Archive for Books
We Got Our Groove Back!
Posted by: | CommentsThanks to blogging, Yvonne and I discovered that we have been following the same path but not together. We were both in a funk. My last post was all about how I forgot about my goals and how when I remembered them everything started falling in to place.
Then a few days ago Yvonne posted about the funk she was in and I commented on her blog saying, “Funny this post somewhat resembles my last blog post… seems we have been on the same funk cycle but we are back!” That comment prompted Yvonne to read my latest post and a big light bulb went off for her.
She had also forgotten about her goals. She didn’t exactly forget but she had reached all her goals and had not set new ones. So we spent some time yesterday reviewing our old goals and setting new ones. We got to pat ourselves on the back for reaching goals that seemed like “big dreams” a year ago. In Yvonne’s process manual workbook, The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business there is a section under the goal setting part which says “What dream do you dare to dream for your business?”. Every time I review my manual I update that dream and date it. I’m thrilled to say I’ve actually achieved most of those things that I dared to dream a year ago. (Still waiting for the 2nd house on a beach – but I know that will come soon).
In celebration of Yvonne and I getting our groove back we are offering a special on our book Managing Your Thriving Business for Success. If you enter the code word: productive you will receive $10 off the cost of the book! If you are in a funk or have lost your groove we hope you will join us in getting your groove back and let us know about your light bulb moments.
For the next 10 days we will be offering this $10 discount. Go to http://www.thrivingbusinessmanual.com/managing and enter the code: productive to start getting your groove back today!
I Challenge You To Build Up Your Business
Posted by: | CommentsVirtual Assistants and clients often ask me, “how can I get more clients?” My answer is always a series of questions… do you network online or in person? do you follow up with your potential clients? I’ve found that a lot of people think if you put up a Website the clients/customers will come. In fact, that is usually not the case. A Website is a place for someone to go find out more information about you once they have met you somewhere else (either online or in person).
If you are trying to get new clients/customers I’d like to offer you a challenge this week. Follow up with at least one person before the end of the week. If you are not sure how to go about following up, I highly recommend reading The Art of Follow Up written by Jaime Lee Mann.
Be sure to let me know how the follow up went.
SPECIAL OIVAC DISCOUNT
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Now through Sunday (5/18/08) Managing Your Thriving Business For Success is on sale!
50% off! We are offering this special discount in honor of IVAD!
Enter the code: OIVAC to receive your discount!
Co-Authors Nominated for Prestigious Virtual Assistant Awards
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Bragging time… Thanks Yvonne for writing this press release!
Co-Authors of the book “Managing Your Thriving Business for Success“, Sally Kuhlman and Yvonne Weld have each been recognized by their industry as nominees of these awards, Kuhlman for the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction and Weld for the Janet Jordan Achievement Award.
The Virtual Assistant industry is gearing up for the 3rd annual Online Virtual Assistant Convention (OIVAC), which will be held from May 15, 2008 through to May 17, 2008. The highlight of the event will be the International Virtual Assistants Day (IVAD) celebration on Friday, May 16, when the announcement of the winners of the prestigious Janet Jordan Achievement Award and the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction will occur.
The OIVAC website states that the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction is to “honor a Virtual Assistant who has been in business for at least 5 years and who has contributed to the industry in such a way that it has provided a positive impact on many others and helped them to build a successful business.” The OIVAC website also states that the Janet Jordan Award is to “honor a newcomer Virtual Assistant who has been in business for less than 5 years and has reached a milestone in their short career in the industry. This milestone needs to be an accomplishment that has helped to boost their new business to an overwhelming success.”
These nominations prove that Weld and Kuhlman truly know what they are talking about and they also give their book credibility. Many books on the market today are filled with repetitive materials that are unsubstantiated. In other words, not too many authors “practice what they preach”. The fact that these authors have been nominated for these awards goes to show that they are truly running successful businesses and are being recognized by the industry as leaders and role models.
“My goal in writing the book was to share with business owners the elements of my business that have attributed to my success such as goal setting, boundary setting and good time management”, Weld stated. “Many business owners struggle to determine why their business isn’t working without first looking at themselves and the management style they bring to their business.”
