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This month...

• There's a time for every purpose
• Thought for the Day

There's a time for every purpose....

I love Christmas time for all sorts of reasons. The main one would have to be spending time with family - taking time out to enjoy each other's company, being silly, laughing, having fun, sleeping in, enjoying good food, watching TV shows or movies that bring an element of nostalgia and heaps of other things. For me, it's a great time for reflection, looking back on the past year, wondering where all the time has gone and yet marvelling on how much has taken place.

For some it may be a sigh of relief, having gotten through another difficult year, or an end of an era, and for others it may be a time of expectation, looking towards the new year for some long awaited event - a marriage, a new baby, a new home, a new job, a new start. So many things.

As Christmas/New Year brings with it a mix of different workloads for me - some clients don't work at all, some pursue new projects which bring in a mix of different things to do, and often I get ad-hoc jobs from people who are visiting the area and suddenly realise they need something done whilst they're here; it means that I'm usually not as busy as normal - which is probably good, we all need a break.

However, around September each year I begin to collate ideas and lists for revamping my websites, for starting new projects, for finishing off things I haven't had time to do, or perhaps starting that book I've been planning for a long time. By the time November is ending I'm good and ready (and excited) about starting my new projects. What do they say? A change is as good as break?

Last Christmas I had plans of working outside the house and doing a lot more to my garden as I very much enjoy standing outside, smelling the different scents (and the roses), watching the fish and hearing them kiss the top of the water in the pond, and listening to the bird life. However, my dear husband had a minor accident on his mountain bike on Boxing Day and rolled down a long hill, doing some damage to his ribs and having to recuperate for the rest of that week - it meant I ended up staying inside to watch over him (in our shared office) and running errands for him, so I spent time instead learning about Blogging in earnest and not yet understanding what it was fully about.

Back then I had one blog - the one that is attached to my main website and then I started a family one, as a replacement end of year Christmas family newsletter.

Suddenly I found a whole new world. I'd written a post about our poor missing cat and people were posting comments - I got hooked with this blogging thing! It had become interactive and I had an audience! The more I explored, the more I found a whole community out there of people communicating through blogs - both business and personal - on a myriad of topics.

Then I found a software package I wanted to learn so found another reason for starting a new blog so I could practice with that software (Wordpress). Then I found another topic, and another.

I had gone from knowing very little about blogging and wondering why on earth anyone would have multiple blogs, to becoming addicted to the phenomenon and writing on a number of topics and finding I had an audience for them all.

What did I learn most about blogging? Keep to a theme if you want to keep your audience. If you meander all over the place with the one blog the only people who will have interest are close friends and family members who have a personal interest in your life. If you want to write about a number of things either start a blog specific to that theme, or if more general, have the subjects listed under headings on your blog, e.g. if a business blog you might want to touch on areas relating to marketing, networking, CRM, etc. But if you wanted to do one on dogs, cats, your hobbies, etc - then better to separate them out.

Today I own 8 blogs and assist with others - some are business related, some family oriented, and others relate to topics of interest to me. I moderate a chat forum relating to blogging and encourage people who are interested to join, ask questions, and learn from those who post the answers. I also provide webhosting for blogs using the Wordpress software.

It would seem that the purpose of the time in and around Christmas 2005 was to learn about Blogging and then apply it through my business and to assist others in the use of this medium throughout 2006. I wonder what the purpose for this year's break will be?

I wish all my readers a safe and happy Christmas/New Year period - whether you celebrate the reason for this holiday period, or whether you just appreciate the time off because it's there.

Kathie M. Thomas

Thought for the day:

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.
--Agnes M. Pharo

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