February 2005, Vol 11, Issue 1
[Bookstore]
For those who
work at/from home.
[Business Partners]
A list of complementary businesses to our services.
If you would like yours listed, please let us know!
[Case Studies]
Wondering how we
could assist your
business?
[Membership]
For prospective virtual
secretaries.
[Newsletters]
Read our previous
issues.
[Rates]
Kathie's service rates.
[VA Directory]
For a full list of our team.
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OVERCOME OVERWHELM: 10 Ways to Slow Down
Has the beginning of this year already been as crazy for you as it has been for me? Almost everyone I’ve spoken to seems to be experiencing the same craziness and we’re only part way through the second month of the year! And, by the way, how did it get to be week 7 already?
The New Year started off well with good intentions – a week’s holiday interstate, a week at home with my family, pottering around the house, with plans of gently getting back into the swing of things but then some things happened that were unplanned (for me, at least): a family death and funeral meant an unplanned trip back interstate and days away from home and the office; a daughter’s graduation in the country on a week night (we had hoped it would be a Friday or weekend) so it meant another trip away from home and office only a few days later, and a friend who gave us a few short week’s notice that he was getting married – again several hours' drive away from home, but at least this time on a weekend! Whew! And last week was my first full week back at the helm so now I can get back on track!
This month’s message may assist if you’ve experienced similar and read on after the article for details of a couple of events that might assist you further!
OVERCOME OVERWHELM: 10 Ways to Slow Down.
Especially when you are your own boss.
It's easy to break agreements. It is especially easy to blow off agreements when you feel overwhelmed and overworked.
After all:
- You have way more work to do than time to do it in.
- You keep putting off important tasks in order to put out fires.
- You don't have the information you need to complete the task at hand.
- You have a large stack of business cards you collected while networking.
- You have no idea how to prioritize the multiple tasks you face every day.
One form of self-discipline to solve this common dilemma is to commit to ONLY MAKE AGREEMENTS THAT YOU ARE WILLING AND INTEND TO KEEP!
Just doing this can keep you out of lots of trouble.
- It means you must stop automatically agreeing to do things.
- Instead, you must take time to think through any agreement you make.
- Don't say "yes," say "MAYBE." Then say, "I will let you know in (15 minutes,
24 hours,
or ??) after I check (the availability, my schedule, etc.) This time agreement is one you must keep. - Think about your priorities and resources, including time, energy, and money, before you decide whether to make the agreement.
- Make your decision. It should be yes, no or an alternate proposition that takes what you need into account.
- Communicate your decision within the agreed time period.
- Now, make an agreement you are definitely willing to keep.
- Keep whatever agreement you make.
- If you encounter something that makes it impossible to keep your agreement, don't wait. Communicate about the need to change your agreement at the earliest possible opportunity.
- Renegotiate a new agreement, repeating your original decision-making process.
When you think through your agreements BEFORE you make them, it becomes much easier to stay on target, follow through and achieve success.
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D., author of "Dare To Say It!," is an internationally known executive coach, psychotherapist, and author. For more simple secrets for turning difficult conversations into amazing opportunities for cooperation and success, visit http://www.DareToSayIt.com or email: feedback@laurieweiss.com
Two Events that might assist:
How to Avoid Burnout Seminar
Saturday 26th February
Time: 10am-3.30pm
Cost: $20.00
Venue: 316-322 Kingston Road, Heatherton, Vic, 3169.
Bookings: Debra Woff, 9558 0488
Achievers Corporate Breakfast
Friday 25th February
Time: 7am – 9am.
Cost: Nil
Venue: The Crown Palladium Room
Bookings: achievers@asecretary.com.au.
We will be introducing a number of new initiatives as well as a powerful Time Blocking Strategy, which will change the way you plan your week and increase your level of focus on completing the important activities first without distraction or interruption. This program is particularly for those with 3 or more employees.
Full details: www.achievers.com.au
I spend 11 months of the year reading business material: books, magazines, newsletters, ezines, websites so during the Christmas holiday period I like to phleg out a bit.
Our children gave us The Da Vinci Code for Christmas after I was told it is an excellent read – and it is! I highly recommend it. Even moreso, I recommend Deception Point, another book by Dan Brown that is totally action packed from the first page!
The author researches real life organisations and events
and then builds a fictional story around them – so that they seem very real! I’ve heard people have really believed The Da Vinci Code to be true. But it's not – both books are just excellent fiction to lose yourself in. Be prepared to put aside some solid time, one book is just under 500 pages in length and the over well over.
Website:
Google Alert – if you want to know when someone references your website on theirs or when listings are updated, this is an excellent source.
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
