Merri Taylor is Here2Assist

Stressed Out? Learn the Art of Letting Go

2011-10-30T14:33:00.009-06:00

There was a time when I thought that letting go meant to give up. And since I wasn't one to quit something that I started or give up easily, that made it difficult for me to let go when, in certain situations, it would have been the best thing I could have done for myself. To let go of stress, you must learn what "letting go" truly means. Because so much of what we refuse to let go of, is what keeps us stuck and unable to move forward.

I've had this little tid-bit from an unknown author hanging where I could see it for close to 20 years:

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring; It means I can't do
it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off. It's the realization that I
can't control another.
To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means
the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try and change or blame another.
It's to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for, but to care about.
To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own destinies.
To let go is not to deny, but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search
out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take
each day as it comes and cherish myself in each moment.
To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.
To let go is to fear less and to love more.

Some more food for thought:

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us." ~ Joseph Campbell

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." ~Lao Tzu

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." ~Alexander Graham Bell

What do you need to let go of today? It could be your past, self-imposed limiting beliefs, fears, a relationship ... anything that is holding you back, keeping your light dim, or keeping you from playing a bigger game. It could be all of those administrative and marketing tasks that can be handed over to your Virtual Assistant. Break free and let your light shine by loosening your grip on the things, people or beliefs that keep you small.

I saw a demonstration once where a person gripped tightly to somethng they wanted to hold onto. When someone came along who wanted to give something of quality, value or importance to the tight-fisted person who refused to let go of what they had, they were unable to accept the good because their hand wasn't open. It was busy holding on to something else. Something else that may no longer serve them. Give. Receive. Let Go. Repeat.

A final thought. Though you may need to make adjustments along the way, never let go of your dreams. Your dreams have been given to you for a reason. They are your gifts and how you will serve the world. And the world needs your gifts.

What's the Difference?

2011-09-23T12:48:00.000-06:00

While online, I came across the image on the left and realized that the message, while well-intended, wasn't on target. At least not accurate enough in terms of putting a specific intention "out there."

I added the word "positive" because though it may seem like I'm splitting hairs, there is a difference. A huge difference between the statement on the left and my revised statement on the right.

Over the past two years I've heard a lot about the Law of Attraction and positive affirmations. While I don't embrace every aspect of LoA, I do believe two things:

1. A written goal or intention is an important step toward accomplishing our dreams.
2. How we decide to show up in a situation (high energy, loving, giving, interested, etc.) will usually mirror the reactions and energy that we get back. So our very specific thoughts become our actions (energy) and people react to that positive or negative energy. So we do attract what we put out there. Our thoughts and beliefs will shape and define our experiences. If I want to sulk, I'll probably find myself alone. If I decide beforehand that I'm going to engage and have fun, my experience will match that energy.

Without getting too "woo-woo," I can absolutely buy into the above. I've talked myself out of anxiety attacks by using words that I wanted to focus on, like "relax," "safe," and "breathe." I've entered into amazing client relationships when I showed up with confidence and let go of the outcome. I don't believe that I hold my master plan. I do believe that God has a plan for me. However, I do believe that I decide how I'm going to show up each day. Will I be a good listener? Will I be forgiving? Will I show my authentic, human side? Will I give my time and use my life experiences to help someone who is reaching out? Will I ask for help myself? I don't control what others do and I don't control outcomes. I do create my own experiences in how I decide what I want and how I'm going to give back. If I think that my best days are behind me, then they probably are. If I decide that I'm going to be a millionaire in the next five years -- what I focus on and put my energy behind, is very likely to happen - if it is for the good of all involved. If it's meant to be. If it's a part of the Master plan. But I do believe that my thoughts will help or hinder me. That part is up to me. The quote by Henry Ford describes this perfectly: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't -- you're right.”

So, when I saw the words written in the image on the left, I thought, "make a difference?" Ya'nno, I've had people plow through my life leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. Their actions sent my life spiraling off in another direction. Did they make a difference? Well, yes - they changed the course of my life and left behind damage that I had to recover from. I don't want to make that kind of difference in the lives of others. I don't want to be the destructive difference. I want to be the positive difference. YES, there is a difference between the two statements above. What kind of difference do you want to make?

Put your specific, positive intention "out there" for specific and positive results.

"Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Have You Challenged Your Thoughts Today?

2011-09-22T11:10:00.001-06:00

Have you ever been so consumed by a situation that you couldn't see the next step? "Can't see the forest for the trees" is a saying that describes being too close to a situation or having too narrow a focus so you can't see the big picture. When I hear that analogy, I picture myself lost in a forest where very little light is streaming in because it's being blocked by the mammoth trees.

What if those trees are our thoughts? Do you ever repeat situations or get stuck because of your thoughts? How do we move out of the maze of trees to find a clearing, to get to unblocked and unfiltered light? Once light is shown on a situation, you can then see your next step and see where the path leads. So, if our thoughts are blocking the light and the bigger vision, we must challenge our thoughts. Dr. Jack Mezirow says that to continually learn, we must challenge our own ingrained perceptions and critically reflect on the assumptions we've acquired. That's the opposite of saying “My mind is made up—don’t confuse me with the facts.” You need facts, or a new perspective if you're going to find your way out of that forest. If something isn't working, find a way to challenge the thinking that got you there and be open to new ideas.

A photographer who was a regular contributor to the National Geographic Magazine gave a talk a few years ago. He had an assignment to photograph something in the rain forest. I can't remember what it was -- the world's largest tree, or something. I do remember him saying that this natural wonder had been photographed again and again and again. It wasn't something new, it had been seen and photographed many times before and he wondered how his photographs could possibly contribute something different. Then he realized that this famous view had been photographed from this side or that side, but never had he seen it from the ground, looking straight up. He got on his back and shot an award-winning picture of this place from a perspective that no one had taken before. It was beautiful and contributed a new view. Getting past our own self-imposed limitations to find success is often as simple as looking at things differently and finding a new angle or view. Remember my last blog post? It mentioned the history of Play-Doh and how one small adjustment took what was about to become an obsolete wallpaper cleaner to what is now a fun and colorful toy that's still around today. A small adjustment to current thinking and stepping out of the status quo can bring amazing results!

Tip: To see things differently, try on a new lens and find a new perspective.

Tip: If your thoughts are getting in your way, plow through them.

"One Small Adjustment Away" Birthday Reminder

2011-08-03T12:58:00.003-06:00

While celebrating my birthday last week, I bought myself two symbolic birthday presents; 1) Play-Doh and 2) a gratitude journal. Why?

In the movie "How Do You Know" with Paul Rudd (George) and Reese Witherspoon (Lisa), George shows up at Lisa's ritzy birthday party with Play-Doh as her gift. He told her the history of how Play-Doh came to be. That it was originally used to clean soot from wallpaper back when people used coal. When things changed to gas and electricity it was about to become obsolete. The inventor's sister-in-law gave her kindergarten class the wallpaper cleaner to play with because it was non-toxic, cleaner and easier to shape and work with than standard molding clay. She suggested that her brother-in-law color the putty yellow to make it a fun toy. What was about to become obsolete was one small adjustment away from becoming a long-term, huge success. This is a reminder that

"we're all just one small adjustment away from having the life we want."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also bought myself a gratitude journal to remind me that it's not all
about what I'm close to being or receiving. It's about enjoying who I am
and what I have right now. I've already filled up a page.

It is so important to have goals and be persistent in our dreams. It's equally or more important to be thankful for what is already ours.

I would love to hear what small adjustments you think will make a difference in your life and business as well as what you're already grateful for. Please share!

Have You Found Your Missing Piece?

2011-07-17T11:19:00.003-06:00

A Virtual Assistant is the piece that solves the entrepreneurial puzzle. If you are trying to do everything yourself, you may have noticed that the forward momentum has stopped or slowed in your business because you're bogged down with busy work instead of working on your passion. Have you ever tried to solve a puzzle to see the big picture and final result only to discover that you are missing a piece (or two)? But once you found the missing piece, voila! The picture was complete and you were able to finish the goal you set out to accomplish. As a small business owner, you don't have to solve your administrative and marketing puzzles alone. Do you have your missing piece yet?

Here's a fun visual reminder:

if you want a little more room to solve the puzzle, here's the direct link
- http://www.proprofs.com/games/jigsaw/here2assist/ -

Put the puzzle pieces together to reveal Here2Assist's logo.

Here2Assist jigsaw puzzle game » jigsaw

And if you simply like solving puzzles, here's another one for you.
Single click (do not drag) the square horizontally or vertically adjacent to the empty square to move the pieces until you get the Here2Assist logo image.

Here2Assist sliding puzzle game » create sliding puzzle

What Are People Saying About You? Do You Even Know?

2011-06-22T20:36:00.001-06:00

Observation: I've had an ongoing negative experience and thus negative review with one company (web host), and a wonderful ongoing experience with another company (email/contact management) and shared my positive experience through social media. The company that does things "right," watched for their name to come up on social media and followed up with me to ask who the rep was that helped me and to share how glad they are that I'm a raving fan.

Just another example of how the latter company is doing things right. Did the first company watch for their name, see an unhappy customer and try to turn things around? Nope. Such contrasting examples of putting the customer first.

These real life, every day experiences reaffirm for me the things that I should be doing (and not doing) as a business owner. If you're not listening to your customers or asking for feedback, then you may be blind to the holes in processes or dissatisfied customers that will lead to them jumping ship. If you don't know what's wrong, you don't have the opportunity to fix it. Do you have a follow up process in place to gauge customer satisfaction? Do you monitor your brand on Twitter and other social media platforms? Had my feedback of the second company been negative, would I have heard from them then? I'm convinced I absolutely would have. If they reached out when things are good, they know the importance and reaching out when things aren't so good. They want to know what their customers are thinking and use that information to enhance the customer experience. What are your customers saying?

Remember: It's just information and knowledge is power.

Progress Not Perfection

2011-06-22T11:45:00.001-06:00

The perfectionist in me used to delay getting started until everything was done and polished and perfect. The business owner in me quickly taught the perfectionist that there's nothing wrong with prepping to a point, then learning as I go. The perfectionist in me still fights to produce quality work, but she's learning to peacefully co-exist with the business owner who has taught her to keep moving toward a goal and make adjustments as I go. So much more gets done now and there are less "some days" in my vocabulary. My business owner hat suits me. I think I'll keep it. There will never be a perfect time or circumstance, so those who find success move through the excuses, work with what they have now, and simply start. And though success is different for each of us, I believe one form of success is when we get out of our own way, drop the paddle and stop making things difficult when there is a way to move forward with ease. Though I still have perfectionist tendencies which means I will always expect more from myself and hopefully that translates into over-delivering for my clients, the irony is that extreme perfectionism left unchecked leads to delay, analysis paralysis, procrastination or too much time spent on things that don't move a business forward -- the opposite of perfection. So, for the sake of my business, my clients, and just about every area of my life -- I'm glad the business owner stepped forward and lovingly put the perfectionist in her place. She now works with the business owner for a balance of productivity and excellence. :)

What about you? Do you have an example of something that was stopping you and how you stopped what was stopping you? Or something that still gets in your way? If you want to share it here, maybe others can help get you unstuck.

The most difficult part of attaining perfection is finding something to do for an encore. ~Author Unknown

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. ~Harriet Braiker

Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. ~Vince Lombardi

They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds. ~Wilt Chamberlain

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. ~Confucius, Analects

Business Standards: How to Set the Bar High by Learning From Your Own Customer Experiences

2011-06-01T20:30:00.006-06:00

"If I Were In Charge, I Would ... "

I've always been keenly aware of courtesies -- in general, but especially in retail and restaurants. I also find myself being an observer of processes and procedures and immediately start trying to "fix" things in my mind whenever I see blatant holes or inefficiencies.

For example, some restaurants have greeters to open and close the doors for you. A nice touch that I find to be a courteous one. Then there is a fast food franchise whose servers all say, "My pleasure." I love that! And if going through their drive-through, instead of tossing a straw in the bag with your order, they actually hand you the drink with the straw already inserted, the top still covered with the wrapper. That's thinking things through, as someone going through a drive-through may be there primarily for thirst and shouldn't be digging for a straw as they drive away. Small yes, insignificant no. Sometimes it's the simplest of things that can create a positive experience for a customer. This same franchise, however, has at least one location where the drive-through speaker area is set up right next to a busy, high-speed road where you can't hear the person over the traffic. Not thinking things through.

We've all heard stories of both extremes in terms of getting help when you enter a store. Some store owners might not know that they are paying their employees to ignore you, as that's what you've often experienced when shopping there. Other commission type businesses (think car dealerships) make you feel like a tasty morsel for pouncing, hungry vultures. Neither being ignored nor being stalked makes for a pleasant customer experience. I will never forget a time when I was shopping for furniture at what turned out to be a really high-end furniture store. Once the sales lady introduced herself, she literally wouldn't leave. She silently escorted us (from a few feet behind at all times) from room to room. It became so annoying that my companion and I picked up our pace until we were practically running to see if we could shake her. LOL! Nope, we turned around and there she was. That experience became all about getting rid of the person following us, not deciding on furniture. For something really blatant that I know must be negatively impacting a business, I will often submit a comment card or contact them online to share my experience and hope they use it to improve.

Another retail example is Nordstrom’s. If we were playing a word game and you said, "Nordstrom’s," I would immediately think "exemplary customer service." There are so many stories circulating about Nordstrom’s that, whether true or not, they have created a brand based on an amazing customer experience. My guess is that they have a standard where every process begins with walking through the customer experience from before the customer walks through the door, to accepting returns, encouraging referrals and rewarding loyal customers. They think things through. My guess is that they use customer feedback to uncover inefficiencies in their systems and use that information to immediately make improvements and build upon the already incredible customer experience.

Are you like that? Do you find yourself during your own customer experience thinking (or yelling), "If I were in charge ...!" Well, because you are reading this, I'm going to assume that you are now in a position where you own a business. You ARE in charge. And whether you are a bricks and mortar retail store or you are an online business coach, if you want to set the standard for your business, simply observe what others are doing right. Benefit from their success and replicate some things that would transfer over to your business -- even if it is to tell your employees to be courteous while refraining from chasing your customers. Also, observe how others are getting it wrong. And when you find yourself thinking about how you would change it to make it better ... do it ... for your own business. Your clients will thank you for it.

