Entrepreneur Archives - Page 4 of 9

15 Simple Tips to Harness Your Productivity

by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 17, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Productivity, Small Business, Time Management

Entrepreneurs are always strapped for time! You need more. Want more. Gotta have it but you need to realize the value of your time and how to best use every second, all 86,400 of them.

You can learn to maximize your productivity and feel like a rock star. I’m not talking about just being busy as that isn’t efficient. There is a difference between just using up some time, watching the hours tick by, and truly cranking out some real work that has an impact.

There’s always plenty of tips and tools you can enlist but it really comes down to you and what you are willing to do to best leverage your time, output and true success.

It is a choice. Everyone has the exact same amount of time in their day so it is about how you invest in it. Invest in you.

Achieve your goals and master your To Do list and projects for your greatest accomplishments or merely float through the day, kinda hoping things magically get done. Don’t operate your business like it’s in Disney Land.

You all need some downtime, nap time, and some time, BUT, don’t expect to realize winning results without a plan, focus, and dedication. It just doesn’t happen. Simple as that.

Victory comes at a cost.

Pay it or concede.

Productivity Simplicity

Determine what is most important: in your day, in your life, in your business. That’s what you need to be doing.
Make a plan: to achieve these important tasks and milestones. List out action steps.
Priorities: have them. Understand them. Commit to them.
Allow time for diversions: it always happens. A sink hole or you are somehow sidetracked but with proper planning, you are prepared.
Set realistic timelines: if you don’t, you may be scrambling and only half finishing your lists or not putting in 100%. If you can’t give it your all, then it is half ass. Do you want that??
Tick tock: don’t be ruled by the clock. It doesn’t tell you if you are being more efficient and productive. Your output does. 9-5 doesn’t mean anything if you are just “busy.”
Create your goals: this helps to keep you on target daily, weekly, monthly. Revisit your list and revise as needed.
Eliminate your distractions: there is nothing worse than the ping of a notification, TV, phone, etc that will detract your focus. Tune out and turn off. It’s okay. You won’t lose anything but you have everything to gain. Be in the moment and nowhere else.
Don’t multi-task: it really does impede your productivity, decrease your brainpower, and limits your true attention to get one thing right. Put the emphasis on one project, one task at a time.
Ask yourself, “how or does this serve my goals?” If something doesn’t really serve you, then STOP!
Be accountable: yes, your day and how you manage your time is up to you. Own it. Do it.
Timers: they work! Set a timer for 30 minutes that you will devote to the time on task. Don’t stop. Don’t stray. Just do it. At the end of those 30, take a 5-minute break and then hit it again.
Break the chains: don’t be a prisoner to your email. Check it at set intervals.
Review time: every night, review your day, and set your goals/action steps for the following day.
Sing ME ME: yes, you must give back to yourself and establish a healthy work-life balance. Schedule in a time that is away from work; away from must do’s and have some fun. Refresh and refocus. Your brain needs it.

Michael LeBoeuf: “Waste your money and you’re only out of money, but waste your time and you’ve lost a part of your life.”

There are posts every day about what the most productive people do, 5 minutes to increase your productivity, how the top 10 entrepreneurs get things done, 30-second productivity boost; the list is endless but no matter what the post suggests, it is up to you to find and implement the tips and tools that you will use. The ones that resonate the most to help you increase your efficiency, work-life balance, time management, and productivity. Unless you are ready for a change, to kick it up to rock star status, then all of the recommendations are worthless.

You choose the productivity hacks that work for YOU.

Social Automation: Do it within reason

by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 15, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Marketing, Small Business, Social Media

As you have read countless times, social media is about relationship marketing, engagement and making authentic connections. Real-time conversations with real people, doing and wanting real things. Your audience is not a conveyer belt digesting your content. They want and need genuine dialog and interactions.

Yes, it is all extremely time-consuming; eating many hours of your day, but with a mix of “healthy” automation and personal engagement, you can feel the success of this medium.

I am not against automation; however, when you choose to merely schedule all of your posts, without any time for personal communications, you are missing out on tremendous opportunities to meet and network with your global community. I love automation tools for content search and scheduling posts because they help save a lot of time and energy, which there is so little of. Populating your content ahead of time frees up your hours for the “social” in media.

