe and happy Christmas holiday period.  Spend time with your loved ones, do take some time out from your busy lives and dare to sit still for awhile so you can love, laugh, think, sleep, eat, drink and be merry.  No-one can survive on 7days a week without end - rest of some sort is needed to refresh and re-energise and Christmas is an excellent excuse for this. It is a time for family and friends, for caring and sharing. Michael's article below gives further food for thought on the subject of taking some time out!  Have a great Christmas everyone.

Staying Ahead of the Game, by Michael Angier

Dawn and I just got back from Philadelphia where we attended the Infopreneur Think Tank brilliantly facilitated by my friend Sterling Valentine. We spent three days understanding better where we were in our respective businesses, determining where we want to go and brainstorming the best ways for us to get there.

We met new friends, reconnected with old ones and formed some new and powerful alliances. It was invaluable and an extremely important part of our continuing education about our craft and our industry.

Getting away with other people of like mind and learning from each others' knowledge and experiences is one of the best ways I know to stay ahead in a rapidly changing field.

The participants played full out, giving their best counsel to others and listening carefully to the advice and experience that was shared. There were experts for sure, but there were no "gurus" in the room. To borrow an intranet term, it was a "peer-to-peer network."

The daytime sessions were long, and we stayed up late talking shop and having fun. We came home tired, invigorated, clearer and more motivated than ever. As a result of feedback we got, we shifted some projects, killed one and came up with several more.

What about you? What do you do to further your knowledge of your industry? What are you doing to improve your skills and gain new knowledge? When was the last time you got away from your business to work ON it instead of IN it?

Action Point
Only through this type of endeavor will you gain the clarity of deciding where you want to go and discovering the best strategies to get there.

Take every opportuníty you can to learn from the experts, from your peers and from your trade associations about best practices for your business.

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Copyright Michael Angier & SuccessNet. Michael is the author of "101 Best Ways to Be Your Best". SuccessNet's mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best--personally and professionally. Download your fr-ee report "10 Essential Keys to Personal Effectiveness" at http://SuccessNet.org/subscribes.htm. Explore their frëe access, eBooks and SuccessMark Cards at http://SuccessNet.org.

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About Our Organisation…

What is a Virtual Assistant?
It's a term for home-based secretaries, administrative and secretarial support, and others who supply remote or virtual support.

We are as close to you as your computer and can do almost anything traditional support staff do - except virtually. You don't need to provide office space, equipment, software or furniture - we have our own!

Location no issue as the work is carried out 'virtually' no matter where you are!  See our newest members listed at VA Directory