Do you have your own customer experience that you would like to share? Please share so others can benefit.

April Fool's Day an Excuse for Deceptive Marketing?

2011-04-01T16:19:00.000-06:00

Okay, I've seen a few clever April Fool's Day posts and emails today that were harmless and fun. And they either fessed up right away or had something about them that made the joke apparent. For example, VA Classroom's Craig Canning sent an email to his member list saying he was leaving to be a back up dancer for Justin Bieber. LOL! The reason for his supposed departure was hilarious plus he stressed in his audio that we should have a great FIRST day of APRIL. He then sent a follow-up email to clear the air and make sure we all knew that he was not leaving VA Classroom. (Yay!)

Then, one of my FAVORITE Denver Bronco players, Eddie Royal, posted on his Facebook page that he was going to play for the Raiders. He was kind enough to save me from a heart attack by quickly wishing everyone a happy April Fool's Day.

I love humor and silliness, and I just posted on my fan page how I love interacting with businesses that make things fun (like Mail Chimp and Bit.ly). But there is a line, and a business is not necessarily my friend, who is allowed to take up my time with mindless fun in the name of bonding over a good laugh. A business has a responsibility to its customers to be respectful of our time, be honest with us and not fill our email with spam. I think HootSuite crossed that line and have broken any respect and trust I may have had for them. Here's why -- they sent the below email this morning.

It certainly didn't have the tone of something going to a Board of Directors and the "To" line just shows my, the recipient's, name (as apposed to a distribution list that might be used internally). And you don't tell your Board that you're changing business directions and launch a product without their buy-in. I actually hadn't even read it yet, until I received the second email:

Of course, the second one had me looking for the first email. If a highly confidential email inadvertently went out to people it shouldn't have, usually you would see another email showing that the sender wants to recall unopened emails. Also, the second email lacked something ... maybe the extreme embarrassment that would be hard to hide if that big of a mistake had been made.

So I waited for the punch line. If you just open an email from a familiar company like HootSuite and aren't looking to pick things apart like I did above, nothing may have seemed unusual about the two emails except that something was sent that shouldn't have. Many people may have just deleted both emails rather than investigate further. That's not me. I investigate. So I went to both the "private beta" site and to HootSuite's Facebook page. Here's a snapshot of some of the comments that had been posted by then:

So my suspicions were confirmed that the emails were an elaborate marketing hoax hidden under the guise of April Fool's Day. It took too much of my time and there's still nothing from HootSuite that nicely and quickly ties everything together and wraps up the hoax. They lied to us. And they just let the lie linger.

I don't think this is a quick one-two ... ha, ha ... that was fun .... April Fool's Day experience. I think it is deceptive and manipulative and damages relationships.

That's my two cents. What do you think? If businesses engage in April Fools day silliness with their customers, should there be a line that ensures the integrity of the relationship? Or is this sleazy tactic actually considered "genius marketing?" They say even negative publicity is still publicity. It didn't work for me, as I'm unsubscribing from HootSuite's emails -- no joke.

Never Neglect the Little Things

2011-03-31T09:18:00.000-06:00

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“Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.” -Og Mandino

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Integrity: When You Do the Right Thing Even Though No One is Watching

2011-03-26T18:32:00.086-06:00

I just read an article by Dale Kuehne that discusses Socrates' philosophy on values, justice and getting caught. He says:

"In Plato’s Republic two young men give Socrates a challenge.  They not only ask him to define justice, but prove to them that it is always better to be just (do the right thing), even if you could be unjust and never get caught.

To explore this question, they discuss what any of us might do if we found a magic ring, the Ring of Gyges, which made us invisible.  The young men conclude if we found such a ring we’d use it to steal other men’s wives, obtain power, and wealth.

Why?  They believe it is what any of us would do if we knew we could do what we wanted and never be caught. We live in an age that believes we should be able to do whatever we want so long as we don’t hurt anyone else. We perceive that there are many things we can do in private that will never impact anyone else. Socrates begs to disagree. He argues that every decision we make in life, impacts who we are. Everything we do impacts our souls. What affects our soul impacts our relationships with others. Even if it is hidden, what is hidden from others will still impact how we relate to them."

I consider myself to be a person of high integrity (though far from perfect). Still, it makes me wonder what I would do with the magic Ring of Gyges. Fly for free or gain entrance to Disney World? No, that would be wrong. Maybe foiling terrorist plots. Maybe going to the scarier areas of downtown to leave some food and warm blankets for several homeless people without being seen. I see far more good that could be gained in anonymous acts than bad. While there will always be some who will choose to use their position of trust or their anonymity to only serve themselves, I like to hope that the men conversing with Socrates were wrong about the hidden side of human nature. In fact, I know there are more people, like me, who believe in the Golden Rule - and those are the people I will always choose to align myself with.

Integrity fosters an environment that inspires transparency, honesty and respect. Character, virtue, integrity, authenticity ... that Socrates sure had it going on. :)

You can stand tall
without standing on someone.
You can be a victor
without having victims.
- Harriet Woods

* * * * * * * *

Organizing & Decorating Your Home Office - The "Green" Way

2011-03-25T23:10:00.003-06:00

I LOVE baskets and containers for storage and tools that help me get organized. I have a few Longaberger baskets that I use to hold candles, magazines and ongoing projects. But these days, I'm on a limited budget *and* I am environmentally conscious and want to make use of things that I already have on hand.

I just organized my desk drawer by using food trays that I reused from grocery store purchases and they look and function GREAT. I participate in my waste management company's recycling program but they only pick up plastic items marked with 1 and 2. Many of the items that I bring home are stamped 5 and 6 and it frustrates me that I can't recycle them. So... I reuse them instead.

I've used some deep sunflower seed or mixed nuts containers to store Post-It Notes, pens and other things that I have a large supply of. I've used berry containers for paper clips and white out (just cut off the attached lid). Deli containers for pasta, sandwiches or salads are the perfect size for organizing drawers. And those fruit or veggie trays provide great compartments for lots of storage (paper clips, binder clips, scissors, pens, etc.)

Here is a picture of my desk drawer using storage containers that have all been used and then re-purposed. And I love that these containers keep me just as organized as The Container Store, but I'm saving money and the environment.

You can also decorate your office using products that you purchased for one use and then reused for another.

These jars used to have powdered coffee flavoring in them (vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg). I loved the packaging so much that once the contents were gone, I continued using the jars and metal holder as decoration. I had small dried flowers in each jar until my cat ate them (grin).

Glass is recyclable, but my neighborhood recycler doesn't pick up certain colors of glass. This dark green wine bottle gets repurposed as a flower vase.

And these jars used to hold a variety of colorful pasta but now sit in a window and reflect the sunlight. I might fill them with sand and put them in my office as a visual reminder that I thrive on details (the sand) so my clients can focus on their businesses (the big rocks).

Do you have containers or decorations that you've reused for another functional purpose?

Dreams, Destinations and Detours

2011-02-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

A dream, just like an idea or intention is not a destination; it's a beginning. Life is not made by the dreams that you dream but by the actions you take in support of that dream. It starts with a dream, is sustained by deliberate action and the destination may change from your original dream. Your journey might take you somewhere that looks different than what you originally envisioned as you learn about yourself and others. I believe that destination is to be treasured so much more than the original dream because it is real and a result of wondrous and practical learnings, relationships and life experiences. Learnings that propel you into the next phase, stage, level or chapter.

Then a light goes on when you realize that you still haven't taken it all in, haven't experienced it all or learned it all or received all the good that's meant for you. This different destination isn't the final destination -- it's a bump or detour or pit stop where you're being polished and refined and prepared for the next round around the track. But this time, you discover that you're tired of going around in circles on the same old track, ending up in the same place where you started. This time you find an off ramp and you are ready to start dreaming again. You might be a little banged up, but you're not alone. You are refueled and rarin' to go. You pull out a new road map (and GPS and warning sign guide and every tool and pit crew available to you) and venture out once again to explore the territory that continues to support your dream.

A detour is a part of the journey, not an end to your dream.

Some upgrades are here for Facebook business (fan) pages

2011-02-10T22:16:00.001-07:00

I received the following email from Facebook:

Facebook pages are getting an updated layout and several new features to help you engage with your fans. Here's some of what you'll be getting:
• Notifications when fans interact with your page or posts
• A place to showcase photos along the top of your page
• A news feed for your page
• The ability to Like and post on other pages as your page

Preview your page and you'll be given the option to upgrade early. All pages will automatically be upgraded on March 10.

Initially, I was excited, especially because we can now post to other pages as our page (not our personal profile) and we will now receive notifications when people post comments to our page. But, as I dug a little deeper, it appears that there are mixed reviews already. Here is Facebook's page upgrade announcement -

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150090729064822&id=10381469571

If you look at the comments below the announcement, it sounds like Facebook has once again, left the end user out of their decisions and many people aren't happy about some of the changes. I intend to preview the changes, but according to those who have already explored the upgrades, there are some changes that are not improvements.

Posts are no longer in chronological order; they are listed by relevance -- this is by far the biggest complaint.
We're losing the pictures of our fans (followers, likers).
They've made it look more like our personal profile pages, with photos across the top and links on the left rather than tabs across the top.
You used to be able to put the top tabs in whatever order you wanted them, but the tabs are now links on the left side and it doesn't appear that you can reorder them.
Some people are saying they have to resize their FBML page.

I will keep exploring. Have you previewed your page upgrades yet? Please let us know what you think.

How to Attract Ideal Clients? Be Yourself.

2011-01-27T16:26:00.002-07:00

“Authenticity” is the degree to which one is true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character, despite the demands of society or one’s early conditioning.

I'm sensing a theme for the day: "Be your authentic self for your greatest success."

The teleconference I attended earlier today said that you need to distinguish yourself in the marketplace to cut through the noise and not blend in like vanilla. Speaking in your own voice and the language of your ideal client will attract relationships that are an ideal fit, building the momentum for client results and shared success. Of course you must provide value and truly serve those that come to you for help, but all of that will come with greater ease than it has previously, if you attract the people that you want to work with. That happens when you don't try to speak to the whole world -- just to those you want to help. And when you don't try to sound like everyone else, no matter how successful they may be -- just speak as yourself. It's "Authentic Marketing."

Then, I just heard singer Brandon Heath say that you have to have your own sound. You don't want to sound like everyone else. In his case, the first song he learned to play on the guitar was Garth Brooks' "The River," and when he sang it, he sounded just like Garth. Garth already found success through his own voice and style ... we don't need another Garth.

And there are clients out there for you and me that don't need another cookie cutter coach/speaker /trainer/Virtual Assistant, etc. What do they need? They need us to bring our authentic voice to the table. We have experience and perspective and values and abilities that no one else has ... so why would we want to be like everyone else?

Be your authentic self. Your authentic self is who you are when you have no fear

of judgment, or before the world starts pushing you around and telling you who

you're supposed to be. Your fictional self is who you are when you have a social

mask on to please everyone else. Give yourself permission to be your authentic

self. ~ Dr. Phil

My One Word for 2011 - Concrastinate

2011-01-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

From http://myoneword.org/:

Every New Year we hope this will finally be the year that things will change. We make promises about the new person we're going to become, pledging to get a grip on our finances, get in shape, become a better parent, spouse, even a nicer human being! But there’s one problem: our resolutions seldom work. The busy pace of life gets the better of us, and suddenly, the year is over with little to no personal growth having occurred in our lives.

“My One Word” is an experiment designed to move you beyond the past and look ahead. The challenge is simple: lose the long list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick ONE WORD. This process provides clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. One word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future. So, we invite you to join us and pick one word in 2011 (click here to learn how)!

So given that background, I'll share with you my One Word for 2011. It's not actually in English dictionaries yet, but it's the opposite of procrastinate and means "do it now."

♥ Concrastinate ♥

con·cras·ti·nate [kon-kras-tuh-neyt] verb, -nat·ed, -nat·ing.

1. to take immediate action; without delay: to concrastinate until an opportunity is gained. 2. to seize the moment; hasten; expedite.

Faith, Joy and Ease will all be in my toolkit for sure; but my philosophy for getting things done to the extent that I'm able to actively participate in the outcome, will be done with "concrastination." :)

Have YOU chosen your One Word for the New Year yet? Please share your word and let me know in what way I can support you.

Wishing You a Bright and Shiny New Year

2011-01-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

Another fresh new year is here . . .

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt, and fear,

To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest . . .

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!

-William Arthur Ward

Is Your Business Being Run Like the Wild, Wild West?

2010-12-29T11:28:00.004-07:00

We all know that www. stands for World Wide Web in a URL address. But this morning I read that:

"In the frenzied early days of the Internet, Web developers were making up their own rules. The result was confusion. Among the problems was that what looked good on one computer was unreadable on another. This caused developers to refer to the Internet as the wild, wild Web, an allusion to the days of the wild, wild West in the US when law and order were pretty much nonexistent. To bring order out of chaos, Web developers started calling for others to agree on common standards." *

This made me think about the standards and processes in my own business. I've been working with an accountability group that recently discussed our goals for 2011. Goals, just like every day business processes require a well-thought-out plan which is broken down into manageable steps. If my processes are meant to help my business be efficient and effectively help my clients' businesses grow beyond where they are now, they need to be standardized and implemented in a way that works well with existing technology and client needs. Otherwise, systems become inefficient and chaotic and never really flow if you're reinventing the wheel each time you work with a new customer or client, or hire an employee or ship product or .... [fill in the blank].

Everything in your business should have standards so that you are speaking the same language with your clients and so processes move quickly because you are familiar with the steps and are on the same page in terms of next steps.

If you are asking "What business processes?" don't dismay -- your Virtual Assistant can help you identify gaps and redundancies in your existing processes and collaboratively help you develop the standards that will move your daily activities from chaos to deliberate and organized actions.

^*Source: RBC Ministries, Our Daily Bread, December 29, 2010.

What Does Roger Rabbit Have To Do With Child Abuse?

