Gift Yourself
With the New Year underway it’s important to ask yourself did you set the right goals for your business. Did you really take time to sit down an evaluate your business’ strength and weaknesses? Did you come up with an action plan to address those weaknesses? Could you use some extra time in your day? Perhaps you are tired of the day to day administrative tasks taking your focus away from your business. Now may be the perfect time to partner with a Virtual Assistant. Outsourcing to a competent professional is a smart solution. One of my clients gave me the best compliment when I handed him his Christmas gift. He told me that contracting my services was the best gift he had ever given himself. WOW…What a nice thing to say! I never tire of hearing about my clients satisfaction with my services. Most Virtual Assistants consider themselves a partner in your business, I know I do. I want my clients to succeed and I feel good knowing I had a hand in their success. I get a unique perspective into my client’s business. This perspective allows me to offer invaluable advice on what is or isn’t working for them or to share ideas about how they may be able to streamline processes, attract more clients, save money and more.
So consider what your business needs might be and whether or not those needs can be outsourced to a competent professional. Think about all the free time you will have to focus on the stuff you love to do not the stuff you have to do. So make 2008 great and hire a VA. Here’s hoping it will be the best gift you’ve ever given yourself.
Virtual Assistants Can Assist with Holiday Shopping!
There are various ways one can use a virtual assistant. Shopping during a hectic holiday season is no exception. One of my clients is a general contractor who works long hours. We were talking about the holidays and the mad dash people were making to the malls and other stores trying to find that perfect gift. My client asked me if I was finished with my Christmas shopping. When I told him “yes” he was shocked and confessed that he hadn’t even started yet and didn’t know when he would have the time. He also stated that from the look of things he would probably be out shopping on Christmas eve just like last year. What did I say to him? Why not let me take care of that for you. So we came up with a list of people and the items he wanted to purchase for each of them. The rest was up to me.
I was able to spend the time looking for the best price for each item. I was even able to purchase the popular and sought after Nintendo Wii system for his grandson. My client is thrilled and when he game to pick up his Christmas gifts I had a little gift for him also. All of the items purchased came in $367.18 under budget and I also gift wrapped the items. The only thing he has to do…is deliver them! And if necessary…I would have arranged for that too.
Why was this a good thing for my client? Well first, my client knows that time is money. If he’s out Christmas shopping he’s not making any. Secondly, my client knows the value of my services. So, it was a win-win situation for him. He could go to work and make money and know that his Christmas list was in very capable hands. The money he paid for my services was well spent. How do I know? My client gifted to me the money I saved him!
If I have to buy a minivan…make mine a Honda Odyssey
The time has come for us to park one of our family cars permanently. It has served us well and it deserves the rest. As I researched what cars would be best for our family, I knew that we wanted something that could accommodate us and possibly more should we decide to add another member. Of course I want to purchase and SUV and my better half wants a minivan. The thought of driving around in a minivan horrified me. It just screams “mommy car” and I figured I was too cool for that. My dream choice would be the Toyota Sequoia, but it’s price tag is a little more than we care to spend. My second choice is the Honda Pilot. I think this is a great choice but the third row seating leaves a lot to be desired. So…dragging me kicking and screaming…we looked at the Honda Odyessy.
I have to say that I really like the features it has. It’s a great car made by a great manufacturer and we are already Honda people so why not go with what you know. I still wanted to let it sink in a bit so I told my husband to let me look around and do some research. I stumbled upon many web sites all giving great reviews of the Honda Odyessy. I found one review by Emily Hansen of Mother Proof to be a particularly great assessment of the 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L vehicle. Here’s some of what she had to say:
“…I really find technology irresistible, so you can imagine my delight in the feature packed Honda Odyssey.
I grin from ear to ear as I get into the driver’s seat. I put the car in reverse and the first of many features catches my eye. Wow! It has a reverse camera that displays on the navigation system’s large screen. I can see everything behind the van, and it has an infrared light so the view is clear, even in the dark. This is such an important safety feature, being able to see an object, and more importantly a child, behind such a large vehicle, it really puts my mind at ease.
That is not the end of the safety features of the Odyssey. It has standard side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, a stability system and three sets of Latch connectors, just to name a few…”
The article goes on to tell of more features that make the Odyssey a great car for a mom as well as some things that could use a little improvement. All in all it made me feel better about our choice to go with the Odyssey for our new family car. I think the Honda Odyssey will make a great “mommy car”. I don’t know why I was so horrified by the idea of driving a minivan. It’s a car and I am a mom after all.