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Archive for March 2009

Do it, Delegate it, Delete it…..

By MOAImport · Comments (1)
Monday, March 30th, 2009

Being a virtual assistant this is something I live by with all my clients to keep them on time and on task.  However, unlock my office door and you would think I had no idea what I was doing.  I like to call it organized chaos and my husband knows it is easier to ask then to actually try to figure out my system.  So with that in mind I took a day to handle the three D’s and here is my story.

First I set up my three bins: DO IT – DELETE IT – DELEGATE IT. Then it was on to my desk to actually get the items into the bins, now keep in mind this is all personal stuff and I am trying to figure out how I let this happen.  Here I go…

Delete It – Delete (or trash it for me) has me twitching at this point, and probably most of you as well.  Think about this, it has been sitting in this pile for how long?  In my case probably two or three weeks so I guess it really isn’t dire now is it.   Ask yourself this:  does this item relate to anything significant, can you find this information elsewhere (there goes half my product manuals – smiles all around), is this something I am going to need six months from now and is the item something you are required to keep (think IRS rules here)

Do It – First rule of thumb is can it be deleted and if not, can it be done in less than 2 minutes.  Take the 2 minutes or less now and get those items off your plate.  For me it was just a matter of filing some important papers and booklets from all my remodeling projects.  There goes half my first pile!

If it cannot be done in less than two then you need to ask yourself “what actions does this item need”?  Put it on your to-do list and then put in the DO IT bin.  So here is the final rule for Do It.  If you cannot delete it then take two minutes and get it done.  If you cannot get it done now then put it into action and put on your to-do list.  Boy tomorrow is going to be a busy day for me.

Delegate It – This is the best, can you give this to someone else.  Now if it was business I would say heck yeah, give it to me after all I am a Virtual Assistant and this is what I do, but sadly these are personal items.  So now I look and say who can handle this for me.  First I take that stack of receipts and send it off to my scanning service, yippee pile two gone.   Next I see the pile of my daughter college stuff.  Well she keeps saying she wants to be independent so let’s see how that works.  And then there are the things for an organization I volunteer for.  Pile three and four gone and look there is my desk.

Finally I am at the end and it took more time to put it off then to complete it.  I feel so much better now that my system is back to order and I have some direction for these items.  But remember, those bins should stay and when you get items in delete it, do it or delegate it and take the rest of the time for yourself.

All the best,
Lee Drozak ~ My Office Assistant

Comments (1)
Categories : Organization, Outsourcing, Small Business, Time Management, Virtual Assistant, Work from Home

Networking Functions: Are They Really Worth It?

By MOAImport · Comments (0)
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

I recently read an article on marketing tips and one was to not waste your time on local networking events since the ROI is not so great. I belong to a few networking groups and one in particular that I am extremely active in.  Being an active in networking I disagree with this and here is why.

Myth:   You don’t get anything out of it.  Well to put it bluntly, you get what you give. The first rule of thumb is talk 20% of the time and listen 80%. If you go to an event with only the notion of getting the sale, it will be a big bust. The idea here is to make contacts and add people to your network.

Myth:  No one seems interested in my business. Are you making your business appealing or are you just hard selling to everyone? Many people look at me puzzled when I state that I am a Virtual Assistant, so now I start out with “How would you like to save yourself one hour a day for ME time?” When I get their attention I then tell you what tasks I can accomplish in one hour. And I gear towards the focus of those attending the event.

Myth:  Networking is handing out your business cards. Nine out ten business cards end up in the trash especially if you attend events where there are repeat contacts. Networking is about making connections not handing out hundred of cards. Instead of passing out cards, I pass out a newsletter with business and time savings tips along with software recommendations (usually free or low cost). This leaves those attending with something they can use rather than just a little rectangle of paper. Often times I will be asked for a card and it is then that I hand them out.

Myth:  My time is too valuable. Here is a thought, so is everyone else’s time. Many businesses generate 75% of their business through networking and word of mouth referral. Often there are conversations in which you can get an idea or learn of someone else to help you take your business to the next level. I have even made contacts through someone who has attended the event and cannot use my services but passed them on to someone who can.

Myth:   Free events or groups are just social meetings. Yes some are and some groups are more about building their memberships rather than providing great opportunities. Test out the waters for each group. If it works for you fine stick with it, if not move on. Some groups with no membership fees have more resources than those with fees so don’t discount them just yet.

While I agree that every event is not for everyone, choose your functions and groups wisely and take it seriously. Networking is about people meeting people not about handing out cards or selling your product. Recognize an opportunity to use your expertise or give sound advice and you will be remembered often. And most importantly, get to know the group and members for you never know when they will need your service or product, or better yet they will know someone who will.

All the Best,
Lee Drozak ~ My Office Assistant

Comments (0)
Categories : Networking, Small Business, Virtual Assistant

When all else fails, ask the expert…

By MOAImport · Comments (0)
Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Recently my husband and I purchased an old (over 100 years) farm house that we have taken on the task to remodel. We thought going room by room would be our best option and he would handle most of the physical work while I would do the planning, purchasing and overall management of each room since this is where our strengths lie.

Sounds like a good plan, or so we thought. What we did not account for was that I cannot take a measurement to save my life. And here is how we figured that one out.