2010-12-05T16:02:00.006-07:00

If you are active on Facebook, you may have noticed your friends' profile pictures morphing into childhood cartoon characters like Snoopy, Scoobie Doo, Bettie Rubble, Daffy Duck or Marvin Martian. I changed mine on my personal profile (to I Dream of Jeannie, if you are at all curious).

So why have all these cartoon characters popped up as Facebook profile pictures? It seems to have started with this Facebook page, Campaign To End Violence Against Children, Childhood Cartoon Faces which asks us to temporarily change our profile pictures "to fight child abuse." Opinions are pouring in over the point of it all. Will changing your profile picture abruptly and permanently put an end to child abuse? Obviously and unfortunately, no. When I first caught wind of the campaign, and read the post that you're supposed to copy and repost after changing your picture, I admit that I questioned the point as well. "This is intended to fight child abuse? How?" Well, I found my way to the Facebook page that started it, noticed they had close to 20,000 fans, and that they provided links to a list of child protection and welfare organizations. They say more links to similar organizations can be found a NSPCC, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which is based in the UK. I immediately recognized it as a good cause and chose to participate.

Then came the questions. Then came other posts about "cartoons won't help but donations can." Now ... anyone who knows this writer, knows that child abuse is a topic close to my heart. I don't get involved in every cause out there, but child abuse will always be something I care about. After a devastating tragedy in my own family, I am hyper-sensitive to a few related topics that revolve around the murder of my daughter. Yes, serious stuff. Not the stuff that cartoons are made of. That tragedy led me to volunteer with the Public Relations Committee for the Children's Advocacy and Family Resource Center. Later, I worked for a non-profit whose mission statement revolved around the welfare of both children and animals. Do I know the seriousness of child abuse? YES. Do I take offense at someone trying to raise awareness about child abuse through social media and cartoons? No.

No, posting a picture won't in itself end child abuse. It's an awareness campaign. Someone said that it seems to be Facebook's version of posting a ribbon in support of a cause. I agreed with that comment and added that I believe more people will get involved because they have made it fun. Everyone knows that the pink ribbon symbolizes support for a cure for breast cancer. But when I see a purple, yellow or green ribbon I don't always know its intent. The website that started this said that by asking people to change their profile picture to a childhood cartoon, that they wanted "An invasion of memories to help raise awareness ..." By selecting our own cartoon character that has meaning for us, we are all supporting the same cause while still showing some individuality and stopping to reflect on our own childhood. I think it's ingenious. We were all aware that child abuse existed before this campaign. Yes, of course we were. But did we stop to do anything about it? It all has to begin somewhere and awareness is the first step.

I've seen articles about this on Mashable , I've seen conversations about it on Facebook and now I'm one of several who are blogging about it. A few of my friends and I had a 2-day conversation about it on Facebook. It took us back to our childhoods and our Rocky and Bullwinkle sheet sets and Scooby Doo lunch boxes. We reminisced about Wonder Woman and the Pink Panther and the Cookie Monster. It was something we could get involved with because it took us back to our own childhood memories. And then the questions and comments and push-back wriggled its way in. Which is great! Because did it bring us back to the topic of child abuse? Did it get us thinking about the topic at hand? Did the campaign serve its purpose? It think it did. I think it did.

Even the site that started the campaign says "Changing your profile pictures is only the first step. To make a real difference, DONATE to your children's charity or organization of choice." So, listed below are some options for you to donate or get involved.

Parents of Murdered Children

http://sungatekids.nationalchildrensalliance.org/

Prevent Child Abuse America

Tennyson Center for Children

http://americanhumane.org/
http://www.kempe.org/
http://child.cornell.edu/
http://www.childabuseprevention.org/
http://www.childhelp.org/
http://www.stopitnow.org/
http://www.violencestudy.org/
http://www.childwelfare.gov/
http://www.bantaybata163.com/
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/
http://www.familiesfirstcolorado.org/

It Takes HOW Many Impressions?

2010-11-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

A few years ago it took 3-4 marketing impressions before getting a customer who was ready to buy. That number today? 14 impressions! Today people are imune to advertising and are watching their pennies.

That's why social media marketing is such a great tool for reaching your target market. Impressions are any means that put you in front of your ideal client. And since people do business with those who they know, like and trust, social media networking is an invaluable tool in providing value for your clients and potential customers. It is truly authentic marketing when you interact with people on topics that interest them and gives you opportunities to show your expertise. When you show a sincere interest in helping others and give of your time and knowledge, you will attract potential clients who need what you have to offer. If they don't know you, they won't know that you can help them. So give people the opportunity to get to know the real you through your comments, posts, articles and interactions with them.

One word of caution, however. Automating your social media is counter-intuitive to the word "social" and is not authentic. While some things like links to informative articles or inspirational quotes can be automated, you really should answer questions and look for great content that can be retweeted manually. If you're already overwhelmed and the idea of adding social media marketing to your plate sends you over the edge, you may want to consider partnering with a Virtual Assistant who can help with your social media needs and everything else that has you in overwhelm.

Are you an Optimist, Pessimist or Realist?

2010-11-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting perspective on attitude in an excerpt from "Life Is Like Licking Honey Off a Thorn" by Susan Lenzkes:

Some people are optimists who “camp in pleasures and good memories,” denying the brokenness.

Others are pessimists who “focus on life’s losses, losing joy and victory in the process.”

The place to camp is as a realist who receives it all—all the good and bad of life—knowing that it will all work out for good. Doors open during trials, strength is found in endurance -- hardship can lead to prosperity.

Life's storms move out just as quickly as they move in. Learn from the turbulence and appreciate the calm. Use it all - the good and the bad - to put wind in your sails and motivate you toward your destination. After all, a sailboat needs some wind to take it where it's going.

The Art of Being in the Moment: 7 Steps to Help you Focus

2010-11-14T13:25:00.021-07:00

"I don't see much sense in that," said Rabbit.
"No," said Pooh humbly, "there isn't. But there was going to be when I began it. It's just that something happened to it along the way." -- Winnie the Pooh

There was a recent Harvard happiness study that revealed people who have the ability to live in the moment are happier than those whose focus is scattered, quickly moving from one thing to the next. We have millions of messages, information, tools, resources and gadgets screaming for our attention every day. Learning to be in the moment helps us to silence all of the chatter going on around us and focus only on the priority at hand. A few important things fully finished and accomplished at the end of the day will leave us with a feeling of satisfaction and purpose, whereas pouncing on every "squirrel" that crosses our path will leave too many half-baked ideas swirling around us and no sense of accomplishment. Also, when you move too fast, mistakes are made and life can pass you by while you're standing in one place spinning your wheels (the wheels are turning fast, but are you actually going anywhere?).

I'm in a hurry to get things done

Oh I rush & rush until life's no fun ...

Shakin' hands with the clock

I can't stop...

- Alabama (I'm in a Hurry)

So how do you stop the information overload, discern priorities and learn to focus in the moment? Here are a few suggestions:

Examine your life priorities.

Write down five or ten things you really want to accomplish or let go of or maintain. What would your best life look like from physical and spiritual health to family to your career?
Then take that list and prioritize what you want to happen first. Prioritize by what you instinctively know should come first, or an obvious deadline, or how much relief you'll feel once it's done. Some people start with a goal they know they can accomplish quickly to give them motivation for the rest of the list.
Then examine where you spend your time. Jotting down what you do for a week will help you see where your time goes.
Compare the two lists. Does how you spend your time match up with your priorities? If your priority is to have more quality time with family but you are working late and traveling for business, then what you say you want and what you're doing to get there are incongruent. You then are trying to play catch up with what, internally, you know you really want -- but never seem to get -- because you're not spending your time on that area of focus. Where you spend your time will reveal your priorities. If your priority is to take better care of your health but you spend all your free time on Facebook and eating pizza rather than taking a walk, going to the gym or creating a healthy grocery list, then examine your priorities. If you're not giving it some focus, how much of a priority is it? If it really is a priority but got lost in the shuffle of everything else, it needs your focus. So bring it back up to the top of the list, dust it off and be deliberate about giving it your attention. If you find yourself spending time on a distraction, ask yourself if this is contributing to your priority. Does it feed, shelter or nourish your mind, body or soul and does it contribute toward what really matters to you?

Get out of auto-pilot.

It's good to have some structure in our day, but when our daily routine begins to feel repetitive, mundane, and we don't feel challenged we become susceptible to those distractions. To live in the moment, avoid boredom by breaking out of the routine in small ways that make you think differently or experience a new environment. Try a new restaurant, take a different route to work or the store, take an afternoon off from work to take your kids to the zoo, if it is always "meatloaf Monday" for dinner try "taco Monday" instead.
Be aware of your surroundings. You may have passed that same park on the way to work every day and simply don't notice it. Allow time before or after your work day to actually stop and walk around the park. Are there flower beds? Go enjoy the smells and vibrant colors of the flowers. "Oh look ... they have a tennis court ... I'll come back with my wife this weekend, she loves to play tennis." Discover what's been around you all this time and see it with new eyes.

Be intentional about the people and projects that you allow in your day.

It's okay to say 'no' to people and things that don't serve your life's priorities. I used to think that was selfish but if you're stretched thin and having a nervous breakdown, you won't be any good to yourself or anyone else. Now, if there's someone in need and a family that's suffering, that's an opportunity to serve and show compassion which is one of my life's priorities. Some things, like serving each other in a crisis, should happen - period. I'm not talking about saying 'no' to being humane when something unforeseen happens. I'm talking about daily time-drains and distractions. If your plate is already full and you're not spending the focused time you need on what you've determined are your priorities, then volunteering for the fifth year in a row for your children's Christmas play or taking on a client that you know isn't ideal will just push you further away from your intentional priorities and focus. You can say 'no' to some things in favor of saying 'yes' and making time for others. It's about what Stephen Covey calls doing First Things First.

Be deliberate about scheduling your time.

If you start your day with a 'to do' list that doesn't get touched because you let the day 'just happen,' you may find that getting more deliberate about scheduling your time will help. Schedule e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g -- schedule your priority tasks just like you would doctor appointments and meetings. Everything takes time and that time needs to come from somewhere. Identify the tasks that will move you closer to your goals and then time block those projects into your calendar. Yes, life isn't always so neat and tidy and it has moving parts. Having the time reserved is a big step in identifying what you want to accomplish and shows others you're availability, but sometimes things come up that do need to interrupt your schedule. Be flexible and simply move that block of time somewhere else so you are not walking away from that project. But on a consistent basis, you should keep those appointments with yourself.
Some of us creative types have better success in "project blocking" rather than "time blocking." In other words, instead of blocking 9am-11am for marketing work, for example, you might block the entire morning to get two blog posts written. Then you're allowing time for that work, but if your creative brain doesn't kick in right at 9am, then you know you have until Noon to pull it all together.
Don't over schedule. Everything takes longer than you think it will so don't try to plug too much into your day. It will leave you feeling frustrated that you fell short when everything on the list couldn't get done, and then you'll be even busier the next day when you try to find room for the things that you had to carry over. If you think something should take an hour, double it and give yourself plenty of buffer time for all that it will take to accomplish that task. This will also help to keep you from over-promising and under-delivering.
If an interruption or new assignment doesn't meet some predetermined criteria (like it will save a life or fuels another important priority), then make time for it later -- don't let it interrupt what you're doing now. Once it's on your calendar and you've reserved time for it, you don't have to let it distract you anymore.

Be mindful of your thoughts.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift - that's why it is called the present." Are you letting today be defined by mistakes from your past which bogs down your intention and keeps you captive to former behaviors? Or are you so anxious about the future that you're being pulled forward with worry -- "if I don't do this or that, my future will be in jeopardy." Stop it! Living in the past or worrying about the future are traps that keep your wheels spinning only to dig you deeper into the ruts that won't allow you to move forward. To move forward you need to experience this moment, right now. Breathe it in and experience it. Give this moment all of your focus and attention.
Breathe. Take a deep breath through your nose and slowly breathe out through your mouth. Listen to your breath as you breathe out. Breathe in confidence and peace, breathe out anxiety and fear. Live in the moment.
Meditate or pray. Connect with your higher source and ask that your thoughts be settled, your anxiety be calmed. If you feel anxious and spread thin, take a moment to get re-centered and re-focused.

Don't worry, be happy.

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” (Corrie Ten Boom). Tomorrow has enough worries of its own, you are alive right now and this moment needs your attention. Place your hand over your heart and feel it beat. It is beating in this moment - be thankful and be in the moment with it. Don't let negative thoughts zap this moment of its energy. Challenge every negative or fearful thought with a more powerful positive one. Speaking of positive, surround yourself with positive people, listen to uplifting music (I like "Positive Encouraging KLOVE"), step outside for some sunshine, jump out of your chair in jubilation and see how a negative or distracted mindset can instantly be changed to a positive, productive one. Have fun on purpose -- schedule time for fun and make it a priority that won't get stepped on by other demands.

Practice gratitude.

Often our mind isn't on where we are or what we have because we're too busy trying to keep up with the Joneses. We think "as soon as I have ___" or "as soon as I become ___" then we will be happy. So once we reach a goal, we're not satisfied to stay there because we still perceive ourselves to be behind someone. Break the cycle of comparing yourself to others. There will always be someone who has more, knows more and seems to have it all. Quit trying to chase someone else's dream and instead look at what you have now. Remember all that you've already accomplished and those people you have helped. If you insist on comparing yourself to someone else, think about how much more fortunate you are than the majority of our population. If you are reading this blog on a PC or laptop or Kindle, you are unbelievably fortunate. Remember what you have and be grateful, rather than allowing for the distraction of what others are doing to interrupt your progress on your own life's journey. If it's important to you, you might very well have the ability to buy your dream house in a year - but that won't happen unless you slow down and focus on the tasks of today.

Okay, I'm off to take my own advice. When I logged in this morning, I had two specific tasks to accomplish -- neither of them were writing a blog. ;) To get you and me started on the right foot, I've added a little song audio below. Enjoy and "seize the day!" (but in an intentional, focused and deliberate way - not scattered, frenzied, or fast).

What "Dancing With The Stars" Can Teach Us About Business

2010-11-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

As I watched Kurt Warner's gracious departure on tonight's episode of Dancing with the Stars, his departing words made me realize that this glitzy, addictive show actually has some valuable lessons for solo-preneurs and small businesses. Kurt's words stirred me when he said, "You know, I learned a long time ago that life isn't always about winning and losing competitions ... it gave me an opportunity to impact people and build relationships. So that's really what it's all about."

