This month..

This month I write about how I also need VA support

Also, remember my Amazon book launch? Results are below.

• Even a VA needs a VA!
• "Worth More Than Rubies" Amazon book launch washup
• Thought for the Day
• Need a speaker for your event?

Even a VA needs a VA!

I had an epiphany this morning. I think it's been creeping up on me for sometime but I'm such a control freak, I want to do it all myself. Do you know the feeling? I bet many of you do. And yet, I specialise in taking over other people's admin support and handling it for them so they can feel more in control.

I had dinner with a possible new client just recently and she had been consistently asking me to be her VA. I had turned her down several times because I am very busy and have a very capable team who can look after her. However, she was insistent and suggested we meet for dinner. Finally she asked me an important question: "Can't you look after me and outsource to your team things you don't have time to do?"

That kind of stopped me in my tracks and I realised that perhaps she was right and I should consider doing this. I thought about it later that evening and sent her a long email with things I thought could be done, what I would do and what I would get team members to do.

I've always believed that if there's something you should be doing or need to do, that you will get words of confirmation in more than one way over a short period of time.

On my perpetual calendar this morning it tells me that 'it is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself '. Interesting passage which is taken from Proverbs in the Old Testament. I thought about that - perhaps it's a message that I should be giving out more of what comes into my office and spread more to my team.

The morning of the dinner I mentioned above, I'd received an email from a regular daily encouragement series, and this one talked about the value of time management. It focused on questions we should be asking ourselves:

• What would happen if this were not done at all?" And if the answer is, 'Nothing would happen,' then obviously the conclusion is to stop doing it.
• Next, which of the activities on my time log could be done by somebody else just as well, if not better?
• What do I do that wastes my time without contributing to my effectiveness?

I re-read that email this morning and thought that there are things I can outsource to my team which will ease the pressure for me somewhat. I immediately sent out a job request for help and had 3 responses in less than 30 mins. The work was passed on and I was able to settle onto the next thing, knowing that two jobs are being handled at the same time, instead of just one.

How often do you hang onto what needs to be done without realistically assessing whether it is actually you that should be doing it? I know that sometimes the concern about how much it's going to cost is a factor in the decision-making, but the answer should be 'how much can I make up during that particular time if I was doing what is best for my business?' Some of the 'hack' work, whatever that might be, and no matter how time urgent, is better given to those who can do it in good time at efficient cost to you, and free you up for what you do best.

For me, my time is better spent managing my team, managing my clients' projects, providing coaching and other resources to the VA community and our clients, as well as speaking engagements and get my next book finished. I have a wide range of things I can do these days but that doesn't mean I should be doing all those things. And it doesn't mean I'm giving my clients away - on the contrary, I like to keep the connections and keep up to date with client needs. But it does mean I'm getting better at delegation for things that don't specifically need me physically doing the work, but rather monitoring it. 

Have a great month everyone!

Kathie M. Thomas

"Worth More Than Rubies" Amazon Book Launch

Thank you to everyone who participated in the book launch last week. Those of you who promoted it and those of you who bought the book. Within 24 hours I'd shot from a book ranking of over 900,000 to 1,127 and achieved #23 in the Hot New Releases for my genre. I'm not there now, of course, but still a long way further up than being at the bottom as I was last Wednesday. What an exciting few days they were.

I got an email from a lady a few days ago. She'd missed the launch but wanted to know if she could buy the book here in Australia, or better still, pick one up for me. She'd heard about it from another lady who had joined the promotional launch and that lady in turn, had heard about it from one of my client's newsletters. Turns out the middle lady had met me several years ago which is why she wanted to be involved and the lady at the end of the chain actually goes to my church and knows me but had missed the news about my book when it first came out. Just goes to show that things do go full circle!

For those in Australia, the book can be purchased at a number of stores or direct from my website at www.worth-more-than-rubies.com.

For those outside of Australia, just go to Amazon to purchase your copy - unless you want an autographed copy that is! Then you'll need to come to my website instead.

Click to Order Amazon.com

Thought for the day:

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

Thomas Jefferson

Need a speaker for your event?

“Worth More Than Rubies is a great starting place for moms who desire to work from home. Packed full of practical, useful information as well as the story of Kathie's own journey, I know this will bless many, many women.”
~ Jill Hart, CWAHM.com

"Kathie is a brilliant woman! I belong to a common forum with her. She is a huge inspiration!"
~ Dawn Lawson

Kathie M. Thomas gives women permission to return home and shares with the audience how she did exactly that, bringing up 5 daughters, while establishing a new industry, using skills she'd developed in the corporate world for over 20 years.

Where is Kathie speaking this month?

8 July 2008
A2A Coaching Teleseminar - Get one month free trial membership.
Topic: Get Known As the Expert For Your Niche or Passion

Have you ever wanted to be known as an Expert?

How do you get the word out there that you are the Expert for your niche or passion whether it is in a professional or personal context?

What processes should you put in place so that people think of you first?

In this Coaching Club call Kathie M. Thomas will share simple tips and tricks that she has used for her own business and even for a recently published book. Kathie will share her secrets on how to be "seen" in many places to help create your status as an expert.

12-13 July 2008
Business Mums National Conference 2008 ,
Holmesglen Conference Centre, Chadstone, Victoria
Keynote Speaker with workshop. Theme: Brilliant Business and Beyond

19 July 2008
Discover Church @ 6pm
31 East Boundary Road, East Bentleigh
"Encouraging Women in Business"

21 July 2008
MCEI Mini Expo & Seminar
Metropole Brunswick St, Fitzroy

25 July 2008
CVAN Seminar
"How a Blog Can Help Your Business"

29 July 2008
Executive Assistant & Personal Assistant 2008
Kings Park Function Centre, Perth, Australia
Topic: "Succeed Through Networking"

30 July 2008
Morning tea for Virtual Assistants in Perth. 150 East Riverside Bar & Restaurant
Cost: whatever you buy on the day. Please advise if you plan to attend.

Kathie can speak at your next meeting, seminar or conference on:

• Email Etiquette
• Blogging for business or a book
• Hidden Benefits of Working at Home
• Mothers are Worth More Than Rubies
• It's a Virtual World

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 office 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!  However, if you need someone locally we can supply. See our list at VA Directory

We have a new resource for the VA Industry called VANetwork News. If you're interested in what's happening, or would like to know more about the industry, then please do visit! There are opportunities for suppliers of services and products to sponsor the newsletter.

Make sure you visit OIVAC for their upcoming convention in May! A fantastic 3 day online conference with speakers from many different countries - there is sure to be a topic of interest to you!