With proper use of social media automation, you can make your time spent on your social media online marketing as productive and profitable as possible. business.com blog

Don’t set it and forget it.

Auto DMs? I can say they are a pet peeve of mine. We just met seconds ago and knowing nothing, you are asking me to click on a link, buy something, join you on a different network or download your product? It’s not going to happen. I had one follower who offered me a free massage when I purchase five, but I highly doubt flying to California is a viable option. If you choose to send a DM to welcome a new follower, then make it personal not robotic. You may get unfollowed.

You are a social being, act like it. Think about your behavior and mannerisms at a cocktail party or networking event. Do you shake hands, immediately hand out your business card and ask for the sale? I don’t think so.

You ENGAGE in conversation.
You ask questions.
You share valuable information.
You exchange in mutual dialog.

Practice the same online.

Take the time to get to know your followers, their interests, their pain points, their passions…. Human beings enjoy real conversations versus sterile robotic machines.

Review your Twitter stream. Is it just links and tweets or do you engage? Sure, automate some content, but keep it real. Reply to tweets and retweets. Share the love of your follower’s content. Review profiles and websites – discuss them, ask questions.

What does your Facebook page look like? When someone likes or replies to your post, don’t ignore it. They took the time to comment. They are interested in your page. Respond. People love to talk to people, to their favorite brands and pages; stand out from those who don’t engage. Be the brand that you want to buy from.

Whatever various platforms you choose to deploy, humanize your networking with real interactions.

Simple as that.

Have a presence.

Be remarkable and continue to nurture your audience with rich dialog and connections.

Social Automation Tips

Evaluate your needs and goals to pick a tool that works best for you. Examples: Buffer, Do Share, Hootsuite, IFTTT, Zapier
Understand when to automate and when to engage.
Monitor your tools and automated posts.
Automate your RSS feeds as well as those in your network.
Schedule non-urgent posts like favorite quotes and tips.
Don’t schedule the exact same content across all of your platforms. Keep it fresh.
Don’t overschedule and drown your audience. Too much of anything is a bad thing.
Update your channels daily with current news and trends. Mix it up a bit.

Once all of that is done, you will have saved yourself a few hours to engage with your audience, creating deeper connections and meaningful relationships.

Social automation is a great time-saver but don’t overdo it. You’ve got real people enjoying real conversations, with real needs. Exceed their expectations.

Be SOCIAL. Don’t do social.

Bring human resources to the table where the opportunity for real social media engagement exists, and use computers to make all else more efficient. Just be sure the quality meets high standards and builds audience. Adam Stetzer

What the Heck is a Virtual Assistant?

by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 8, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Productivity, Small Business, Social Media, Virtual Assistant

It’s me! I’m not talking about Siri or Google Now. I’m real. I’m live. Not some plug and play doll, but a real human being, and educated executive with a vested interest in YOUR business success.

A Virtual Assistant is similar to an in-house team member but we help you manage your daily business operations and tasks from our office. We give your back your time to focus ON your business rather than IN it. All of the back end daily administrative and social media management can be a real time suck, which takes you away from your core business acumen. Your job is to run your business and not get bogged down and buried by routine tasks and lengthy To Do lists.

The Bonus of a Virtual Assistant Partnership?

You don’t have to pay for additional overhead, office space, training, insurances, vacation time, taxes, supplies, or furniture.

You only invest for the time spent working on your projects.

As a Virtual Assistant, I outsource as well, helping to increase my productivity, business development and efficiency. If I want to continue to scale my company, I know I can’t go it alone.

M. Shannon Hernandez of The Writing Whisperer,

“I knew that in order to grow my business, the way I envisioned from the very beginning, I needed a support team from the get go. When I am speaking with new business owners, or ones that can’t seem to find the time to get everything done, the very first piece of advice I offer is to partner with a virtual assistant. And once you do, you should embrace this person and her unique skill sets and treat her like a key player in your business.”

After Michael Hyatt left the role of CEO of Thomas Nelson, he rejoiced in the freedom of being his own boss with no more office politics and he was able to follow his passion. We all know that feeling. But soon enough,

“I was spending the bulk of my time responding to email, managing my calendar, booking my own travel, and handling the hundreds of details that go with running a small business. This went on for about three months. I felt like I was drowning. I was running out of hours—and energy. I had to do something.”

