Fatal Wreck

Don't have a fatal wreck with your business.  As you are driving down the street you look down for 5 minutes while still driving the car.  you look up and there is the concrete wall.  It was a curve coming up and you was not prepared.

Be sure that you are paying attention to your Clients and their needs.  Don't get too comfortable holding the wheel and not pay attention.  It could be a fatality.  

Pay attention to your Clients and Potential Clients.  This will keep you on the road and be able to follow any curves that pops up.

Balancing Fast Lane

How are you balancing your Fast Lane?

As Business Owners we tend to try to do every thing on our own.  You say "I can not afford a staff.  I need to be sure I take care of my Clients.  Let me hurry up feed the kids and husband so I can check emails."

Here comes that company in the fast lane doing everything on their own.  They hit a pot hole and now a flat tire.  They turn in the pit.  No one there.  They get out jack up the car and change the tire all on their own.  While they are doing all of this here comes the competition and visits 2 Clients you had in mind.  Ooops!!

As time pass we will or need to learn that we can not do it all on our own.  Outsourcing is waiting in the "Pit" for you.  It's time to pull in to get some help so you can get back on the track.  Hang in the race and go around everyone else that is doing every thing on their own and can not keep up with you.  Pass your competition by outsourcing various tasks.

SEE YA ON THE TRACK!!!!!!

Time Is Money.......Is It?

When was the last time you checked?  How much time have you taken to check your emails and make appointments? How much money could you have made if you was working with your Clients or New Clients?

You have to ask yourself how much is Time Management???????

Re-Evaluate your business and the daily tasks and decide what do I need to do to make this change.

Post your comments below. I would like to see what your are doing.

TODAY......

Today is the day that things will change.  I will be able to move forward Today with no problems and no ineterruptions.

Today I will be able to make all phone calls without any action items.

Today I will be me!

Today I will be able to listen to all problems and solve them.

Today I will respond to all emails and send out all emails.

Today.........

Today.........

Today........

Now that you have read this, how many times did you say "TODAY". 

What are you going to do today? 

How will your today be?

Today........

Today.......

Today.......

Today.......

NOW THAT YOU ARE BACK TO REALITY WHAT IS YOUR TODAY?

Stay Tuned!!!!!

Vacation Package

THE VACATION PACKAGE HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD. 

STAY TUNED!!

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ASSISTANTS & BEYOND
MELISSA@ASSISTSANDBEYOND.COM
http://www.assistsandbeyond.com/
281-736-4089

WIN A VACATION PACKAGE

Stay tuned for a chance to WIN a Vacation Package!! 

You will have a choice of:

Cancun

Bahamas

Tahiti

Follow my Blog & get 5 friends to follow my Blog (list you as a referral in comment section with their email).



ASSISTANTS & BEYOND
MELISSA@ASSISTSANDBEYOND.COM
http://www.assistsandbeyond.com/
281-736-4089

WIN A VACATION PACKAGE

Stay tuned for a chance to WIN a Vacation Package!! 

You will have a choice of:

Cancun

Bahamas

Tahiti

Follow my Blog & get 5 friends to follow my Blog (list you as a referral in comment section with their email).



ASSISTANTS & BEYOND
MELISSA@ASSISTSANDBEYOND.COM
http://www.assistsandbeyond.com/
281-736-4089

Why Do We Need Gadgets?

Gadgets......why do we need them and why have we gotten so dependent on them?

I love my iPad & Galaxy II.  They are linked to each other and it does not matter what I have with me I will always have information with me.  Notes from a meeting (Evernote) and Schedule (Google Calendar).  I never have to worry about I don't know if I can make an appointment because I do not have my claendar with me.  Everyone has their preference on Gadgets.  Instead of a iPad you may have a NetBook you carry, tablet ( so many to choose from), Galaxy Note (like a mini tablet), etc....  What ever your preference get you one and be sure it is all linked.  If you updtae your calendar on your phone you do not have to worry about doing it again on your tablet or iPad.

Do your research and make your decision today!


Powertraveller Mini Gorilla Netbook iPad Tablet Portable Charger

Assistants & Beyond

http://www.assistsandbeyond.com/

melissa@assistsandbeyond.com

281-736-4089

Have a question send me an email.

WIN A VACATION PACKAGE

Stay tuned for a chance to WIN a Vacation Package!! 

You will have a choice of:

Cancun

Bahamas

Tahiti

Follow my Blog & get 5 friends to follow my Blog (list you as a referral in comment section with their email).