Impacting people and building relationships are, in part, why most of us went into business for ourselves; especially heart-based business owners. What else has this program taught us?

Here's what I like to call "Small Business Lessons from Dancing with the Stars:"

If the opportunity presents itself and it means stretching your comfort zone - take it.
If you're afraid, do it anyway.
A small amount of anxiety can be healthy; instead of letting it paralyze you, make it work for you to drive you forward and give you an edge.
Age isn't a factor -- people of all ages can dance.
Learn from those who have gone before you, listen to them, have a mentor.
Work and move together -- collaborate.
Admit you can't know it all and let an expert guide you.
When you are out of step, catch your breath and quickly get back into sync.
Dress to impress.
Sway with the music and make time to dance.
Practice, practice, practice.
Learn something new every week.
Communicate and work out your differences.
Be determined, stay in the game and never give up.
Strive for improvement, not perfection.
Your greatest competition is yourself. Don't worry about what others are doing.
Celebrate other's successes and build relationships.
Don't (intentionally) step on each other's toes.
If you trip up or fall, help each other up.
If you make a mistake, keep going.
People appreciate it when you bend over backwards.
Appreciate that each of you are truly doing your best and giving it your all.
We all have "off" days.
You won't always know what melody you'll be handed. Be ready for anything, do your best with what you're given and whenever possible make your own music.
Confidence in yourself leads to rave reviews.
Listen to feedback - it may help you to improve and grow.
Don't listen to critics if they're trying to crush your dream.
Keep your chin up and always look forward.
Reach out to the community for support - they can save you when your critics are tearing you down.
If all else fails, flirt with those judging you.
Stay in shape, keep your skills sharp and be flexible.
It doesn't hurt to have someone announce ... er, introduce you (network).
It doesn't matter if you were previously unknown, once you show what you can do, you'll have people wanting more.
After a job well-done, it's okay to take a bow and absorb the applause.

And most importantly... keep your sense of humor, smile and have fun!

How to Work Less and Earn More: Answers to Your Questions from the Person who Formalized the Virtual Assistance Industry

2010-10-29T22:04:00.011-06:00

Did 2010 leave you thinking, “I could have had a VA?”

Business owners, as you close out your books in 4Q and you look back on the year, how did it go? It may be that business was good but could have been so much better if you weren’t spread so thin. Have you been thinking of working with a Virtual Assistant? Why not start now? Now is the perfect time to get help as you carve out your plans for 2011. Once you bring your VA into your practice, she will help you brainstorm what needs to get done and ways to accomplish those goals. Bring her in during your 4Q planning and wrap-up and you will both be able to hit the ground running to focus on your 2011 goals.

If you are an entrepreneur doing everything yourself, the best gift you can give your business is the expert help that it needs to run, so you can do what you do best. If you’re overwhelmed, partnering with a VA is the best ongoing gift you can give yourself, your family and your clients because an over-extended version of you isn’t much good to anyone.

I realize that many entrepreneurs don’t know that help is available. You may think that the only way to get your back-end processes and tasks accomplished is to do them yourself or hire an employee which isn’t feasible because of your home office and budget. There is a better solution. A Virtual Assistant is not an employee; she is a business owner who is an expert in the back-end business details. And she works from her own home office. Maybe you just need more information. You’re in luck! Molly Gordon with Authentic Promotion recently interviewed Anastacia Brice, the founder of AssistU. Anastacia formalized the term Virtual Assistance and trains highly skilled administrative professionals to launch their own Virtual Assistant businesses. Below is a link to the 1-hour interview that is filled with answers to many of the burning questions you may have about partnering with a VA. I am an AssistU graduate and welcome your questions about how I can help you in your business.

Bottom line: Your business needs ongoing support to grow, so look for a VA who will be your long-term, right-hand, primary administrative support partner.

Audio link:

http://www.selfemploymenttelesummit.com/audio/2010previews/BriceVA-SETS10Preview.mp3

A Virtual Assistant can help move your business growth forward with ease.
Below are highlights taken from the above audio (not verbatim).

Q: What is a VA?

A: A Virtual Assistant is an Administrative professional who is an expert in running the administrative pieces of your business. A VA loves taking care of the back-end pieces that all businesses have. A VA loves to make things hum, buzz, sing, and dance. A VA’s passion for the administrative details fits nicely with a business owner who doesn’t have this same passion because the help a VA provides frees you up to do what you love and are good at. There is another online business support industry out there that focuses on project and piece work and they then need to go find more clients after every project. The AssistU business model that VAs are taught to follow is one of a long-term collaborative relationship. This means the VA is more present to focus on her clients’ businesses. The biggest difference between other online support services and a highly skilled VA is the collaborative relationship. Collaboration allows for a higher quality contribution. As a VA, I work with a small group of clients long term. Now other people have come along and added their own spin to what a Virtual Assistant is. Others have hung out their VA sign but they only want to handle one slice of your business or project work. AssistU trained VAs are fabulous administrative professionals, your one stop shop for support and your primary partner. With that said, if everyone reading this were to learn 500 new things every day, we still will never know it all. It is folly to expect a VA to do everything you need. But a fabulous VA should be a one stop shop in terms of getting it done or finding resources to get it done. A VA can’t be all things to all people, nor can anyone. But a VA is a great resource for finding ways to make things happen.

Q: What if I struggle with allowing someone to represent my company when I’ve been doing everything myself?

A: Do you somehow feel it’s important for it to look like you’re doing everything yourself in your business -- as if all email replies should come from you as the owner? Do you feel as though you’re advocating responsibility for your business if you let others figure things out on their own? As a business owner, even if you are a solopreneur, you infuse the culture of your company with important principles. As long as the people you have helping you share those values and fit with your long term objectives, you should be able to trust them to free up your time. Anastacia’s standard is that whatever goes out of here has to go out with grace and love. If you were comfortable with your VA's communication skills when you partnered with her, trust that she will communicate in that way for you. She will interact with your clients in a way that they feel heard, loved and gotten. Then sit back and don’t worry about those tasks and communications that you no longer have to handle. If you need an eBook designer, trust that your VA will look for a great one who fits with your company culture. Because she “gets” the client, she will look for resources that fit with the client’s values and culture. Once you see that you are working with someone who has your best interests at heart, it’s easier to loosen the grip on the steering wheel and successfully delegate tasks that represent your company. Almost everything is better carried out by a VA than completed by you when you’re overextended. No matter how small, your company has a culture. You are the driving force for your business and you infuse it with who you are and what you want for it. Skills can be learned but people who come in must fit with your values and culture. VAs get the tasks of today handled and also look out at the landscape ahead. VAs walk next you on your business path and can be the voice of reason to remind you of your vision.

Q: I’ve been waiting until I had systems in place and was at the top of my game to get help, but it never seems to be the perfect time. How do I know when I’m ready for help?

A: You don’t have to be on top of your game and have everything in order before partnering with a VA. The time will never come if you wait for everything to be perfect. As business owners we’re always fine-tuning and launching and growing. There is no such thing as a time when things are settled or perfect. The perfect time to get help is now. Your VA can help you figure out what systems to implement. There is one mindset you need to shed before partnering with a VA, though. If you have come into business ownership after you were an employee from somewhere else, I would caution you to check that corporate mentality at the door. You know, the thinking that my assistant is “less than” or does the grunt work. If you bring that kind of thinking over into your VA partnership, it will kill the relationship and leave you without the help that you need. Virtual Assistants are high level professionals who are business owners just like you. Think about your relationship with other service professionals. If you call in a plumber, you step aside and let him do his job, not stand over his shoulder and tell him what tools to use. VAs are service professionals with a high degree of professionalism, are experts at what they do, and are your equals.

Q: When you say that VAs are highly qualified professionals it sounds like it will cost a lot to work with one.

A: The role of a Virtual Assistant was not designed to be the low cost alternative to hiring an employee. It is meant to be the effective and efficient alternative. However, if you were to look at the costs associated with hiring an employee, there are many cost savings to working with a VA since you’re only paying for productive time (no down time, vacations, lunch, etc.) and the VA pays for her own taxes, equipment and other fees that normally the employer would pick up. Using the plumber analogy, if you decided to do the work yourself, it would cost you time to go to Home Depot, research the problem, research the solution, research the necessary equipment, buy the tools, get training, time to do it, and then hire someone to come in and fix what you screwed up. It ended up costing you more not getting help in the first place. The economies may not be apparent on the front end because of all the costs of doing business that you don’t even think about that the VA is picking up on her end. At the end of day, doing it yourself is costing you more and you’re overextending yourself. If you’re not living a balanced life, you will burn out in your business. Where you fall short in self-care, will show up in your business.

Q: What can I delegate to a VA? What skills do VAs have?

A: Carry a note pad or day planner around for a week and every time you do something, evaluate if this was something you had to do. If at first blush, you think ‘yes,’ take another look. Is it really true that only you could take care of it? Ask yourself if someone else who really has your best interests at heart couldn’t be doing those things on the list. At the end of a week, you should have a long list of things that could be going away from you. As for what skills a VA has, depends on the VA. Anastacia used to be a Virtual Assistant and worked with best-selling authors, but if you asked her to manage your affiliate program, she would have said, “that’s not my strength but let me find someone who can do that for us.” Your primary need should be the back-end administrative tasks, but there will be VAs who are great at social media marketing, PowerPoint presentations, bookkeeping, copywriting, etc. A fabulous VA will have fabulous administrative skills to get things done or has ready resources to get it done. If you’re looking for a specialized service like a web designer, your VA can research other help and vendors. Knowing your core values she can find an Affiliate Manager or Web Designer who she thinks fits with your business and tell you why. The one thing you should never turn over to someone else is the final decision on venders and affiliations, though. Once your VA does the initial leg work, then you go look at the service provider’s website and have your own conversation with them to make sure they are a fit with the culture of your company. So many people get into business because they’re good at what they do, but they’re not good at running a business. Your VA can help you find resources and take work off your plate, but you are still responsible for the decisions for your business that fit your culture. Look for someone who will walk alongside you to help make things easier, who is invested in your success, who stays in the loop with things that matter to you and things that impact your business. And then trust your VA to manage those things so you can get back to what you’re good at. It’s an equal partnership (we’re not talking a legal partnership, simply the mindset of the relationship).

Q: If VAs work with multiple clients does that affect their availability or could there be confidentiality issues?

A: Most VAs work on a retainer, which means that you are buying a block of time. That block can increase as your needs grow, but basically, it’s the same amount of time every month so you know how much to budget. If you retain ten hours, that is 10 hour of work to be used across an entire month. You are not buying instant access / immediate attention. If that’s what you need, you need an employee. If have a good work flow and things can wait an hour or 48 hours, then a VA relationship will work very well for you. As for confidentiality issues, a good question to ask your prospective VA, is how she defines a conflict of interest and what she would do if one should arise. Even if someone signs a non-compete clause, they could walk right through your agreements if they don’t understand how to recognize the conflict. Anastacia ran across a VA who teaches the same thing as what her client does and didn’t see a problem with that until it was pointed out to her. AssistU VAs are aware of this and should be able to think through a situation to see the potential for conflict. But not everyone out there who hangs their “VA open for business” sign will understand or recognize what a conflict of interest is. So talk about that during the interview process to make sure she would recognize possible conflicts and how she would handle. Anastacia was working with two clients when the 2^nd client announced an exciting book project. Anastacia said, “That sounds a lot like a project another client is working on -- let me find out if client #1 would be okay with me helping you with that.” Even if a VA's intentions are pure, they run the risk that they might accidentally violate confidentially around that project. Client #1 was not comfortable with that and Anastacia simply said I cannot work on the book project with you but I can find someone else who can do a great job for you. A great VA is careful not to violate a confidence. You should feel safe in the relationship. Back to the misguided expectation of immediate access – Molly mentioned that she found the more she and her VA collaborate, the better they get at plugging things into a schedule ahead of time and planning task lists to avoid emergencies and eliminate the need for immediate access. Let your VA help you put systems in place that will help you run your business without emergencies. Now, just like any business, VAs have different hours of availability. Anastacia’s VA does not work on Fridays. This is her standard just like Chick-fil-e isn’t open on Sundays. That standard is accepted and work planned accordingly. Now, once in a great while, opportunities come up that aren’t planned for like when the Today Show contacted Anastacia on a Friday. That opportunity doesn’t happen every day or every year, so if Anastacia called on a Friday and explained the situation, it’s likely her VA would make herself available to help. This can happen because her standards aren’t abused and something like that is a huge opportunity for AssistU. So, even if something comes up outside of your VA’s hours (if it’s rare and not abused), a great VA is willing to be flexible and be available if she can make it happen. She’s also invested in your success and wants to help when she can.

Q: What kind of fees do VAs charge? What is it really likely to cost me?

A: If you’ve read the 4-Hour work week, you know that one way to get help is to get off-shore online services from places like India, Pakistan or the Philippines. This may look like a viable option when you hear that they charge $4 an hour. Anastacia contracted off-shore services herself so she could talk from experience rather than make assumptions. What she found is that assistants in other countries are great replicators at finding bits of information where there is only one possible answer, but from her experience, they did not have the same discernment skills. That doesn’t mean you won’t encounter some very hard workers with a great work ethic, but there is a gap in terms of making suggestions to benefit your business when compared to a U.S. based VA. If you have standardized, one-off projects like entering data into a database that doesn’t require critical thinking, that might be an option -- simple replicable tasks. But if you’re based in the US, there’s something to be said for supporting America’s economy and if you have a business that needs ongoing support, you really need to look for your long-term, right-hand person. Collaboration is the key and your VA should be more like you than less like you, share your language and culture and if based in the U.S., not charge less than $30 an hour. A U.S. based VA cannot be profitable given our system of taxation and expenses for less than that -- and $30 an hour is really pushing it. Once the VA realizes that she’s not profitable, she goes out of business and there goes your right-hand person. Choose a block of time based on a retainer that is in your budget and begin collaborating with a VA within those parameters. 10 or 15 hours a month is 100% time focused on you and your work (no potty breaks or lunch, etc.). AssistU has two certification levels and those who have the Master level certification (only 6 VAs in the world) will charge around $100/hour. New VAs may charge $35-45/hour and the mid-range might be $55-60/hour.