Michael created a team of Virtual Assistants!

“None of them work full-time for me. None of them are employees. Together they have enabled me to create a debt-free, highly-profitable, rapidly-growing business. I simply could not have done this without the use of virtual assistants.”

Managing your business and your online presence takes effort, hours, consistency and dedication. You know it is a 24/7/365 day a year journey. Not something part-time. Not a hobby. It is your passion to create and grow a thriving company. Can you do it ALL yourself without sacrificing quality and effectiveness?

“I believe every entrepreneur should be utilizing the sheer power of hiring and working with virtual staff. Back in 2010 when I made the escape from my office, I was doing it for my personal reasons. However, since then I’ve realized that my virtual team has helped our company to grow in not only an efficient way, but also in a much faster manner.” Chris Ducker.

What Can You Outsource to a Virtual Assistant?

The list is limitless!! Here’s a few ideas.

Content research and curation
Blog post creation
Editing/proofing of blog posts, websites, documents
Blog commenting
Ghost writing
Social media management
Social bookmarking
Directory submission
Article marketing
Web design
Landing page design and set up
Bookkeeping
Calendaring
Appointment scheduling
Email management
E-newsletters
Customer follow up

Outsource Anything That

Doesn’t directly generate revenue
Isn’t your core genius
Represents administrative tasks
You don’t like to do
You don’t want to do
Is too tedious
Takes up too much time
Provides a low payoff

“The whole transition from working in the business to working on the business means letting go of what you’re comfortable doing. You always need to be thinking big and challenging yourself.” Mary Jo Gorman.

Tips to Working with a Virtual Assistant

After you have chosen your vested virtual partner be ready to experience outstanding results.

Understand your daily processes and business operations
Be well aware of your core genius and high payoff activities
Clearly outline your goals
Know what you want to outsource: for example, content curation, proofing/editing/uploading of blogs, email and calendar management, social media and project management
Outsource one offs, projects, administrative tasks and daily business operations
Establish your workflow
Define specifics, desired outcomes, expectations and deadlines
Prepare documents to support the processes you use to complete tasks. You may also discover that your VA has some other efficient tools and ideas as well. Be open for discussions
Accountability and communications are a must for success and satisfaction
Provide valued, honest feedback
Trust the VA you have chosen – avoid the need to micromanage
Expect to participate in monthly strategy calls to brainstorm, share ideas and talk about your business
If they are to interact with your clients or vendors, create an email address for them at your domain
Recognize that you are part of a TEAM, investing in your partnership and business
Every month, review what is working and what isn’t. Consider outsourcing additional operations management or projects while you may decide to pull back others
Continue to foster and nurture your relationship just like you would with an in-house staff member

Does this all sound enticing?

Do you ever wonder what or how your competition grows their business? If you are ready to scale and spend more time focused on your business core, then the time is NOW to think about partnering with a Virtual Assistant.

Reach out to Ace via our contact page and let’s get the discussions going.

Significant versus Success

by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 3, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Life Thoughts, Small Business

Most people equate success with financial wealth and independence but is there something more intrinsic beyond the mighty dollar? In my post “Measure of Success | Is it Dollars or Sense?” I shared what success means to me and the different levels for my personal evaluation. Every person, every entrepreneur has their own vision and measures of success.

One of my clients has recently been honored with an opportunity of great magnitude and prestige to help impact the lives of others, without financial remuneration. In discussing this extraordinary honor he said:

It’s very humbling and makes you appreciate the importance of focusing on being ‘significant vs. being successful.

I don’t think there is much of a differentiation unless you are only bound by money. When you truly think of all of the things money can’t buy, you are wealthier than you realize.

When you are able to give without expecting a return, you are rich.

When you give deeply from the heart, you are rich.

It is this wealth that teaches.

This wealth that is more significant than a coin.

After our discussion, my client shared the video Significance vs Success by Coach Tony Dungy, prior head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the Indianapolis Colts.