ASSISTANTS & BEYOND
MELISSA@ASSISTSANDBEYOND.COM
http://www.assistsandbeyond.com/
281-736-4089

Time Management

Understanding the time you have to complete a project will make a difference on the time that you take to do your administrative tasks.  It is very important to manage your time and your client time wisely. 

Here are a few tips:

• Make sure that you do not under-bid yourself when presenting a client with a proposal.
• Make sure that you give yourself a cushion (enough time) to be sure that the project will be completed in a timely manner and done professionally.
• DON'T FORGET that you have to answer phone calls, return phone calls, check emails, return emails, etc... Just a few things you still need to get done to keep your business running.
• Oh Yea!!!! you still have to drive to meet your clients and it may or may not be traffic.
• BE SURE YOU ARE ON TIME!!!!!

So based on the few tips I have given you with all of the time used to keep your Client happy what time have you set aside for your administrative duties.

ASSISTANTS & BEYOND

http://www.assistsandbeyond.com/

281-736-4089

WIN A VACATION PACKAGE

Stay tuned for a chance to WIN a Vacation Package!! 

You will have a choice of:

Cancun

Bahamas

Tahiti

Follow my Blog & get 5 friends to follow my Blog (list you as a referral in comment section with their email).

Assistants Made Simple

Assistants are simple.  You do not have to have an Assistant in your office to work for you.  You can have a Virtual Assistant (VA) working for you, which can be any where doing what you need to get done.  A VA will have his/her own office and equipment.  Always remember that a VA can be hired for as little as 2 hours, per project, or a monthly retainer.  There are so many ways you can make this work for you.  You can easily communicate with your VA how ever you want.  This is what makes it so easy.  Everybody is different and communicates different.  Some people prefer text, email, phone call, Skype, etc...  The main objective is getting the information you need and know that it is being work on.

Make your life simple by getting a Virtual Assistant today

How Can I Run My Office & Keep My Clients Happy?

You have a lot of meeting with new Clients.

You have current Clients with basic admin things that need done.

You have admin needs and you can't find a Clients file for a project that is due.

WHAT DO YOU DO!  YOU SCREAM, TEAR UP YOUR OFFICE LOOKING FOR IT, SIT AND THINK SOME MORE "WHERE DID I PUT IT?", YOU FINALLY FOUND IT...........WHEW!!!!!

Now you have wasted about an hour looking for something that should have been at your finger tips.  Now you think to yourself "I should have hired me an assistant".

You are not alone.  A lot of Small Businesses do not hire an assistant because you think you can not afford it.  THINK ABOUT IT!!  Look at how much money you will lose by not having the extra time for your Clients.  You are spending a lot of time doing things an Administrator can do.

Hire a Virtual Assistant (VA).  By doing this you will not have to pay a lot of overhead fees.  A VA can be paid on project basis or on a retainer.  Depending on the project and how many hours you will need help.  You can work with your VA over the phone and/or email.  If you need a face to face your VA can set up appointments with you.  If a personal meeting is too hard you can meet up via Skype.  There are a lot of ways this can happen.

Do your research on the Virtual Assistant you are interested in and make sure he/she can follow through on your needs and be able to meet projects.

STILL HESITATE?  GOOGLE VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS AND SEE WHAT ONE CAN DO FOR YOU TODAY!!!

When Should You Outsource

You should outsource any task that you can not handle to not good at.  Outsourcing is not free, but in the long run it will pay off for you.  Clients notice when you have a team working for you and that you are productive.  When a Client see this they are more likely to recommend you to someone.  The same way if you have someone do something for you and your are pleased with it and has a good turn around time.  You will refer this person to others and use this person again and again.

You want people and companies to look at you the same way.  HHHHHHMMMMMMMMM!!

THINKING I SEE!

Hire to your Weaknesses

CAN I DO EVERYTHING?

Most of the time we think that we started this business and I can do everything.  If I can not do everything how will my business survive?

Think about it.  If you do everything and do not want to get help what time do you have to satisfy you Client(s).  What time do you have to Network to get New Client(s)?

What are my weaknesses? You should look at your business and accept you can not do everything.  You do not have talent in everything to run your business.

Why do you hire someone to build your website?
Why do you hire someone to print your business cards?
Why do you hire someone to create your Logo?
Why do you hire someone to take pictures?

These are just a few reasons of why you hire someone to do tasks you can not do.  Don't look at it as if I can not do then no one else can or I can not run my business.  Do your research and you will find ways that are very inexpensive or FREE to assist you with some of those tasks.  The other thing is invest in yourself.  If you invest in yourself you will be able to find out about other tools that you can use.

So your assignment today is to ask yourself "What are my weaknesses?"
Be sure to follow up with yourself.