Q: What questions should I ask a VA?

A: How long they’ve been in business or what training/experience she has, how she built her business (hopefully not on a wing and a prayer), what she really loves doing. Pay attention to their writing skills and how they communicate with you. Talk with several VAs and see who resonates with you first. Follow up with those you feel a connection with. Skills can be learned but the connection makes a great partnership.

Q: Can your VA act like an agent, contact speakers bureaus and negotiate on your behalf?

Anastacia did act as an agent because she built relationships every time she called a venue. But that can be overstepping, expecting that from your VA unless with time, she’s developed a niche that she’s extremely comfortable with. But if you need some great PR, marketing, or graphics done at high level, spend money on a Marketing Consultant or Graphic Designer. VAs all come with different skill sets and you might find one who can create web pages with HTML, but, expecting all of that from VA, will leave you feeling annoyed, because you’re not going to get it. If you need an agent’s knowledge and expertise, hire an agent to best serve your needs.

The Self Employment Telesummit that is mentioned in the audio is over with (Sept. 16-Oct. 1, 2010) but is now available as a home study program. http://www.selfemploymenttelesummit.com/. The above audio interview was posted with Molly Gordon's permission.

Do I Use Right-Brain or Left-Brain Thinking to Serve My Clients?

2010-10-23T13:34:00.003-06:00

I use my whole brain, thank you. :)

If you've seen the movie, "Up," you know that the reference "Squirrel!" means that something new to chase or explore has grabbed our attention and in that moment can be a distraction from where our attention would be better served. But sometimes those "Squirrel!" moments are gifts that lead to new learnings.

I had a "Squirrel!" moment today when I was researching something and landed on a page with an optical illusion that asked which way the ballerina was spinning. Supposedly, if you saw her spinning counterclockwise, you are left-brained dominant and if clockwise, right-brained dominate. If you're curious, a video of this illusion is below.

The illusion was interesting but I am an information gatherer and wasn't going to blindly believe that I was prone to thinking one way over another based on this illusion. So I went deeper and searched for a right brain / left brain assessment and a description of what that means.

Now we all have one brain and we all use both sides of our brain. But according to the table below (found on About.com), one side is more creative and the other is more analytical. And we usually think one way more predominantly than the other and have a dominant way of thinking -- our natural default. We may be linear and logical or more sensing and feeling and "go with our gut." You can see all of the descriptions that differentiate right brain / left brain below. The best description I've read says, that one (the right brain) is visual and processes information in an intuitive and simultaneous way, looking first at the whole picture then the details (like a painter or architect who needs to visualize the end result before creating it, paint stroke by paint stroke or brick by brick).. The other (the left brain) is verbal and processes information in an analytical and sequential way, looking first at the pieces then putting them together to get the whole. So the left-brain may be more aware of time-sensitive issues and be driven by deadlines. If you are right-brain dominant, it is your intuitive, emotional right hemisphere that guides the decisions you make throughout the day. If you are left-brain dominant, it is your sequential, time-oriented left hemisphere which tells you how to think, what to believe, and what choices to make.

Okay, so my results? Based on the results below, I make decisions moving in and out of both sides of my brain equally. When making a decision, I ask if it makes sense (pros and cons) and does it feel right (relational and intuitive).

Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz
The higher of these two numbers below indicates which side of your brain has dominance in your life. Realising your right brain/left brain tendancy will help you interact with and to understand others.
Left Brain Dominance:	(16)
Right Brain Dominance:	(16)
Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz

This doesn't surprise me as I have always been described as someone who is both creative and analytical. I have a love for digital photography and writing. I also love to research and will dissect something until I get at the truth. I've also always been one to see two (or more) sides to every situation and story. After gathering information, I may agree with several perspectives which will ultimately help me to get closer to the truth and form my own opinion.

Explaining right brain / left brain characteristics (source: About.com)

While we have a natural tendency towards one way of thinking, the two sides of our brain work together in our everyday lives. The right side of the brain focuses on the visual, and processes information in an intuitive and simultaneous way, looking first at the whole picture then the details. The focus of the left brain is verbal, processing information in an analytical and sequential way, looking first at the pieces then putting them together to get the whole.

Right Brain Inventory	Left Brain Inventory
• Visual, focusing on images, patterns	• Verbal, focusing on words, symbols, numbers
• Intuitive, led by feelings	• Analytical, led by logic
• Process ideas simultaneously	• Process ideas sequentially, step by step
• 'Mind photos' used to remember things, writing things down or illustrating them helps you remember	• Words used to remember things, remember names rather than faces
• Make lateral connections from information	• Make logical deductions from information
• See the whole first, then the details	• Work up to the whole step by step, focusing on details, information organized
• Organization tends to be lacking	• Highly organized
• Free association	• Like making lists and planning
• Like to know why you're doing something or why rules exist (reasons)	• Likely to follow rules without questioning them
• No sense of time	• Good at keeping track of time
• May have trouble with spelling and finding words to express yourself	• Spelling and mathematical formula easily memorized
• Enjoy touching and feeling actual objects (sensory input)	• Enjoy observing
• Trouble prioritizing, so often late, impulsive	• Plan ahead
• Unlikely to read instruction manual before trying	• Likely read an instruction manual before trying
• Listen to how something is being said	• Listen to what is being said
• Talk with your hands	• Rarely use gestures when talking
• Likely to think you're naturally creative, but need to apply yourself to develop your potential	• Likely to believe you're not creative, need to be willing to try and take risks to develop your potential

Branding and New Twitter Page

2010-08-08T14:55:00.000-06:00

Bottom line: In a hurry and don't want to read all this? I have a new Twitter background and welcome your (honest but friendly) feedback. http://twitter.com/MerriTaylor

Your brand is your business' image. To brand yourself correctly means to consistently use an image, slogan, colors or headers throughout your print materials and online presence so those elements become so much a part of your business identity that when people see them, they think of you. It's not so much about what you do (your product or service) as how you consistently present yourself. For example, Mari Smith is an awesome social media expert and whenever I find a website, blog or Facebook page for Mari, they are branded with her picture wearing her signature turquoise. Her product packaging and even her wardrobe consistently have the color turquoise woven through them, and her social media presence uses the same logo, picture or header throughout. She has a consistent, polished identity which is like adding the "from" tag to a gift or the punctuation mark to an elated statement. Having a brand ties everything together and helps people recognize and remember you.

I said it's not so much about what you do that makes up your brand, but I may have to argue that point with myself. ;o) A Nordstrom's example comes to mind. When you think of Nordstrom's do you think of designer names and high end apparel? Can you visualize their logo? Do they have a slogan? One of the first things I think of with Nordstrom's is their amazing customer service stories. Whether true or not, their extreme, 'no questions asked' return policy and customer satisfaction have become synonymous with their brand.

When I think of Budweiser, I think of their infamous Clydesdale horses before I think of beer. Old Navy's branding had been taken over by mannequins. Branding combined with clever marketing can make a person feel like they're missing out on laughter, food and good times if they don't run out to Chili's for a cold one and steak fajitas right away. Properly timed marketing can having you searching for your car keys to run to McDonalds at dinner time. That's why I've never understood why companies like ex-lax® or Pepto-Bismol continually choose to advertise at meal time. Anyone with me on that one?

But, I digress. Back to my Twitter page. I'm a solo-preneur and am doing my own branding, marketing, PR, social media, website and everything it takes to run a business with the tools, resources and knowledge that I have and continue to build upon. I will typically start with an available theme and then customize it. Since I'm a new business with a limited budget, I'm not using a marketing firm to package my image, and it was becoming apparent to me that my online presence didn't have a very consistent look (it was all over the place). My website has a clean look with a message about balance, a starfish story that shares what a difference one person can make, and talks about focusing on the 'big rocks' and to leave the sand (details) to me. While my Twitter page (thank you to vBuzz who gave me exactly what I asked for) tied in with the blue and purple colors in my logo and the imagery of butterflies in flight (to help your business take flight). And my blog ... we'll I've changed themes eight times in two months. Nothing consistent about that. :) So, I've subtly tied my online sites together by getting away from the bright blue/purple and having a more earthy feel with colors and images. The blog uses hunter green and burnt orange for accent colors and has rotating images, some that are identical to images used on my website. And this new Twitter page uses more earth tones and still incorporates a butterfly but with a color-matching photograph and shows the starfish, sand and balanced rocks. When I move from website to blog to Twitter page, I get the same down-to-earth, strive for balance kind of feel without each site looking the same. Though they're not the same theme or header throughout, I think they tie together with color and images.

Anyway, depending on your resolution, you should see something similar to one of the three images below. If you see something different and images aren't aligned, please let me know. Also, I'm wondering if there are too many elements on the Twitter background or if it feels crowded? Thanks in advance for anyone who wants to take a look. http://twitter.com/MerriTaylor

My Ideal Client

2010-08-06T23:59:00.004-06:00

So, I had a revelation about who I want to work with while I was on my walk today. The bike trail was popular and I walked by people who were walking, skating, running and cycling. I was surprised at how many would look right at me and not so much as grin, smile, mouth the words 'hi', tip their heads ... nothing.

Ok, if they were looking straight ahead ... that's not ideal, but okay fine, apparently they're very very focused on peddling or walking. If they were looking down at their feet ... I would wonder if they were shy or sad and maybe in need of a friend. But to look me in the eyes ... to look right at me while I smile and say 'hi' but continue to stare w/o extending any energy to lift the corners of their mouths or say 'hi' back ... those are the people that many businesses are filled with and I don't miss them.

The handful of people that looked my way with a smile, wave or an actual sound (like "Hello!") ... those are the types of people who, without knowing anything else about them, would likely make ideal clients. They make an attempt to connect, they step outside themselves to be personable, they greet you with a smile, their actions say that we share this world and "I see you and respect you enough to acknowledge you." Okay, yes, I know seemingly 'charming' people who would smile at others on a hiking trail, who actually are self-focused con-artists. So, yes there's more to it than being personable. The client and VA need to click and trust each other and have a history of their actions matching their words. Credibility and integrity are must haves. But there's a lot to be said for how those personable people see life and how they treat those around them.

Have you ever walked down a busy sidewalk when a group of people are coming at you shoulder-to-shoulder? You do the polite thing and move as far to the right as you can, but they don't step to the left or break up their chorus line to walk single file long enough to pass. Anyone? They continue to walk forward taking up the entire sidewalk, leaving you with no where to go? I put those people in the same "staring you down without smiling" group. But have you ever had someone let you ahead of them in line in the grocery store or let you merge in traffic? Those are the people I want to know and emulate.

Personable, courteous, compassionate and always acting with integrity ... that's what I bring to the table and my walk today helped to reaffirm that those are the qualities that make up my ideal client. Oh ... and humor ... humor's always a good thing too. :) Sometimes something as simple as a walk can get us refocused on where we're going and give us clarity on who we want to take along with us.

The Daffodil Principle

2010-08-01T20:14:00.000-06:00

When I was in the middle of AssistU's five-month long, intensive Virtual Training Program, I was taught to take time for myself and to look for ways to stay inspired. We were directed to a website with (I believe all true) inspirational stories and were asked to pick one that resonated with us.

This year has been a transitional one for me with some unexpected, life-altering changes. The story that I chose inspired me then and still wraps its message around me today. I am reminded that there are lessons to be gleaned from the pieces that come together to form the bigger picture, the picture that unfolds to become our life stories. I hope you enjoy the below story and what it has to teach, as much as I do.

The Daffodil Principle

Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead.

"I will come next Tuesday, " I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."

"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.

"I was hoping you'd take me over to the garage to pick up my car."

"How far will we have to drive?"

"Just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."

After several minutes, I had to ask, "Where are we going? This isn't the way to the garage!"

"We're going to my garage the long way," Carolyn smiled, "by way of the daffodils."

"Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around."

"It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign that said, "Daffodil Garden."

We got out of the car and each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns-great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

"But who has done this?" I asked Carolyn.

"It's just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home."

Carolyn pointed to a well kept A-frame house that looked small and modest in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking" was the headline.

The first answer was a simple one."50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."

There it was, The Daffodil Principle. For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun ~ one bulb at a time ~ to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world. This unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of ineffable (indescribable) magnificence, beauty, and inspiration.

The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time ~ often just one baby-step at a time ~ and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world.

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years. Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.

I love the lesson in this story -- learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time (sometimes with baby steps and sometimes in leaps and bounds). Patience, perseverance, persistence, dedication and focused attention can get us to our dreams and change the world -- one bulb, friendship, prayer, task or day at a time. As long as you're doing something on a consistent basis, with the accumulation of time, you will see results and your efforts will expand. This theme must resonate with me because on my website, I have a starfish story that summarizes my philosophy about one person making difference.

Today, I discovered another lesson in this story: If there's something you want to explore, see, do or make happen, don't hesitate. Those opportunities may not always be there and time is short. I learned that the Daffodil Garden is a real place located below Running Springs, California, in the San Bernardino Mountains. Over 1 million bulbs were planted by Gene Bauer who is now 83 years young. She started planting 50 years ago and the gardens have been open to the public for 40 years. As I thought about a trip to California and incorporating the gardens into my visit, I learned that the spring of 2009 was the last time the gardens were accessible to the public and now Gene and her husband are keeping a less demanding pace in retirement. Then, I looked into the Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival held annually at Chatfield Reservoir in Colorado, only to find out that it has been cancelled permanently. I did make it to that festival a couple of years ago, but the Daffodil Garden is no longer something that I will be able to experience first-hand.

Did this story resonate with you? Do you know how you can start implementing these lessons today?

Be Ready When Opportunity Knocks

2010-07-30T12:19:00.000-06:00

Plan so you're prepared, then act when it's time to move.

