Web spiders and spammers often search the Internet and grab your email address. The Enkoder was recommended by another AssistU VA. This is a free tool for your website, if you have your email address listed.
Virtual Assistance Networking
October 16, 2006 — KyleOftentimes a new or established VA looks for networking opportunities. I have a couple of local organizations that I belong to, as well as international and virtual organizations.
I find value in each one. The local organizations give me an opportunity to get out of the office (read – office) and share issues or techniques with other administrative professionals or business owners.
The international ones – The International Association of Administrative Professionals and AssistU – give me access to individuals and solutions.
The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce is another opportunity to network with other VAs to learn, share and network. I encourage you to check it out, membership is free. I have just signed up for membership and look forward to the community.
Here is a great press release about them:
Cherry Creek News – Virtual Assistant industry grows
October 11, 2006 — KyleIt is exciting to see how Virtual Assistants grow and manage their businesses. In this article, Patty Benton, talks about growing her businesses with new VAs who are just starting out.
Cherry Creek News – Virtual Assistant industry grows
This is a win-win situation. The new VA gains experience and knowledge while the more experienced VA gains time and growth in their client base.
I participated in the internship program after graduating from AssistU. I worked with one of the most experienced and patient individuals – Liz. She is the VA for Ali Brown, The Ezine Queen.
I learned a lot and Liz was gracious enough to refer my first client to me! My client and I are still working together – a relationship that has lasted more than 3 years.
If you are a new VA, contact some established VAs to see if they are willing to share experiences, advice, or more. If you are an established VA, be willing to consider working with another VA to expand and grow. My only caveat is – if you are a new VA, please don’t expect the senior VA to give away the shop. Make sure you do your own homework, education, networking, and due diligence.
Here’s to great VA partnerships!
Instead of building an ark……
October 9, 2006 — KyleI live in the desert. Plain and simple – the desert of Western Colorado. However, last week we got enough rain to make our yearly quota.
The problem with this was – our Qwest phone lines are old and vulnerable to the rain and tend to not work when it rains this much. I use VoIP and my Internet comes over the T1 line. Hmmmmm, see the potential issue? Well, I was without Internet and phones for two days. This, for some reason, makes working virtually a ‘little’ difficult. But, where there is a will there is a way.
I spent time at the local coffee shop and for the price of a cup of coffee could sit there and work. However, I have come up with a necessary backup plan. We should all have an emergency plan – in case of tornadoes, floods, Acts of the Good Lord, etc. So, I have devised mine for excessive rain in the desert.
I do have a flash drive, but not nearly big enough. I am doing research and plan on purchasing at least a 2 G flash drive. Then, I plan on scoping out all of the free wifi spots in town. The third and most critical part will be to learn how to synch my laptop with my pc. I can have my phone forwarded to my cell phone – so – Presto – when the rains pour, I should be well prepared.
The important thing to remember is – don’t panic! I still have to work on that issue – but things usually work out and clients can be very understanding when things happen. As long as you have a backup or emergency plan in place, you should be fine.
Now, if I just knew where the design to the ark is……………..
Hay House Radio
October 4, 2006 — KyleDo you enjoy listening to the radio while working? With today’s technology, it is easy to access podcasts, radio stations, streaming audio or video.
A site I enjoy is Hay House Radio. Here you can listen to Cheryl Richardson, Wayne Dyer and more. If you are unable to listen to the shows live, you can always download and listen at your convenience. Better yet, they have archives so you can search the topics and choose according to your mood.
Take a coffee break and stream some inspiration!
QNext – The Next Best Thing to Sliced Bread
October 3, 2006 — KyleMost VAs are always on the lookout for great new tools and ways to streamline our processes. A lot of VAs use Groove, which allows several people access to a single workspace. However, with Groove being purchased by Microsoft, it’s future may be a little cloudy.
QNext was recommended on a portal at AssistU. So, I tried it. I really like it! Plus, it makes the Queen of Free within me very happy! In addition, MAC users can use QNext.
To quote their product description:
“Unite Your Communications & Content!
