Get in the Game | Your Business Depends on It

Get in the Game | Your Business Depends on It

EntrepreneurWe all have goals and things we want to achieve but are you really ready to commit? To produce an impact? Can you make the pledge to maintain forward momentum and accomplish your objectives? Saying and doing are two completely opposite entities. Action begets action.

 “Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.” Bruce Barton

Sure, we often THINK about the changes we want to institute, the direction we see ourselves working toward, but those are merely thoughts. It is time to step up and confront what is blocking our realizations for growth.

  • Squander our time and efforts on needless busy work
  • Lose ourselves in the abyss of posting and trolling social media
  • Become sidetracked with tedious, nonsense task
  • Lose focus
  • Decide we just don’t feel like it
  • Work IN our business instead of ON it
  •  We are undeserving
  • Expecting other company partners to contribute more
  • Afraid of success
  • Waiting for bigger and better opportunities

The only way to facilitate change is to learn to become more effective and efficient.
To transform.
To revolutionize our thought process and actions.

Keep a daily log of time and projects, the interruptions, personal ambushes and at the end of the week, scrutinize what you truly accomplished. How you spent your time? What was wasted and where can you improve your focus and time management?

A recent post on Stepcase Lifehack, 3 Ways to Be Less Busy and More Productive, state:  “How often do you actually achieve results while you are busy? Not too often, I bet. Switch your focus from being busy to being productive, so that you can accomplish more, see tangible results, and have time for fun.” They offered some very helpful hints to fine tune and remove the busy from your life.

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Many become defensive when their aspect of busy is challenged and that is understandable, but in terms of accomplishable goals, growth, momentum and successes, busy and productive must be further defined to determine if being busy is just wasting time or working toward an end result.  Entrepreneurship requires 150% dedication, focus and effort. It is not a part time endeavor to embark upon while meandering through life. If you are choosing to operate a business, then you must live and breathe your corporation, from top to bottom, every day.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge

  1. Know your goals: long term, short term and daily.
  2. Plan your work and work your plan.
  3. Create your action steps.
  4. Eliminate distractions.
  5. Stay on task.
  6. Turn off notifications.
  7. Be consistent with your actions.
  8. Delegate your non-income producing tasks.
  9. Learn something new to advance your business.
  10. Read pertinent books/articles.
  11. Find a mentor.
  12. Ask for help.
  13. Do what it takes to bring your business to the next level.
  14. Be accountable for each step-each milestone.
  15. It is up to you
“At the end of the day we are accountable to ourselves – our success is a result of what we do.” Catherine Pulsifer

 

Virtual Assistants | Established Entrepreneur or Offshore Call Center?

Virtual Assistants | Established Entrepreneur or Offshore Call Center?

Ace Concierge Virtual AssistantDo you want to dance offshore or dive in with an established professional entrepreneur to help manage your business?  Building a company is hard work and takes an extensive amount of time and energy to successfully manage and facilitate growth. There are vast amounts of daily responsibilities that coincide with your SOP, business development, customer service, social media, troubleshooting and all of the other 98 hats we must wear.

Can you really do it all? Commit to every single task, project and activity for you, your company and your clients? Probably not. I know I can’t. Spreading yourself too thin wreaks havoc and diminishes your output, sometimes to the point that things either don’t get completed or they didn’t have 100% of your attention.

It is here you decide you truly need help.

Enter the Virtual Assistant.

Many are familiar with the online directories, freelancing job sites, offshore call centers and of course the established virtual assistants. What do you do?

If you are looking for a vested partner, a real team player who has an honest interest in your business, then choose an entrepreneurial virtual assistant instead of the offshore tasks doers. I would believe your ideal assistant is someone:

  • Who understands what it takes to start and grow a company
  • Who has administrative experience
  • Who has an extensive skill-set both on and offline
  • Who consistently goes above and beyond being a task master
  • Who takes a genuine interest in you and your business
  • Who wants to be a part of your team
  • Who prefers a long term partnership to help build and fortify your company
  • Who drives to learn and educate themselves on related technologies, platforms and current industry news
  • Who can and wants to see you succeed
  • Who can provide you with testimonials and samples of their work
  • Who “gets” your mission, values and ethics
  • Who is available at your convenience, making allowances for work life balance, family and time zone differences
  • Who timely responds to your emails and other communications
  • Who values and respects your feedback to ensure your 100% satisfaction

The Virtual Assistant Industry | A Network of Professionals will provide you with a list of tips and questions to ask your potential virtual assistant.

When you team up with another like-minded entrepreneur, you are given the opportunity to have a dedicated partner in your success not someone who merely receives a task oriented email to complete. While the call centers and other off-shore operations may seem like a financial win, consider what you are opting out of for a few dollars.

I began my business in 2002: Virtual Assistants, Passion, Preference and Persistence and like the other virtual assistants in my network, we are here for YOU, helping to drive your business to meet your aspirations and dreams of entrepreneurship.

Think about your business goals, direction and management. What is important to you? Who most will benefit your team?