Facebook Questions

2010-07-30T09:16:00.000-06:00

Have you heard of Facebook's new service "Facebook Questions?" Facebook beta testers have been using it for awhile but now Facebook is getting ready to roll it out to its 500+ million users.
There are similar services out there, like Yahoo Answers, but have you *seen* some of the answers people provide there? There can be quite a credibility issue and it's hard to tell what's true and what's not. Facebook Questions hopes to offer an answer service that resolves the credibility problem by only sending the question to people who have self-identified as an expert on that topic.
I tried to test the new service this morning and got a message that they're not quite ready for us yet.
If you feel the answers are trustworthy and come from someone with sufficient knowledge, I think this could be a great tool for doing research or surveys. Would you use Facebook's new service to pose questions to the public, and do you think the answers would be reliable?
http://www.facebook.com/questions/not_ready.php

Believe in Your Dreams

2010-07-22T11:13:00.000-06:00

All that you wish for

All that you dream of

All that you hope to be

Is within you ...

Believe in your dreams

I Recommend Ross Blaettner For Your Logo Design Needs

2010-07-13T01:33:00.008-06:00

I have had a couple of people ask me recently who designed my logo. Ross Blaettner is the designer and he is amazing! In addition to being an awesome designer, he listens and gets to know what *you* want, nicely explains when/why something won't work from a design standpoint, understands that your logo represents you and is very meaningful to you, and is an all-around great guy. :)

I wanted to incorporate butterflies because of their transformational aspect and because once the caterpillar goes from simply crawling along to gaining its wings, it is then free to 'take flight' which is what I want to help my clients' already growing businesses do.

There are 2 butterflies to convey partnership and they're both taking flight together. Knowing that butterflies can lean toward a feminine appeal, I think Ross did a great job coming up with something that appeals to both genders. Also, in ancient mythology, the butterfly represents wisdom and everlasting knowledge. The Ancient Greek word for "butterfly" primarily means "soul" and "mind".

Oh, and after getting to know me and discovering my other business (Scenic Sentiments), my love for flowers, and a quote on my website about the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom, Ross and I discussed how the butterflies in flight can also look like the petals of a flower perched upon a stem and opening up to full bloom.

Ross provided me with separate tagline graphics and letterhead templates. He consistently gives and provides great value. If you have logo design needs, please let me know and it will be my pleasure to put you in touch with my designer, Ross.

Doing My Part With The BP Oil Spill

2010-07-09T19:59:00.002-06:00

With each day that goes by with no resolution to the BP oil spill, I feel increasingly helpless and wish I could step in and put an end to the destruction. I saw a report tonight that reminded me that the USA's dependence on oil from transportation to plastics is partly to blame for this disaster. They said something like if every American reduced their driving by just 5% a week, as a country we would reduce the total demand for oil by 30%. I also read that by reducing fuel consumption by just 5%, we would keep 1.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

That made me realize that I may not be able to fly to the gulf coast and scoop up all of the birds, turtles and endangered species, but I can do my part to decrease usage/demand for the gunk that continues to spew continuously into our ocean at 1.5-2.5 million gallons per day. Now that I have a home office, I can easily go days without driving. Add that to the other energy saving and recycling activities that I have implemented, and suddenly I don't feel as helpless. I can do what I can do. I'm decreasing demand and as an entrepreneur with a home office, my gasoline usage has gone way down. Okay, not so helpless. It's something. It's something.

Oh, there's something else I can do. I can share information about the peliCAN T-shirt by Frederik Wepener and Ross Zietz being sold at Threadless.com. ALL proceeds from the sale of this shirt are being donated to The Gulf Restoration Network (healthygulf.org). An image of the graphic on the T-shirt is below. http://www.threadless.com/product/2346/peliCAN

Embrace Your Greatness. Shine Your Light.

2010-06-24T12:40:00.000-06:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
-Maryanne Williamson

Find the Need

2010-06-23T08:13:00.004-06:00

"I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent." - Thomas Edison

This quote says a lot about what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Have you thought about the products or services you offer lately as they relate to customer need? Some suggestions:

Interact with potential clients in person and on social networking sites to find out what they're begging for and fill the need.
Do an occasional survey to gauge interest before diving into a product launch.
Involve your customers and ask, ask, ask.
Let go of the product or service that hasn't given you a return on investment.
Are you a service industry? It may be time for some professional development to brush up on your existing skills or add new ones.

There are always opportunities to give our clients what they need. But how do we know what they need unless we ask? So entrepreneurs, I'll start with my business. If you're overwhelmed and looking for some relief, what do you need help with? What would you love to have a Virtual Assistant step in and manage for you?

The Missing Link in Customer Service

2010-06-13T01:27:00.006-06:00

Follow through and follow up are two different things, and while I had one focus when beginning this blog post, I'm finding that I can't talk about one without the other.

If I were asked which is more important in my business in terms of client satisfaction, my knee jerk reaction would be follow through. But if you want your customers to refer their friends to you or you want to maintain on ongoing, future relationship with them, follow up is equally important toward your customer's overall experience with you. They shouldn't feel like the doors were closed to them after that initial sale or interaction. Are your customers feeling valued through the entire process?

Recently (most in the past week):

I've been trying to speak to a live person at my credit union. As of yesterday, it had been a week of phone calls, messages and online requests for someone to call me back. I left my name, account number, phone number, reason for calling ... by the 3rd call I let them know that I had already left a couple of messages. Finally, a week later, I get a call and when I mentioned that I had been trying to reach someone for a week I was met with silence. When I asked if she had received my messages, she said something like "I'm sure I have." The complete disregard for me as a client had me inquiring further ... with no apology or concern for me as a person or customer, I didn't just drop it there. I asked if she was just incredibly busy or something and I received an unemotional "Yah, that was probably it" retort back. Unbelievable - this actually doesn't even fall into follow through or follow up, this falls into a different realm of respect your clients, return their calls within 24 hours and do what you can to make them feel special, important and valued. Was that my experience? Nope. Additionally, there are some documents that she said she would both mail (USPS) and email to me. I should have received the email that same day, but nothing arrived.
I also had to deal with my insurance company on a couple of items. With one item, the agent was going to email me a form to fill out to have some optional coverage removed. That was on Wednesday and I've received no such document. Then when I inquired about errors and omission insurance for my business, she transferred me to the commercial department. That agent said she had to do some research, would be out of the office on Thursday, but would touch base with me on Friday either way to confirm the details of what she found or to let me know that she was still working on it. I never heard from her.
A couple of weeks ago, I went with my mom as she made a significant purchase. The person who worked with her said he'd call in about a week to make sure everything was okay or if there were any questions. Do you think he called? Well, since this has become a bit of a mini-rant, you guessed right if you said 'no.'
A few months ago my family donated a Krugerrand to a charity in return for an engraved memorial in their lobby. A phone call was promised when the 'rock' and 'leaf' engravings were done (in about a week) and hung on the lobby wall. A few weeks later, we were calling them because we hadn't heard anything.
Five years after my dad's death, my mom is still dealing with little things like taking his name off of joint credit cards and to do so has to provide copies of the death certificate and jump through their hoops. She went through this paperwork with Dillards, only to find out recently that instead of removing dad's name, mom actually shows up as deceased on one of her credit reports under the Dillards account. In this case a mistake was made, which happens. But mom didn't know about it until she was in the middle of a transaction that depended on accurate information. If Dillards had a follow up process or something in place to confirm the information and that the request went through, then mom wouldn't have been caught in that mess.

As an entrepreneur, I know how valuable my clients are. Respecting their time and not making clients chase me down over pending or incomplete issues is something that I see as an obvious business standard. And I believe most of us as consumers and/or business owners are aware of the importance of follow through and follow up. But as you can see from just my recent examples, not everyone 'gets it.' In the examples above, they dropped the ball and took for granted that their client would still be there in the end. They were lazy, overwhelmed or made assumptions. Whatever the reason, they created a ripple effect, sending out waves of apathy, that got replayed every time I vented to my network, my mom complained to friends, or I blogged about it.

Follow through and follow up will go a long way toward satisfying and keeping your clients. More importantly, I would say 'honor your word.' Do what you say you're going to do. Follow up can be done as a part of your processes. But if you tell someone you're going to follow up or touch base or send a document ... if you want to keep your clients, keep your word.

How about you? Have you noticed a trend in lackadaisical service or a disconnect in follow through? Did you bring it to the representative's attention? Did they earn your repeat business or have they not only lost your business but potential business from those that you've shared your story with as well? Most of the examples above are not unforgivable or huge in terms of loss of income or time. But people don't often remember the details or the 'what.' They remember how you made them feel. Each example could have had a different outcome with some simple follow up. Each representative had the opportunity to follow through for a satisfying experience for the customer.

DELETE, DELETE, DELETE

2010-06-11T12:06:00.003-06:00

I just got half way through cleaning out my voice mail which had 67 skipped or saved messages. Some were from the soon-to-be-ex in happier times, and some from all of the various companies that I was dealing with in the days following the lay-off from my corporate j-o-b. Most were reminders of things that no longer apply or that I should no longer choose to hold on to.

DELETE, DELETE, DELETE. It had somewhat of a cleansing effect. Maybe I was 'clearning' since I had to decide "stay or go." It feels good to dejunk and that includes old voice mail messages.

If you're feeling at all overwhelmed and as if you don't have room to take on anything else -- or feeling drained and as though you have nothing left to give -- I'd recommend taking some time to remove the physical and mental clutter that is blocking you. If that alone sounds like one more thing to take on, then you definitely need to do this ... you'll feel lighter with each thing that you let go of. And if you start small, giving this exercise just 15 minutes and focus on one area (such as all the books sitting on a shelf that you'll never look at again, or a pencil drawer, or your computer's desktop that looks like a blur of icons), then you'll be done and can get on with your day. You'll find that you've lifted a weight, let in some new life, sparked some energy reserves and made room for new and positive things to come into your life. And that was just from taking 15 minutes to declutter. It feels so good, once you start that even if you only spend 15 minutes each day to clear the cobwebs and throw out the stuff that you're tripping over, that you'll want to continue until every area of your life is cleared of the muck.

Clearning (Cleaning and Clearing) is not organizing ...you don't have to worry about that right now. Once you've made room, it will be easier to organize. Right now, you're just making room and getting rid of the unnecessary stuff that consumes your space (physical and emotional) to make room for the good, positive and necessary. It can be old attitudes, people who do nothing but hurt you, your email inbox, a cluttered garage, a pile of magazines - anything that fills space or holds you back. So, clean out, clear away, move out, push away, get rid of, make room, simplify, declutter and DELETE, DELETE, DELETE.

What's getting in your way? What simple steps can you take today to make room in your heart, head or home? Are you already familiar with the concept of 'clearning' and if so, what new and positive things came into your life that you wouldn't have otherwise had room for? I'd love to hear your comments.

Before the Business Plan

2010-06-09T09:45:00.000-06:00

Did you know that successful entrepreneurship does NOT begin with a business plan? It begins with a PERSONAL plan.

Decide what you want your life to look like and find ways to take what you already love to do and are passionate about, and start there. Your passions can and should support the life you envision whether you're self-employed or not. When you love what you do, you're more productive and forward-thinking. We're usually experts in areas of our passions because we immerse ourselves in those areas and continue to learn. Our passions drive us and our expertise can help others. When our passions solve a need, concern or problem for someone else, they become valuable, sought-after skills or services.

If you're not ignited by what you're doing, it's usually because you're not wired for it. If you are a free-flowing, creative artistic type trying to crunch numbers as a CPA, you may be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Pay attention to the things you've been drawn to over the years, things that spark a deep interest. Start making a list, whether it be growing flowers or creating spreadsheets, you'll find some clues about your passions once you start paying attention to what grabs your interest.

Are you profiting from your passions? If not, what passions have you considered turning into a business?

To All Who Have Served

2010-05-31T10:18:00.006-06:00

To all who have served our great country, especially those who have sacrificed their health, families, limbs and lives -- we remember you and honor you. Your devotion, love of country and bravery are not lost on us. Thank you -- thank you -- thank you.

Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion

For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;

To maintain Law and Order;

To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;

To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars;

To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State and Nation;

To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;

To make right the Master of Might;

To promote Peace and Goodwill on earth;

To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of Justice, Freedom and Democracy;

To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

Day is done, gone the sun,

from the lake, from the hill,

from the sky.

All is well, safely rest. God is nigh.

Thanks and praise for our days

neath the sun, neath the stars,

neath the sky.

As we go, this we know,

God is nigh.

Today is "Pay It Forward" Day

2010-04-29T10:06:00.004-06:00

Remember the movie Pay It Forward? If not, you can watch the movie trailer below. Are there times when you're disillusioned with people and the world at large? Even if they are few are far between, we have all had those moments.

What if you took what you don't like about this world and flipped it ... turned it upside down? It was amazing to watch how giving back (or paying it forward) in the movie spread to an increasingly wider group of people like a raindrop creates ripples on a stream. One person's life touches many. One kind act has enough energy behind it to eventually touch everyone on the planet through other people, one at a time.

Please join with me and "Pay It Forward" today (and every day). It keeps me in a place of gratitude when I remember how so many people have freely given their time, presence, words, support and resources to me. Giving should be a constant condition of one's heart, but a day like today helps us consciously be aware of how blessed we are and that we have opportunities to pay it forward.

♥ ♥

Here2Assist Opens Its Virtual Doors

2010-04-28T11:00:00.033-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 28, 2010

Contact

Here2Assist

Merri Taylor, Virtual Assistant

707-877-6788 (70-SupportU)

merri@here2assist.biz
http://www.here2assist.biz

Here2Assist LLC, a Virtual Administrative Service, Opens Its Virtual Doors for Business

Aurora, CO - Here2Assist offers administrative support to busy and overwhelmed entrepreneurs and small businesses. Located in Colorado, Here2Assist is a virtual or online business that uses today’s latest technologies to work in long-term collaborative relationships with clients in remote offices. Merri Taylor is the founder and sole member of Here2Assist and since this is not a brick and mortar business, clients from all across the globe have access to the services Merri offers as a Virtual Assistant.

Merri comes from a solid administrative assistant background in both the corporate and non-profit sectors, and after 20+ years of serving as the ‘right hand’ to corporate executives, Merri decided to launch her own Virtual Assistance business. More about Merri Taylor’s background can be found on her Google profile and information on specific services and the virtual assistant industry can be found at the Here2Assist website.

