Then don't leave it till you're at your destination to find out if you can access your email. This is something that should be organised before you leave - not afterward. When my husband and I went to Canada and Alaska in 2009 I knew I'd need to check email daily. While I had left my business in the hands of some of my VA team, I expected there would be occasional questions about how to deal with a situation or anything else that cropped up. So having daily access, even if only for 15 mins … [Read more...]
Happy New Year to our readers
4th January early morning where I am and the new working year has begun! I've been looking forward to this week. I was enjoying my break with my husband but a part of me has been raring to go, being filled with new ideas and plans during the break time - I just want to get started on them! Even during the break I've been tweaking things, playing with programs, working out how things work and finally completing some items that I'd put on hold due to lack of time. My desk is looking a little … [Read more...]
Moving towards the New Year as a Virtual Assistant
This time of year is traditionally one where people take stock of what they've achieved throughout the current year and what they might change or do in the new year. Many of my regular readers will know that I usually have a Prayer and Planning day mid January to plan for the new year. I've been doing this for several years and having had a business coach has helped with that process. This year (2010) was different in that I found it harder to be focused at the beginning of the new year. I'd … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas to our readers
I want to take this opportunity of wishing all readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you get the opportunity for taking a break and spending time with family, friends and others. My husband is home for a 2 week break so I won't be spending as much time in the office and will be spending more time outside, especially now the sunshine has decided to make an appearance. So my camera will be working overtime! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me through their comments on … [Read more...]
Two Wonderful Web Women meet face-to-face
Recently I had the wonderful privilege of meeting Janet Beckers, Founder of Wonderful Web Women face-to-face. We'd spoken online before and on the phone but had never met face-to-face until a few weeks ago in Melbourne. Funny really, we've known each other for a few years. So strange to not have met before. Janet had her video recorder with her and we did an impromptu interview so here I am unmade up and in the natural so to speak. Actually there were three of us there that day. Charly … [Read more...]
The longest I’ve been in a ‘job’…
Just realised this week that the role I have today is the longest I've held down in a 'job' anywhere. Which must mean the boss and I get along ok, hey? ;-) I celebrate 17 years in my own business early next year. The longest I held down a job (before getting bored and moving on) was probably about 5 or maybe 6 years. If I couldn't keep moving onwards and upwards, I moved sidewards to another job elsewhere. I was always getting restless and wanting to do more, learn more, be better. In this … [Read more...]
Show them you care
I wonder if you take the time to check the location of a person you are emailing? Too often I get emails that are directed to me personally, and are not part of a bulk email, where the person says 'have a great day', or 'hope you're having a great summer' when the reality is I live on the other side of the world to that person so it's night not day and winter not summer. Do you think I'm being pedantic? I don't believe so. When I email someone and if I'm going to make reference to the time … [Read more...]
How passionate are you?
We've been having some interesting discussions on the forums about the term 'Virtual Assistant' and how we describe to those we meet what it is we do. I have a simple way of explaining it - I simply ask people if they understand how a PA (Personal Assistant) or a secretary works with their boss - they're rarely in the same office, could be on a different floor of the same building or futher apart and that the boss may travel but the PA or secretary still work with/for them. They communicate via … [Read more...]
Address or no address?
I've posted this at a couple of VA forum and it's opened quite a discussion. So I'm posting it here too for your comments and feedback. It seems to me that more and more people are not listing their addresses on their websites, in their signature blocks and on their business cards. I find this rather annoying if I want to send them something in the mail - I have to ask for their address and that then spoils the surprise had I wanted to surprise them. I go to business networking events and … [Read more...]