FREE YOURSELF!!!

FREE Yourself!! That word alone "FREE" means a lot.  Bust in this instance you ned to free yourself and stop stretching yourself thin to please your Clients.  DON'T GET ME WRONG!! What I mean is that you need to stop doing everything yourself and get some help.  Doing everything yourself can cause you to loose a Client or miss opportunities because you do not have time taking care of tasks an Assistant can handle.

Think about your client(s) and FREE YOURSELF!!

How To Communicate With Your Virtual Assistant (VA)

You have a Virtual Assistant and not sure how you should communicate with him/her.  They are not located in your office and you need to go over a project that you need to get done by the end of the week. A Virtual Assistant is exactly that virtual.  Regardless, of your location you can call your VA to set up a meeting via phone, Skype, or email.  Once you make contact and decide how you need to talk to your VA you have accomplish your tasks.  Keep in mind that you do not have to have an Assistant with you at all times.

If you have a good VA they will always have what they need to meet with you on a moments notice (keep in mind you are not the only Client that your VA may have).  You should be able to make contact with your VA via phone or text for immediate response.  They should be able to respond back to you within a few minutes.  If they are with a Client you will get a message what time they will be available and if not they should be able to call you within 15-30 minutes.  You MUST be realistic that a VA is not a magician, respond in a snap of a finger, or poof and appear.  They are there to help you, but not to be your maid or to be abused.  Virtual Assistants can be very helpful and a life-saver.

Assistants & Beyond

Melissa Ambers

281-736-4089

www.assistsandbeyond.com

melissa@assistsandbeyond.com

Bill for Skills

What will you bill for our skills?
Are your skills worth paying for?
Why are your services priced so high and your Client have to wait for their projects?

DONT' BE A BUSY BEE!!!

Your skills for the business you have can not cover everything that needs to be done to keep your doors open.  Look at what you have an decide what can be and need to be outsourced.

Having a Virtual Assistant can help with those task that need to be done.  If you have a VA and they can not perform those skills you can still utilize your VA.  Your VA can look for the person you need while you are still taking care of your Clients.  You do not have to waste your time with searching for every department you need.  Your assistant can help with those tasks.  All you have to do is take about an hour to look over the research and sign off.  This is a lot less time than spending hours and I mean hours looking for people to fill your positions.  Keep in mind all of these positions can be outsourced and not an employee to so you can continue to save money.

Virtual Reality

When it comes to getting help, businesses find it pas to go virtual.  Get a Virtual Assistant goes a long way.  Having a VA gives you freedom to go after new Clients.  You are in business to grow and to succeed.  Why chance it by doing everything yourself.  Paying a VA $20-$40/hr give you more time to discuss business with your Client and possibly new projects.  This way you have a better chance to charge a Client your fees because you can show them that the turn around time can be with a couple of days or even next day.  YOu al have the chance to offer more services and get referrals.

Hire a Virtual Assistant Today!!!
www.assistsandbeyond.com
281-736-4089

Running A Business Alone

Running a business alone will not work.  Regardless the type of business you have you can not do it alone.  You will need someone in Sales, Assistant, Marketing/PR, etc....  Trying to run your business alone will cause you to miss out on a lot of new Clients & Referrals.

Outsourcing Can Make You Money

Outsourcing can make you money by outsourcing.  When you outsource some of your tasks and concentrate more on your business you bring in more money.  Hiring an assistant to do a lot of your back office tasks instead of doing them yourself.  Spending a lot of time doing these task yourself can cause you to miss out on new Clients and referrals.

2012 How I'm Organized

Why start the year being unorganized?  Start 2012 with a Virtual Office.  You can scanned all of your documents and create electronic folders.  Just like you label a folder you can make a label for your electronic file.  Hey why not, if you need to make sub-folders do it.  If you have to have hard copies get color folders to help you organize and possibly find what you need quicker.

What about those appointments?  Everyone has a cell phone.  Use your phone for appointments and set up reminders.  Your phone is always with you.  The samething goes with your tablet or iPad.  Technology is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!  Use It!!!!  If you are not sure how to use it to it’s full potential ask for help.  This can help keep you on task, remind you about appointments, and you will be prepared.  If you have to reschedule your appointment you can do it before the day of the meeting and not an hour before.

Hint:  Open an account with Dropbox to store all of your files.  The first 2GB is free.  If you need additional space packages are available. (www.dropbox.com).

You can also see this article in Beautifully Said Magazine (MoneyTalk Section - 2nd article).  click on the link.  http://beautifullysmagazine.com/2012/02/moneytalk-7/