When Merri was one of seventeen people to be laid off from a struggling non-profit in February 2010, it provided the opportunity to take what she already knows and does well and use her knowledge, relationships and skills to transition into a business of her own. As a business owner, Merri sets her own high standards and is personally invested in her clients’ business growth and positive results. Business owners don’t “hire” virtual assistants, instead they partner with them in long-term, collaborative relationships. Virtual Assistants are business owners, so they understand the unique needs of solopreneurs and entrepreneurs.

According to Merri, “Launching a business is hard work but I’m being rewarded with great relationships and a sense of purpose every day.” She adds, “I’ve often had ideas for new products, marketing, events, systems and processes but had zero authority to implement them in the corporate world. As much as I wanted to improve upon what we offered or how we conducted business, I often felt as though I had no voice. With the launch of Here2Assist, I am now able to partner with clients and collaboratively help move them toward their goals.”

When asked if there is a market for her services, Merri replied, “One of the unexpected benefits of our current economy is that many highly skilled workers, who lost their jobs, have used their situations as an opportunity to go after their real passions. More people than ever are using their natural gifts, talents and interests to launch their own businesses. This is the era of the entrepreneur and it doesn’t take long before those coaches, bakers, authors, speakers and consultants find that they are wearing way too many hats to actually be focused and productive.

“These savvy entrepreneurs are living their dreams and their efforts are paying off but they are so overwhelmed with marketing, networking, product launches, press releases, social media marketing, returning calls, invoicing, bookkeeping and everything that it takes to run a business that they soon realize that the business is running them. When small business owners operate in overwhelm, they don’t have time to do it all while simultaneously polishing their crafts, building client relationships and growing their businesses. However, entrepreneurs are realizing the freedom that comes from partnering with a Virtual Assistant as they reclaim their time and lives. The benefits are real when they allow their Virtual Assistant to help them automate systems and step in to manage the administrative details that have been weighing them down.”

Virtual Assistance is the ideal solution for busy entrepreneurs who don’t want an on-site assistant or the potential headaches and costs associated with hiring an employee. If you are an overwhelmed entrepreneur or know of someone who could benefit from the services of a Virtual Assistant, please get in touch with Merri Taylor for a client consultation.

By going to the Here2Assist website, you will find the company’s virtual doors are always open.

Website: http://www.here2assist.biz

Phone: 707-877-6788 (70-SupportU)

Email: merri@here2assist.biz

Google Profile: http://tinyurl.com/H2AProfile

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Here2Assist/105960392776663?ref=ts

About Here2Assist, LLC

Here2Assist provides quality administrative support to small businesses, working “virtually” with clients in long-term collaborative relationships. Here2Assit’s founder has over 25 years of administrative experience, is an AssistU graduate and partners with her entrepreneurial clients to help lift the administrative burden from them so they can focus on their lives and growing their businesses.

###

Someone to Believe In

2010-01-10T19:50:00.001-07:00

"Believing everybody is dangerous:

Believing nobody is very dangerous"

- Abraham Lincoln

Wishing You Abundance & Blessings in 2010

2010-01-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

What does the New Year mean to you? A hangover from the last day of the prior year? 365 days of possibilities? A chance to do things differently?

The writer in me sees the New Year as a chapter in a book with blank pages for me to write my own story.

The artist in me sees each New Year as a blank canvass to express myself and choose the colors and textures I’ll use to bring my visions to life. With time and renewed energy to create as many scenes as my inventory will allow.

The nature lover in me sees the New Year as an expansive field with seedlings ready to emerge in exuberant joy, reaching for the light. A whole wilderness at the ready for seasonal cycles of warmth, storms and blooms.

The risk-taker and explorer in me thinks of the New Year as a pristine landscape covered by a fresh blanket of snow -- untrampled upon and full of promise. Unexplored beauty waiting for us to make our own paths, discovering and rediscovering ourselves along the way, and choosing each step wisely, so others who follow in our tracks will be assured of their footing.

And the photographer in me sees the year ahead as a camera fully loaded with fresh film or an unlimited GB Compact Flash card -- as I watch, be still, wait and be aware of those daily and once-in-a-lifetime moments that I capture to memory to revisit and remember in the years to come. Frame by frame, as an observer and participant, there is a lot to see and many memories to be made.

The hope that continues to reside in my heart, prays for opportunities to combine all facets of who I am in this New Year as I continue to grow, love and learn. The light that continues to reside in my heart prays for a year that will bring peace, healing and forgiveness. The desire that continues to dwell in my soul prays that I'll be surrounded by people who will be gentle with my heart, worthy of my trust, and who will bring with them an abundant supply of compassion and laughter. The faith that is still a part of my spirit prays for the ability to keep my heart open, to love again, to give, trust and receive. Wishing us all an abundance of love, laughter, God's presence, business success, and all that makes us smile, all that prompts us to give back in this precious New Year.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 25

2009-11-25T15:22:00.001-07:00

Today I am thankful for:

The excitement of trying new things.

I won't say that I can't cook, because when I do take the time I can make some pretty tasty things. I just don't cook. Plug in one of a zillion reasons, primarily having to do with life in general and not having enough time, and I've used it. Cooking takes planning and by the time I realize I'm hungry, I go for convenience.

But holidays and special occasions are different. They give me the opportunity to play in the kitchen, which can be entertaining. My husband mentioned that carrot cake was his favorite, so last year for his birthday, I waited for him to go to sleep while I stayed up and peeled carrots and made my very first carrot cake. It turned out pretty good and I loved learning/doing something new.

For Thanksgiving tomorrow, I'll be busy in the kitchen tonight trying a couple of new things; a pumpkin toffee cheesecake and a pretzel Jell-O salad. I've never made a cheesecake before, but I can follow directions.

"New things" isn't limited to cooking. There are states (and countries) I haven't explored yet. From Peru to Oregon or Maine -- there are places near and far I want to see.

There are photography workshop tours with professional photographers where you camp out under the stars and get perfect sunrise photos among cacti and mesas.

There are wildlife parks like the one a friend frequents that get you up close and personal with bears and other wildlife.

There is the Aurora Borialis and other natural wonders that I haven't seen with my own eyes yet.

There's interior design classes, painting, pottery, haunted house tours, scuba diving, planting the perfect garden, learning about flowers, going bird watching... all kinds of things I have yet to do, learn or try. There is more to do than I have time for in this lifetime. That's a good thing. I'll never be bored, and there are always ways to keep stretching myself beyond my comfort zone. Even if it's simply a new recipe, it's energizing and stimulating to try something new.

Revelations

Maybe it wasn't so much a revelation that I had today, but rather a gentle insight or affirmation that is prodding me in the direction that I instinctively was already headed. Today's news brought another human interest story about a couple of local fellas that lost their jobs which led them to fulfilling their dream of starting their own company. I have seen/heard more and more of these stories over the past few months and it is igniting in me the realization that I need to launch my VA business soon. Even if part time, all of these budding entrepreneurs are going to need help from someone who is authentic and who is looking out for their best interests. Solopreneurs are sprouting up all over the place and I'm excited to hear their stories on a daily basis. I'm thankful that they've made the most out of losing their jobs and are plowing ahead with something that is all about them and what they want to do. And I'm thankful how something like a recession can actually create opportunities. It's affirming to see opportunities popping up all around me.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 19

2009-11-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

Today I'm thankful for:

Nature.

Though it's possible for words to describe the beauty of nature (incredible sunset, pristine lake, majestic mountains, thunderous waterfall), it's hard to completely capture the breathtaking splendor of God's creation unless it's experienced. Short of being in the position to travel the world, photographs offer a glimpse of what a perfect and beautiful world we live in. So today, I offer less words, and instead, a photo blog of the wonderful world in which we live. I encourage you to get outside and explore, breath the air deep into your lungs, feel the breeze on your face, be alert to the wildlife that shares our planet and rejoice in the beauty that surrounds you. From the intricate snowflake, to the strength of water which carved out the Grand Canyon ... wow... what a wonderful world.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 18

2009-11-18T19:00:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful for:

Online learning, teleclasses, teleseminars, webcasts and webinars.

This year my brain has been in learning mode, soaking up new things like a sponge. Prior to this year, I believe it had been years since I've been to a class or had the opportunity to refresh my skills and learn something new.

I was hungry for knowledge, new skills, refresher courses to keep current skills sharp, or even some fun creative course like those found in the community leisure magazines (pottery, wine tasting, etc.). With wisdom comes options, and an inner attractiveness and assuredness. I was ready to stretch myself and act on that thirst for information that had grown too strong to ignore.

With a full time job and the general craziness of life, I didn't think I'd have the time or energy to go to a university or classroom setting to make learning a reality. That's when I stumbled on a link through my local library to a huge online catalog of classes offered online. I jumped at the opportunity to take a beginning HTML class in February-March, and immediately after, began my journey with Assist University's Virtual Training Program (20 weeks of intensive, comprehensive training for those serious about owning their own Virtual Assistance business). With the HTML course, all materials were online, there were weekly self tests, and a class forum where students could bring their questions. With AssistU, we had a weekly call, checkpoints when major assignments were due (business plan, welcome kit, etc.), a weekly 'call prep' which captured that week's fieldwork, an online community and a hefty final exam. Everything, with the exception of the initial welcome/orientation package and the final certificate upon graduation was handled virtually, with a phone and a computer.

Upon graduating from the VTP in September, I've since jumped in on several teleclasses about blogging, attracting ideal clients, authentic marketing, and I'm currently enrolled in a 5 week teleclass called "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life." Since I'm going through an extremely difficult season in my personal life, I figured the power of positive thinking certainly wouldn't hurt.

I love that I don't have to drive downtown in traffic, drive in a snowstorm, or add commute time to the class so by the time I would get home I'd be exhausted. I love that I can pick up dinner on the way home and eat while attending class from the comfort of my own home, take notes on my laptop while sitting at my kitchen island or on the sofa, and can simply turn off the lights and go to bed as soon as class is over. My dog isn't waiting for me to get home to let him out, and I can feed the pets, get my coffee ready for the next morning and clean up around the kitchen when I'm not taking notes.

Yesterday, my full time job ended at 5pm and I had a class that I was interested in from 5:00-6:00 and another starting at 6:30pm. Since these were teleclasses, I called in from work for the first one, hung up around ten 'til six, drove home (getting dinner on the way), and then called into my 6:30 once I arrived home. Sometimes the free teleclasses are giving you a preview of someone's service that he's promoting and to make you aware of a more robust program that's available for a fee. Overall, I've found value in even the complimentary telecourses, and have always gotten my money's worth out of the paid lessons. Just because these trainings are done virtually, doesn't mean they're wimpy or offer less educational value than the same class being taught in a bricks and mortar setting. In fact, you often need to be more focused and disciplined in the online setting.

As learning has become so much more convenient, I will be keeping my sponge-like brain happy for a long time to come! Happy e-Learning!

30 Days of Thanks - Day 17

2009-11-17T10:21:00.008-07:00

Today I am thankful that: I've never had to go to bed hungry.

This morning I grabbed a packet of cream of wheat and some lunch to take to work. As I pulled out of the driveway, I pondered what I would have for dinner and felt a twinge of panic over planning a menu for Thanksgiving. Even in a recession, I am fortunate to always have something in my cupboard. This past weekend, when the snow was falling in Colorado and I didn't want to drive anywhere, I could just reach for some eggs and whip up an omelette, or grab a can of soup for lunch. The things I think of as "nothing special but they'll fill the hole” would be a feast to some, and more food than they've seen in a week to others.

Most Americans actually have access to too much food; the convenience can lead to too much of a good thing and we're dealing with obesity rather than starvation. Most of the people I know don't have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from. Our biggest decisions are "shall we eat out or cook in?" "Shall we bake, fry or grill?" "Do you want dessert with that?" We have choices between home-cooked, microwavable or restaurant food. Thousands of buffets have popped up across America, each one with an entire table totally devoted to desserts. We not only have food, we have seconds and then have the extra luxury of dessert. We have so much access to food that we actually have to exercise restraint in the types of food we go for, trying to select healthy over fatty ... but we have such abundant choices. My goodness, we even have our own "food pyramid" that teaches us how to eat.

Our table scraps would feed a nation. Americans waste an astounding amount of food — an estimated 27 percent of the food available for consumption, according to a government study — and it happens at the supermarket, in restaurants and cafeterias and in our own kitchens. It works out to about a pound of food every day for every American. That sounded like an enormous amount to me until I thought about how I am constantly buying produce that I allow to go bad in the crisper drawer before I get a chance to eat it, and the bananas that have turned brown and last week's Chinese left-overs.

America is not an impoverished country, but even in our abundance, we have people going hungry here as well. As I drove to work, I heard the news reporter say that hunger was on the increase in our country. 15% of all U.S. households struggle to consistently keep food on the table for their family. With the exception of a very brief time in my early 20's when I was living off of popcorn, I really haven't had to experience hunger. I'm so blessed!

So, here I am, complaining that I need to lose weight and feeling a little anxious about starting to think about Thanksgiving preparations, and I'm humbled and reminded that I have a good life. If I need to lose weight, it's because I've partaken in the abundance of food choices that I have available to me. I have both access to food, as well as choices about health, nutrients and balance available to me. And to wonder what exactly we should do for Thanksgiving is a good 'problem' to have.

Ways to help national and world hunger: please visit the below websites and donate or take action in your local communities.

http://www.worldvision.org/

http://www.unicef.org/whatwedo/index.html

http://www.feedthechildren.org/

http://www.thp.org/home?gclid=CNeTmKy9kp4CFSUsawodGj3how

http://www.feedthehungry.org/

http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

http://www.feedthehungryfoundation.com/sitehome/

http://www.mowaa.org/Page.aspx?pid=183

http://feedingamerica.org/default.aspx?show_shov=1/

http://community.ob.org/site/PageServer

30 Days of Thanks - Day 16

2009-11-16T22:58:00.007-07:00

Today (and every day) I'm thankful for:

My daughter, Nikki.