Our Universal Instant Messenger keeps you connected to all popular IM’s, you can also Talk Online anywhere around the world for free, host a live Video Conference or Transfer Files of any size with complete security.
But the closer you look, the better it gets. Qnext allows you to create private, shared environments called Zones where invite other users to securely share your content and online services. A Zone can contain exciting services such as File Sharing, Group Text Chat, Photo Sharing and Live Online Games. You can also connect with other users around the world using Qnext’s IRC service. Our Jukebox service gives you private access to streaming music without the hassle of downloading files. And this is just the beginning – Qnext will be offering many new services to enhance your online experience.
We have also included a powerful remote access service that gives you fast, easy and secure access to your computer from anywhere in the world using QnextMyPC.
- Stay connected to your online buddy lists on other IM clients
- High level security using 192-bit data encryption
- Fast, direct P2P connections between users
- Easy content and service sharing using Qnext Zones
- Permission-based sharing between friends
- Multi-language support
- Personalize Qnext with downloadable skins”*
I urge you to check it out. It is a great tool and has more features in the development.
*Printed with permission – All copyrights retained
Stop Manic Mondays!
October 3, 2006 — KyleMondays can be difficult, if you truly avoid your office over the weekend. Sometimes I find myself jumping from one client to another and one task to another without fully completing anything.
A couple of ideas to keep your Manic Monday under control might be:
1) I block out at least an hour for each client and focus on their work. I color code the hour(s) on my Outlook calendar. This gives me a reminder before the next ‘client change’ is due. This has kept me from leapfrogging so much.
If the phone rings, I quickly look at the caller ID and let it go to voice mail unless I am expecting the call.
I check voice mail about every thirty minutes or so to keep up with the messages. Which brings me to – change your voice message if you are going to be out or if you want to hide behind voice mail. Now you can’t just say you are are hiding, but come up with an inventive message letting people know you will return their call as soon as reasonably possible. Note the word reasonably.
2) Write down your tasks, both personal and professional, that you would like to accomplish. Pick the ones that are bogging you down and might only take a few moments to finish – and just do them. Have a friend keep you accountable. Check in every hour or two with what you have done or are going to do the next hour.
3) Email – this can really drag you down and waste your time. Remember – one touch! I usually check my email first thing and decide if they are trash, defer, task or read. If they are a task and you use Outlook, simply click on the email and move it to the Task Folder. This has a double whammy – it moves it out of your inbox and sets up a task for you immediately.
I stopped my email from notifying me when a message came through. Now my clients have a folder in the Favorites of Outlook and I know I have a message because the folder is in bold. If you start your client’s folder with the @ sign (@New Messages; @Client), the folder is moved right to the top of the folders.
Let me know if you have any great tips for keeping Manic Mondays under control or have some great shortcuts for streamlining work!
Fun Friday!
October 2, 2006 — KyleMy Thursday was no fun! I had computer issues and it took me down most of the day! Thank goodness for husbands!
So, on Friday I was busy catching up and missed my Fun Friday! So to honor Fun Friday!, I thought this video would make you laugh. Now, you have to appreciate and like cats. Not everyone does. But I have 3 – all very different in personalities and actions.
Tuko – who was named after the ‘ugly’ character in The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. She is now the matriarch and loves the role. She is our finicky diva cat.
Sadie – my daughter’s former cat – is the get-along joe. Nothing bothers her. She gets along with everyone and never gets out of sorts. The most loving cat – but she drools when you pet her. I’ve learned to never pet her while at the computer.
Tuffy – is our feral cat that we found outside. We live in an area where outside cats could live a dangerous life. Owls, hawks, coyotes, and more. So, knowing she was pregnant, we took her in and had her spayed. No one else would have adopted her, as we learned she has feline leukemia.
I also have a 60-lb Boxer that thinks she is a cat or a person, depending on the moment. For some strange reason, she cannot figure out why these cats won’t play with her.
Here is a video – take a moment out of your hectic Monday and enjoy!
Attitude Cats
