DIY Not Always The Best Option May 3, 2010

As we all know, New Zealand is a nation of do-it-yourselfers.  We just love rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck into everything, whether it’s renovating our own homes or having a go at all aspects of running our own business.

But if you’re a motivational speaker who loves an audience, are you going to be especially good at putting together a powerpoint presentation to back up your speech?  And if you’re a dentist, do you really have time to make arrangements to get yourself to Sydney for that upcoming dentistry conference?  How about a builder who needs to advertise his business – would he prefer to be building a house or is he struggling to find the words to put in his advert?

So, I’d like to ask you, who you might know that reckons they’re good at DIY, when in fact, they’re probably not as good as they think they are, or they really just don’t have the time to do everything.

Maybe it’s time they thought about getting some help from a Virtual Assistant?!

Getting Time Back For YOU! January 18, 2010

On an almost daily basis, my partner and I seem to invent things.  Just the other day he was fast forwarding through the ads with the Sky TV remote, when he looked at me and said ‘we need a button that instantly fast forwards for 8 seconds at a speed of x30, so we can miss all the ads at the touch of a button’ and then he said ‘someone, somewhere is working on that right now’.  Whereas, I want ‘My Sky’ to have a click and drag feature so that I can move all my stored movies into my own file and my partner can put his into his own file, then we wouldn’t have to wade through each other’s stuff to find our favourite programmes.  I’m sure it’ll happen sooner or later.

It’s like the world is moving so fast that we are getting so used to ‘having’ everything, but sometimes it’s still not enough and we want more, more, more!

We went to see the 3-D version of the movie ‘Avatar’ recently and we loved every minute of it – it’s a definite ‘must see’ – although I have to say, we are being so spoilt by CGI and special effects these days that our expectations are becoming higher and higher and it’s getting so that we are becoming harder to please.  Horror movies even got to a point where they weren’t scary anymore because we’d seen so many horrible things in amazing, graphic detail, that gruesome body parts flying off in all directions at the hand of a chainsaw wielding demon no longer makes us flinch.

In such a fast moving world, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up.  Between trying to keep up with your work pressures and your ever-growing children, combined with general day-to-day life and keeping in touch with your extended family and friends, plus squeezing in time for exercise, holidays, sleeping and hobbies, let alone what’s happening in the rest of the world, it can all feel pretty overwhelming.

In this day and age of fast progression, sometimes you need to stop, take a breath, and figure out where you can get some help which might create a bit of extra time in your world so you can spend it doing the things you love.

This is where ‘My Virtual Assistant’ steps in.  Having your own Virtual Assistant can be very effective in helping you get things done, whilst freeing up your time allowing you to focus on other, more important, areas of your life and business.

Of course I can help you with ‘one off’ projects, but if you really want to make an effectual change to your workload, this can only be achieved by working together over a longer period of time.  My goal is to relieve you of your day-to-day, time consuming duties – things that have to be done, but aren’t generating profit – thus allowing you to concentrate on streamlining your business operations and becoming super-efficient.

So, when everything feels a bit overwhelming, give ‘My Virtual Assistant’ a call.  I look forward to talking to you soon!

In The Spirit Of Christmas December 17, 2009

I’m from ‘My Virtual Assistant’ and my name is Marion Jackson,

I’m the one you call when you need to take some action!

When your work is right on top of you and you are feeling down,

Don’t be sad, just call on me and I’ll make a smile from your frown.

I can help you with all sorts of things, like your reports and documentation,

Research, databases, newsletters and a PowerPoint presentation.

It doesn’t matter where you are and I don’t need your office space,

‘Cos I can help you anytime, right from my very own place.

So, what do you do when you need some help with sorting out your systems?

Is your office in a shambles?  Could you use some extra assistance?

Just give ‘My Virtual Assistant’ a call, before you lose all control

And let me take your troubles away and help you reach your goal.

I’m Marion from ‘My Virtual Assistant’ and I really do love what I do,

I’m here to take care of all the details, so that you don’t have to!

My Virtual Assistant would like to wish you and your family a fabulous Christmas, full of laughter and sunshine!

Have a happy New Year and all the best for a wonderfully prosperous 2010!

Small Business Success October 16, 2009

As an entrepreneur, you need to possess self-confidence, along with a never-ending sense of urgency in order to develop your ideas.

To succeed, you need to be far-sighted, accepting things as they are and deal with them accordingly.

Time management is crucial, especially understanding the need for leisure time, which is just as important as the amount of time spent working.

A smart entrepreneur will be quick to change direction when they see that a plan isn’t working.  More importantly, you must recognise your weak points, acquire the necessary skills, and put your business back on the right track.

The importance of working smart is realising that it’s not the quantity of work you do, it’s the quality and how well you do it.