I believe Coach Dungy’s significance clearly represented success. What an empowering feeling to realize that you influenced someone else’s life with a positive direction. It is not only gratifying but hopefully an inspiration for others to pay it forward. Touching the lives of others holds greater power than any bank roll. It keeps on giving, far exceeding any dollar value. It is real. It is human.

Significant versus Success

Make change.
Share value.
Do the unexpected.
Random Acts of Kindness #RAOK

A Personal Story:

For many months after my mom passed away from breast cancer, we continued to receive notes and letters from the organizations that she belonged to or volunteered for over the years. Many we didn’t even know about. My dad would call me to read yet another note expressing their condolences mixed with the deep appreciation they had for my mom and her altruistic participation with their organization. She was a true giver of heart and spirit. Like no other. My mom was the director for the International Center at a local college and they built a lounge for the international students, naming it after her. A true testament to her devotion and care for others.

This is being:
1. Significant
2. A success
3. Wealthy

In response to my amazing client: being significant is being a success.

A lot of people who believe they are successful because they have everything they want. They have added value to themselves. But I believe significance comes when you add value to others and you can’t have true success without significance. John C. Maxwell

What about YOU? What are your thoughts on significance versus success?

Core Leadership: Why Delegation Is Essential to Growth

by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Mar 18, 2014 | Customer Service, Entrepreneur

Jane Wurwand, Founder, Owner of Dermalogica and The International Dermal Institute clearly understands the inherent value in the ability to scale your business via delegation. This mindset is a key driver for success. Delegating enables you to grow your organization, so you can focus on your core company objectives, removing you from the daily back end details which eat up your valuable time and actual productivity.

I am speaking as the Founder of my own company and I know just how challenging it can be to let go and delegate. Only by letting go of certain details and delegating them to fellow team members to handle that the company had the opportunity to truly grow. If I had clung on to the day-to-day details, or if I was a micro-manager, would my company be the success that it is today?

As a business grows, the founding visionaries need to let go of the details. This seems like a contradiction, and I really get it. I am speaking as the Founder of my own company and I know just how challenging it can be to let go and delegate. Only by letting go of certain details and delegating them to fellow team members to handle that the company had the opportunity to truly grow. If I had clung on to the day-to-day details, or if I was a micro-manager, would my company be the success that it is today? The simple truth is no.

Most business owners are more prone to think, “I can do it all myself,” but this self-limiting thought process does not allow you the time or full productivity to dedicate to the core of your business. You may be buried and merely just busy doing more menial activities that are NOT the best value of your time.

If you are entrenched with 10, 20+ hours a week on social media management, curating content, writing, editing, proofing and scheduling blog posts, calendar management, writing newsletters, WHO is operating your business?

Click to read the full post on Huff Post for Women

The Entrepreneur: Raw and Naked

by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 27, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Small Business

Being an entrepreneur is no easy endeavor. It requires a 24/7/365 days a year drive, dedication and commitment to growing your business. It isn’t a hobby – it’s a lifestyle and you need to be prepared for the ups and downs. Times of scarcity and prosperity but you dive in and do what needs to be done.

The digital environment gives you a broad scope to share your message and your mission. You have a voice but you must have ears to listen and offer solutions. Communicate quality rich content and engage every day, building your communities and your networks no matter how you feel. No matter what is going on in your personal life. You have a business to operate.

“When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure.” Mary Kay Ash

It was once suggested to be personable, not personal. There can be a fine line depending on your social platform but sometimes a mix of both gives your audience a peek into your life and who you are. You have the opportunity to share a glimpse of yourself, your passions, your dreams and your pains. Keep it real.

“People relate to stories. Tell yours in a way that allows others to connect with you in a real and authentic way.” Rebekah Radice

In this reality of online relationships, your option to share a piece of yourself will also help to build trust and loyalty, showing the person (s) behind the brand.

You are human and not just a logo or a company pushing a widget.

You are as human as your audience; don’t treat them like machines.

Social media is not a conveyor belt to sling blah content to the masses.

Companies come and go every day; it is a sad fact. Many entrepreneurs and start-ups put their “blood, sweat and tears” into growing their business, and sometimes it falls apart. It could be the market, the niche, the financial climate, but it happens. When or if it does, it doesn’t represent failure, but a time to redirect and navigate the changes.

Innovate and review your industry, methods, systems and processes.