We decided to hit the main bath first, complete gut no holds bar demo. So first I planned out where everything would go, not so hard since most plumbing and cabinetry was staying where it was originally placed. Next I contacted a plumber since this was an area we did not want to err in. Bids in hand I went on to hiring the best for the job and now I could move on to the planning and purchasing.

This is where I should have utilized an expert (my husband, but don’t tell him that) to take measurement to make sure everything I wanted fit. I decided how much room I had, special ordered all the cabinet and fixtures and got ready to start. What I did not account for was that being an older house everything was custom built and often times built around pipes and water lines.

Everything was going great, well as great as could be in a crooked old house, until we went to put in the cabinets. After talking about the placement of the cabinets my husband looked at me dumbfounded exclaiming, “did you not measure before you ordered them?”. Well of course I did, but what I did not account for was walls to house the shower plumbing and other build outs to house other pipes. Who knew!

So I guess what I am trying to say is that while I am great at project management and keeping everything on task, I am not so good at overall measurements. This is where I should have relied on someone else for their expertise and saved myself money and time. When running your business you should do the same. Decide what you are great or even good at and leave the rest to an expert. In the long run it will save you time and money and isn’t that the name of the game.

At least I can use the extra linen closet in the laundry room.

All the best
Lee Drozak ~ My Office Assistant

Comments (0)
Categories : Organization, Outsourcing, Virtual Assistant, Work from Home

Success as a Virtual Assistant is

By MOAImport · Comments (2)
Sunday, March 15th, 2009

Success is measured by many in all sorts of ways.  For some it is money or wealth and for others it is numbers, whether it is clients, followers or employees.  To me success boils down to two things:  time and happiness.

Most you understand the happiness part but time you ask.  Well I look at it this way, what is the point of happiness if you have no time to enjoy it.  Really, if you are overwhelmed time wise than are you really achieving your happiness.   Don’t get me wrong, time does not mean are you busy, time means are you spending it wisely to enjoy all the things that are important to you.

So the question was posed “Success as a Virtual Assistant is…” and here is my answer.  As a virtual assistant I have the choice of the client that I take on as well as the amount of hours.  I am blessed at this point because I truly like and enjoy working with all of my clients.  Maybe it is because they are a lot like me and maybe it was just the luck of the draw but none the less, I have superior clients.

I am also blessed to enjoy all the work I do for my clients. Of course as a virtual assistant this is the choice that I get to make.  There is very little that I do not enjoy doing, but it is nice to know that I get to say no if need be.

On top of great clients and doing what I enjoy I get to work when I want to.  If I want to work in the morning and take an afternoon off, then that is what I do.   Up all night, no problem, I get out the laptop and work away so that I can sleep in when I finally hit the hay.  And I get to work from my home where I can either sit in the comforts of my home office or on my deck with the wildlife that surrounds my property.

Being a virtual assistant allows me to enjoy many successes and I am certainly enjoying my two favorites, happiness and the time to enjoy it.

All the best,
Lee Drozak ~ My Office Assistant

Comments (2)
Categories : Time Management, Virtual Assistant

What is your take on the housing market and stimulus package?

By MOAImport · Comments (0)
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Naja and I are involved in the WSBA and are often at various events.  Always one for conversation, I asked Naja Brown of Northwood Realty her take on this burning question.

Here is my perspective on the current state of real estate in the Pittsburgh Region and the stimulus package.

Because places like Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh did not see the wild price rises and real estate speculation as other markets, our housing market is relatively stable. In essence the crummy stagnant economies in these places did not inflate and thus did not burst. The trend was also aided by relatively conservative local banks which for the most part did not partake in the crazy lending practices. Home prices actually eked out a tiny gain last year and foreclosures decreased dramatically.

The Post Gazette reports:

    Residential foreclosures in the Pittsburgh area dropped for the second year in a row in 2008, a 6.6 percent decline from 2007…
    The average home price locally climbed 1.2 percent from $148,828 in 2007 to $150,588 in 2008.

This is better news than anyone else in the country is getting right now. Too bad consumers are too scared by the national news about the economy and real estate values to actually try for first time homeownership. Too bad sellers are to scare to sell, even though it would cost less and they could buy their next home for less. Too bad they don’t realize that now is the time to invest.

Our conservative local bankers have gone into lock down on shaky buyers and questionable borrowers. Don’t get me wrong, they will still fund a loan to a customer with great credit, at least 5% down and stable long term employment, with a whole lot of burning hoops to jump thru.

The stimulus package being set up by the government is intended to get the banks to loan more money and get consumers to spend it. The plan is designed to speed up the recovery of the system. But, if people are too afraid to spend any money and instead put it in their mattress, then the plan will not work. If people cannot reawaken to the value of buying and selling real estate, then the plan will not work. The plan is designed to renew people’s confidence in the US Government and the economy’s resilience. We the people must be able to look past “the sky is falling” new reports and really see what is and needs to be happening.

The real estate industry in cyclical! It always comes back around.   The stimulus package is supposed to speed up the process because the US economy depends so heavily upon it.

Naja Brown ~NORTHWOOD REALTY SERVICES
Real Estate Marketing Specialist
office #412-831-0100 x 243
email to najabrown@northwood.com
http://www.pghhomesbynaja.com

Comments (0)
Categories : Guest Post, Real Estate

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