Virtual Assistant Needed for Virtual Assistant

Sitting at computer and reading the plethora of emails. Like you.
But got distracted by way of a thousand clicks. Started out reading about my industry. Ended up reading about penguins. Done that, haven't you?
Absolutely positive that I am needed to do something, but not sure what it is. Ever feel that way, too?

The truth is even a virtual assistant could use a virtual assistant sometimes. It's become clear to me that VAs don't just do the work, they have a way of keeping you focused. For example, I haven't written in my blog since July 2009. There are many reasons why, some valid, some not so much. Despite all that internal discussion, if I had my own VA, he/she would have, a long time ago, reminded me how long it's been since I blogged. Perhaps would have even started a draft for me.

I have become the car mechanic who owns the worse car on the block. Tragic really, because if you talked to my clients, they would still rave about me, my work, etc. But like everyone else that owns their business, it's the marketing and sales tactics that seem to be put on the shelf when there's work to do, client projects to complete.

This experience has given me a genuine understanding of the business owner in need of my virtual assistant business. NOW I think I really know where they're coming from. AND now, I can help them better by being appreciative of needing my services. I need my own VA. But first, I'll manage my time better and in a month if I'm still behind in this blog, I'll be shopping for my own virtual assistant.

Inspiration, Procrastination and Mowing Lawns (7.24.09)

Mowing the lawn is something I actually enjoy, but this time of year it has to be done so often, it's desensitized my enjoyment barometer. I don't mind doing it and after I'm done I really like the end result; it's getting started that I struggle with.

Mowing your lawn can be like tasks within your business, can't it? There are always things that we will set aside, procrastinate on until we get the right inspiration. Don't they usually look like these

• It's done so often, it's not fun anymore.
• It's so mundane that it's hard to get enthusiastic about it.
• It's simply something you don't enjoy.

Regardless, just like mowing the lawn, at some point you have to do it.

How do you dig down and get your inspiration to start the task, much less finish it?

Staying with the mowing analogy, there's a few things I used to inspire, motivate, kick-you-in-the-patootey and get it done:
1. Look at your neighbors. How does their lawn look? Are you the only lawn left with grass so tall it's gone to seed?
2. Reminisce about how it felt the last time. I love to stand back and look across the lawn and visualize my own little putting green. It looks really good and that's rewarding.
3. Reward yourself for a job well done. After I mowed the lawn, I treated myself to a frozen ice cream dessert. It was almost childlike to sit in the shade, on my freshly mown lawn and eat the ice cream bar (despite the dogs staring at me longingly for a lick).
4. Future consequences. What will I have to do if I don't mow my lawn? Would it get so high that it would bog down or break the mower? Very likely. It's not worth it to me to procrastinate about it any longer.

I don't usually have to do all 4 to get the mower out. One or 2, and I'm inspired, if not guilted into it. But hey, whatever inspiration works, right? My lawn is mowed and I got ice cream.

Opposites (Dogs) Attract

I have two dogs. You will find that I refer to them often. I am absolutely comfortable spoiling them and talking to them and talking for them. As a business owner, you may find this a good analogy for business.

Willie, or I should say, Alli Shores Steamboat Willie, is a Newfoundland. By all accounts he is the quintessential Newfie: a gentle giant and mellow. He is 7 years old and is absolutely content to sit idle for hours. I simply refer to him as my lawn ornament.

Cowboy is an English Setter. He is our 1.5 year old, very active, and an absolutely silly dog. I actually call him Goofy, convinced he is reincarnated from the Disney character.

To put it straight, they are on the opposite ends of the dog spectrum. Cowboy literally runs circles around Willie, if Willie will run at all. Cowboy jumps up and runs to and fro through the yard, chasing anything that moves. Willie will sleep at my feet all day and then rest a bit, worn out from having slept all day.

What I love about them is that despite their obvious differences, they complement each other. They seem to adore each other and demonstrate it in their own dog-way. Each one will go his own way most of the day and when the time is right, they play together, eat together, and sleep together.

It is true, opposites attract.

This to me is a bit how a business owner and a virtual assistant (VA) work together. I know I am defined by being a highly organized, methodical, and multi-tasking individual. My typical client may very well be the opposite of that. Otherwise, why would he need me? I honor these differences and I nurture those elements in my clients that are opposite to mine.

I encourage any business owner that is considering to hire a VA to do it! Do not be concerned or embarrassed about the unfinished stuff or the things not started. That’s not why you went into business, is it? You need the time to generate new clients and nurture your existing ones. You need time to do the revenue building tasks. Let the virtual assistant take over those non-revenue building tasks. Embrace the differences that are likely to be revealed. Like Willie and Cowboy, you and your VA will complement each other.

Getting a little work done (7/16/2009)

It's 3:15 PM and I've spent the last 3 hours on getting my blog designed and ready to use. I'm still not 100% that this will do much for generating clients, but everything I read says to do it. Fortunately this type of format (blogger) makes the process pretty easy. I did click the tab labeled "HTML" and completely mesmerized myself trying to read through all the coding, etc. I'm actually pretty impressed with whoever or the multiple "whomevers" that invented the language. I'm also impressed that I don't have to learn it in order to stay in the mainstream of marketing tactics. So kudos to all those gifted minds that invented the HTML language and made it so easy for us novices to use.

Anyway, my point was that I thought it would take longer than 3 hours. As a virtual assistant there are many, many adminstrative functions I can perform for your business...at this point, website design is on the fringe of knowledge base for me. Just tryin' to keep it honest.

The real test is to see how well it feeds into my website. You can go to http://www.thvaonline.com/ and see how well it transfers to the blog page...well, when you get around to it.