Nikki is incredible. She's beautiful inside and out. She loves photography (like her mom) and animals (like her mom). She wants to make her living working with animals. Whether it be at Sea World training dolphins, or working with Jack Hanna, or becoming herself the female version of Jack Hanna, she has dreams. When she refocuses her energies, she'll eventually go to Moorpark College in California. Moorpark is a teaching zoo. She went to Bush Gardens in TX as a child and swam with the Beluga Whales. I think that helped push her in the direction of really wanting to be in the trenches with animals.

She even likes snakes, thanks in part, to the Jr. High School Slithers class. I would not put baby mice in my freezer to give to the Slithers teacher for just anyone. (Yuck!)

She's also amazing with children. I think that's because children can sense a pure heart. Nikki is patient and loving. We've been through a lot together and individually. She was a big sister for 3 short weeks. She's learned several times that not everyone in this world can be trusted. She's had to grow up fast, despite my trying to capture time in a bottle and keep her little forever. Time sure does go fast, at least when it comes to how quickly our kids grow. Then it can slow way down to an excruciating pace when they leave home.

Nikki is so smart. She taught her mom how to play chess (though I don't remember a thing), and learned how to drive a stick shift, despite her mom not being able to help coach her on a manual. She skis (not her mom) and drives half way across the country to visit a friend. Independent, might be an understatement.

She has a huge heart and exudes compassion. She's my daughter. For the past 24 years, she's largely defined my life. I love being her mom and will always be so proud of her. I pray that she feels the strong foundation of home. And that despite the cold betrayal of some people in this world, she can always count on the unconditional love of her mom. That there's always somewhere she can turn where she doesn't have to doubt, where she knows she's loved, where she can trust. Hurt my daughter and watch momma bear's claws come out. Though she is a young woman, standing on her own two feet, I will always want to protect her. I'm not exaggerating or over-dramatizing when I say that I would lay down my life for her. Of course I would -- she's my daughter.

I'm grateful to be Nikki's mom, and grateful that we'll be spending Thanksgiving together.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 15

2009-11-15T18:39:00.003-07:00

Today I am thankful for Tea.

As I type this, I'm savoring a cup of Bigelow Constant Comment Green tea, flavored with rind of oranges and sweet spice. Mmmm, "sipalicious".

Today, tea is the most drunk beverage in the world after water, we drink about 15,000 cups every second. As I try to wean myself from diet soda (it's not easy!), I've rediscovered my appreciation for tea. It provides a healing beverage alternative in all kinds of flavors. Tea has a tantalizing flavor and aroma. It can refresh your spirit, soothe your soul, relax both your mind and body, relieve anxiety and calm nerves. Tea can be served hot or over ice and can be warming and satisfying as well as refreshing and invigorating. The blissful effects of tea can help you wind down, relax and meditate.

Health Benefits:

Tea not only tastes great, it has also long been recognized for its healing properties, from the antioxidants in green and white tea to the restorative properties of various herbal blends. Antioxidants are believed to have health benefits including cancer prevention, cholesterol reduction, and protection against stroke and heart attack. Black tea also is rich in manganese and potassium, and it contains some B-vitamins. For people trying to cut their caffeine consumption, switching from coffee to green tea is a very healthy alternative. Scientists have shown a correlation between green tea consumption and reduced cancer risk, weight loss, and improved heart health.
Green tea also possesses a small amount of natural fluoride, an element which strengthens bones. And anyone who has ever had a sore throat can definitely attest to the soothing power of green tea with honey in it.
Red tea (Rooibos) can be used as a treatment for skin ailments, as an immune system booster, a way to slow the aging process, and a remedy for conditions from insomnia to headaches to anxiety. Also, rooibos does not contain oxalic acid, the compound found in some other types of tea that can cause kidney stones.
Benefits of herbal tea depend on the herb being steeped. Camomile, linden flower, and lavender teas are all highly calming and can help with sleep issues, peppermint and ginger teas aid digestion and can stave off nausea, lemon balm tea can help soothe a headache, and raspberry leaf tea is thought to bring on labor in late pregnancy, to offer just a few examples of this versatile and beneficial type of tea.

What I like:
I have a shelf in my cupboard devoted to tea which includes the below. My favorites are...

Celestial Seasonings:

Tuscany Orange Spice (black tea)
Cinnamon Apple Spice (herbal tea)
Tension Tamer (herb tea)
Nutcracker Sweet Holiday Tea (black tea

Begelow:

Green Tea with oranges and sweet spice

Stash:

Licorice Spice (herbal)
Orange Spice (herbal)

Memories:
I also have memories around tea which include ...

When I was pregnant with Nikki, I constantly craved iced tea and beef jerky (LOL!)
The story dad always told about why he didn't like tea.
Mom brought me a teapot and tea leaves as a momento from London (a trip I was supposed to go on but couldn't because of back surgery).
Numerous Red Hat Society tea gatherings with my mom at the Brown Palace Hotel, the Broker in Boulder, Molly Brown House, The Holiday Chalet, The Hucklebery, The House of Windsor and more.
And, my love for tea led to my teapot and teacup collection. I pulled out just a few for this post. Enjoy the pictures!

30 Days of Thanks - Day 14

2009-11-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

Today I'm thankful for:

Online mapping software/applications like Google Maps, MapQuest and Yahoo Maps.

I'd be lost without them! ;o)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 12

2009-11-12T23:55:00.004-07:00

Today is the fourth and final day of things I'm thankful for that have something in common, which is that I've complained about each one of them.

Today I'm thankful for Life.

Have you ever thought of life as a struggle? Me? Oh yah. I'm in one of those seasons right now. I've felt the bitter sting of betrayal, the pain of loss, the uncertainty of the future and the emptiness of days stripped of hope. Life can bring tragedies and turning points that make you question your faith, your purpose, who you can trust and even what's 'real.' There have been times when the circumstances were difficult but manageable, and I could see how I grew through those experiences. There is strength in the struggle and the struggles can make you bitter or better. Each lesson helps us grow. But there have also been some debilitating events that were not manageable and I could never figure out any purpose behind them. I did, eventually, watch in amazement as God used those events to bring good things back into my life.

There is so much about life that you can't control. You can't control other people. You can't control the weather, you can't control the economy and so many other things. Was life intended to be something that you controlled? No. It's something to be experienced and enjoyed and learned from. I look at the current season of my life, and while there were things revealed that changed the course of my life and the direction I was going in, I also am aware of new opportunities, friendships and support that were forming and finding their way to me, right when I needed them.

Even through this season, I understand that life is such a precious gift, not to just be endured or survived -- but truly LIVED and lived to it's fullest. We're here to love each other and that involves risk. The best things in life usually aren't safe, they require you to risk hurting, risk being vulnerable. Like the lyrics say, "Life's a dance you learn as you go." We're all learning and finding our way. And when I set aside my fears, busyness, clouded perceptions and limiting feelings, a veil is lifted and I'm reminded how brief and amazing life is. Life itself is so incredible and such a special gift. From each person who is on their own journey, to the flowers in the field and our living, breathing planet. Life is all around us and it must be respected. Step back and see the wonder, keep believing, dancing, connecting, and experiencing all that life has to offer.

Life is a gift. A spectacular, complex gift -given with love- and I intend to embrace it.

There are many people, often teenagers, who can't see past the pain of a current problem to envision a hopeful future and they tragically take their own lives. Tomorrow, Friday, November 13th is "To Write Love On Her Arms” (TWLOHA) day on a global scale. This campaign is a movement to counter self-mutilation, depression and suicide for teens and anyone who has considered harming themselves. People are encouraged to show their solidarity with people struggling with these issues by writing “love” on their arms on Friday.

See: http://www.twloha.com/

30 Days of Thanks - Day 11

2009-11-11T23:32:00.001-07:00

Continuing with the third blessing for which, I've actually complained about...

Today I'm thankful that I have a JOB.

I'm not alone in that I've complained about my job. Salary.com just released its 4th annual survey of employee job satisfaction and it revealed some interesting trends:

Approximately 65% of respondents said they were “somewhat” satisfied, but less than 15% said they were “extremely” satisfied. Meanwhile, employers believe that 30% of their workers are “extremely” satisfied. 65% of employed survey respondents said they are looking around (up more than 17% this year). 60% said they plan to intensify their job search over the next three months despite the economy.

Another survey by Conference Board found that twenty years ago, about 61% of workers were happy with their jobs. In 2005, 52% were satisfied, and in 2006 41% were satisfied. "Somewhat satisfied" is less than happy, so in 2009 65% of employed respondents are less than happy with their jobs.

Of course there are two sides to every coin, and, these days, people just need the coin. Those who are employed are grateful to have a steady income. The unemployment rate in the United States in October of 2009 was 10.2%. That is, 15.7 million people out of work. In today's economy, people with PhDs are being forced to take entry level jobs just to put food on the table. Overly qualified workers doing unskilled work may attribute toward some of the job dissatisfaction statistics. But with that many people competing for too few jobs, it leaves the rest of us feeling grateful for the job we have.

I actually say there are three sides to a coin. What we are grateful for is the steady income, which doesn't necessarily mean we've suddenly found peace with being micro-managed, under-employed, un-appreciated, disrespected, put in a "corporate box" or whatever it was that left us previously feeling dissatisfied. If employers use the recession as an excuse to replace unhappy workers with over-qualified people, they're being very short-sighted. Did you catch the above statistic? 65% of the currently employed are looking for something better. So when the economy improves or the opportunity arises, your experienced worker will leave that lower paying, under-stimulating job as soon as they are able. There are careers and then there are J-O-B-S. For those who are looking toward their future, wanting to do more with their gifts and skills, it seems society would have you feel guilty for not appreciating the job you're in given today's economy. Appreciating that you have an income to pay the bills and realizing that your J-O-B is a means to an end is one thing. But that doesn't mean that if you were already in a job that didn't utilize your skills, didn't allow you to fully contribute or didn't appreciate what you brought to the role that you should suddenly feel guilty for not changing your feelings toward wanting a better match for your abilities and interests. While we should "bloom where we're planted," we should never limit ourselves or stop moving toward our goals.

I'm thankful that I have a job that provides a steady income. At the same time, no job is safe, and the unemployment rate is actually creating a market for what I want to do. More and more "downsized" executives are embracing their entrepreneurial spirits and using their business know-how to start their own companies. They are listening to their inner voice that allows them to dream and are becoming entrepreneurs. These coaches, realtors, bed and breakfast owners, authors, and more are all creating their micro-businesses and launching the life they could only dream of while they were at their J-O-B-S.

While I'm incredibly thankful to be earning a living and bringing in that steady income, there's also nothing wrong with working toward something better. My entrepreneurial spirit is ready to start partnering with my ideal clients to help move their businesses forward. And I'm looking forward to moving away from just a job, to something unlimited, and empowering; a business that utilizes my skills and stokes my passion. Eventually, I'll replace the J-O-B (that I am grateful for) with the business that I am meant to build and be oh so EVEN MORE grateful for. :)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 10

2009-11-10T16:29:00.002-07:00

Today I'm continuing the theme of things that I'm thankful for, yet have actually complained about.

I am thankful that I have a Home.

"What?" you say. "You've complained about having a home? Really?"

Well, not that I have one, no. But I've complained about the home itself. You know, the typical homeownership woes and then some.

I have wanted a different home in a different location for just about as long as I've been in this particular house (13 years) for various reasons. My rationale ranged from the memories attached to the house and the noisy teenage neighbors in the towering walk-out right behind me, to the long list of things wrong with the house, the expense and general upkeep.

My back yard could win a "worst yard" contest. In fact, I'm trying to find such a contest so maybe as the grand prize winner, I would receive landscape design and materials help. In fact, I've had daydreams about an Extreme Home Makeover Back Yard Edition where they bulldoze the noisy teenagers house behind me, thus extending my back yard to the size of a normal lot. (LOL - just kidding). Seriously, it's tiny (described as "low maintenance" by the Ryland sales team). And what's there has become overrun with a type of weed that I believe is called goat weed or puncture vine. It's an evil, evil weed! Man nor beast dare not step barefoot out the back door or upon their first step will have a foot full of these nasty, nasty thorns. I've used weed killer, rakes, yard vacs - they won't go away. My dog and I don't make use of the backyard because it's so horrible.

The house faces north, so the sun doesn't help melt snow. The carpet needs replaced, the kitchen tile needs re-grouted, the roof needs replaced from the June hail storm, I have some drywall work needing done, the driveway is crumbling from rock salt (used to melt snow without the benefit of the sun), several light switches won't stay on, the front porch needs stained, there may be an electrical issue in the office and several other pesky, sometimes expensive "problems". Okay, yes, houses need upkeep. I knew that going in.

But Colorado has already had a couple of below freezing nights and quite a hefty snow storm, before we even reached Halloween this year. Was I complaining about my driveway when I was safe and warm inside my home then?

Emphatically, "No." (Okay, I complained about having to shovel snow just a little, geesh).

A couple of walls may need drywall or paint, but I have walls. My shingles may need replaced, but "thank you, God" that I have a roof over my head. I have shelter from the wind, hail and snow and I have never been without a bed. I have never had to experience the need to sleep in my car or be forced out on the streets completely. I've never had to worry about frostbite or hypothermia when I fall asleep. I've always had a soft pillow to rest my head on instead of a coat or a bag of trash. The only time I've sought shelter in a cardboard box is when I was little and pretended the box was my playhouse.

Halleluiah! I HAVE A HOME! No complaints here.

So many of us are simply a paycheck away from a different reality though. And more and more of the homeless are families with children. Many are veterans. I often look outside on a snowy, frigid night, while I sip on my hot cocoa and cuddle up on the couch, and wonder if everyone in need of shelter was able to make it inside. Thank you, God for my thorny, stupid (I mean precious) back yard. :o)

For more information about homelessness and how to help, please see:
http://www.helpthehomelessdc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=09_partners_landing
http://www.nchv.org/veterans.cfm
http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/homelessness

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/want_to_help/index.html

http://www.denverrescuemission.org/

http://www.coloradocoalition.org/

Merri Taylor is Here2Assist

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For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;

To maintain Law and Order;

To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;

To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars;

To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State and Nation;

To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;

To make right the Master of Might;

To promote Peace and Goodwill on earth;

To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of Justice, Freedom and Democracy;

To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

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30 Days of Thanks - Day 25

30 Days of Thanks - Day 19

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30 Days of Thanks - Day 10

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