Finding The Right VA October 1, 2009

So, your workload is staring to pile up and you’ve been thinking about working with a Virtual Assistant (VA), but how do you find the right one..?

The first thing to consider is what you want your VA to do for you.  What kind of work can they help you with?  Does it matter where they are located?  Have a look at your potential VA’s website, view client testimonials and examine their profile.  What ‘real world’ work experience and skill set do they have?  Focus on the VA’s professional ability.  Make sure you understand how their fees work and what their payment terms are.  Chat to your potential VA on the phone or if possible, try and arrange a face-to-face meeting so you can start establishing rapport.

Once you are satisfied with your chosen Virtual Assistant, make sure you outline your project details clearly and specify any deadlines.  Providing clear instructions for your project will reduce the chances of any misunderstanding or errors.

Remember – A Virtual Assistant’s role is to support you and your business, by taking the pressure off you, so you can spend more time working ON your business instead of IN it!

Revamp Your Resume September 2, 2009

All the redundancies out there at the moment means the job market is pretty competitive.

No matter how great a candidate might be, if their CV is poorly laid out then it probably won’t get a second look from an employer.  It doesn’t have to look like a work of art, in fact, the simpler the layout, the better.

So, who do you know that’s looking for a job and could do with help revamping their CV?  After all, you never get a second chance to make a first impression!

Taking Time Out August 23, 2009

I’ve recently been away on a South Pacific cruise and I have to say, it was fabulous!  Waking up every morning in a different place and not having to hang around in airports, makes cruising a wonderful way to travel.  Completely relaxing and totally rejuvenating.  Having been a travel agent for a number of years, I’ve had more than my fair share of sitting on planes, so travelling by cruise ship certainly made a lovely change.

On that note, when was the last time you went on holiday?  Maybe you can’t afford it, or are you just too busy to be able to take time off work?

Yes, I know there’s a recession on, but you don’t have to have a big lavish overseas holiday.  A relaxing break away somewhere in New Zealand will do the trick nicely.  If you need help with your personal or business travel arrangements, remember, I was a Travel Agent for over 13 years, so I can help you with that!

And if you’re too busy for a holiday, it sounds like you might need the help of a Virtual Assistant…  ;o)

The Importance Of Backing Up July 9, 2009

I have just spent a few days without a computer, as the motherboard in my machine decided to give up the ghost.

Obviously, when you are a Virtual Assistant, your computer is your livelihood and not having one is a potential nightmare.

My saving grace is that I back up my work on a regular basis and I am lucky enough to have wonderful, extremely understanding and supportive clients.

I am pleased to say, that along with the fast and very efficient help from Warrick Ward from Eclipse Computers, I am now up and running again and I’m the very proud owner of a shiny new computer.

I am back in action and ready to assist you ‘virtually’ once again!

If you need any IT help, I can highly recommend Eclipse Computers (if you are located in New Zealand).

Email:  warrick.ward@eclipsecomputers.co.nz or visit www.eclipsecomputers.co.nz

Making An Impression June 9, 2009

They say “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Whenever you meet someone for the first time they will always size you up straight away.  How you are dressed, how you talk and how you carry yourself.  All of these things will create an image of you in someone’s mind that can be difficult to shake.

Keeping up your appearance is a full time job.  They say you should dress for the job you want, not for the job you have.  This means you should always look smart, clean and well presented – even on Casual Friday!  Make sure your hairstyle is modern and tidy, and your breath is always fresh.  It’s a good idea to keep a spare jacket handy, so you can throw it on should an unexpected client meeting arise.

You can also be judged on how you set up your workspace.  Make sure your desk never looks like it’s been hit by a gale.  All of your papers should be properly filed in a cabinet, or at the very least, in a neat stack on your desk.  Keep your floor space clear of any files or paperwork.  Your desk should be clean and devoid of clutter, crumbs and too many personal items.  While you might have a memory like an elephant and a fabulous work ethic, having a messy desk won’t inspire confidence in you from your peers.

If you have any certificates, work related awards or other important documentation, make sure they are framed (where possible), organised and in plain view.

The way you present yourself is important.  If you do it well you will increase the level of confidence your boss has in your abilities.  No matter how hard you work or how efficient you are, if you appear sloppy you could miss out on that well-deserved promotion.

Ten Commandments for Reducing Stress May 29, 2009

1   Thou shalt not be perfect

2   Thou shalt not try to be all things to all people

3   Thou shalt not leave things undone that ought to be done

4   Thou shalt not spread thyself too thin

5   Thou shalt learn to say “No!”

6   Thou shalt schedule time for thyself and thy supportive network

7   Thou shalt switch off and do nothing – regularly

8   Thou shalt be boring, untidy, inelegant and unattractive at times

9   Thou shalt not even feel guilty

10  Thou shalt not be thine own worst enemy but be thine own best friend

Written by Dr Sarah Myhill, a UK-based fatigue specialist