Kuhlman believes “most people can be taught good management skills and, by utilizing those skills, run a successful and thriving business.” “We don’t want others to make the same mistakes we have and wanted to provide a resource that would give entrepreneurs the tools they needed to run a successful business.” Both Kuhlman and Weld have learned their management skills through trial and error and life experience.
About Yvonne Weld
Yvonne Weld is the owner of Canadian based ABLE Virtual Assistant Services which opened in April 2004. Yvonne brings knowledge from a number of resources including personal experience (8 years in her previous employment as an Office Manager), education (graduate of several courses at the Small Business Centre, London, Ontario) and her love for information through reading and internet research. For more information visit the Web site at www.ableva.com.
About Sally Kuhlman
Sally Kuhlman is the owner of Virtual Simplicity located in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been providing virtual support to entrepreneurs since 2002. For over 15 years she has been professionally engaged in business management and administrative work. Sally has a bachelor’s degree in Social Ecology specializing in Psychology and Human Behavior. For more information visit the Web site at www.virtualsimplicity.net.
About Managing Your Thriving Business for Success
For more information about Managing Your Thriving Business for Success and how to start organizing your time better, visit the Web site at www.thrivingbusinessmanual.com/managing.
About OIVAC
The 3rd annual OIVAC is to be held from May 15-17, 2008 and will include several training teleseminars and workshops as well as an opportunity to network with Virtual Assistants from around the world. For more information visit the Web site at www.oivac.org.
What’s Your Excuse?
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Do you think you are too old to get started with an internet business?
If so, you might want to check out this new ebook: Put Your Old on Hold: A Baby Boomer’s Unconventional Guide to the Making of a dot com business” by Karen McGreevey.
She’s funny, she’s witty and she knows what she is talking about.
What is an Affiliate and how can I be one?
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According to wikipedia, Affliliate Marketing is “is a web-based marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate’s marketing efforts.”
Have you thought about becoming an affiliate for a product that you like but you’re not sure how it all works?
Did you know you could be making money while you sleep if you are an affiliate?
It’s easy to be an affiliate! All you have to do is sign up and then you get your own unique URL for whatever product it is that you want to promote. You can put this link on your Website, on your blog, or email it to your friends and lists.
If you haven’t tried being an affiliate before how about trying with our book: Managing Your Thriving Business For Success? You can earn 30% commission on each book sold. To make things easier for you we have set up an affiliate tool box with a free affiliate manual to give you some ideas on how to get started. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly.
To join our affiliate program click here. To learn more about it click here.
Bragging Rights
Posted by: | CommentsI got interviewed at Virtual Assistant Forums this month! You can read the interview here.
In celebration of returning from FoVA and being interviewed at the Virtual Assistant Forums I’m offering a discount on the book Managing Your Thriving Business For Success. Just enter the code word productive to receive $10 off. This offer lasts through May 11th, 2008.
Thanks!
Spring Is In The Air
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Since reading The E-Myth Revisited I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on my business and what direction I plan on taking it in over the next year.
Be on the look out for some exciting changes at Virtual Simplicity.
At times like this, when my brain gets on overload I often take a break, grab my dog and head for the hills behind my house (the Marin Headlands) that I am so blessed to live in walking distance of. Another reason I am thankful for being a business owner. This is where I often spend time reflecting on my business.
I was delighted to see the first sign of the spring flowers beginning to show!
Thank You
Posted by: | CommentsThank you Laura Monroe from Creative Agent Solutions for this great review on our book.
I was catching up on my Google alerts the other day when I was brought to Laura Monroe’s blog where she wrote a review about the Thriving Business Series.
Thanks Laura, it was an honor to be written about by you.
Are You Working For A Lunatic?
Posted by: | CommentsDid you quit your job and go in to business for yourself because you wanted to be your own boss? You wanted to have more time to spend with your family? More flexibility? More control over your own life?
Have you set up your business so it can run itself when you go on vacation, have a sick day or just want to take a day off?
Or does your business completely depend on you being there doing all the work?
“If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business – you have a job. And it’s the worst job in the world because you’re working for a lunatic!” - The E Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber
If you are working for a lunatic and are feeling stuck in the workaholic cycle and thinking to yourself this isn’t what it was supposed to be like… I suggest you read The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber.
