I just finished reading the book “Get Clients Now” by C.J. Hayden. It truly is a great read and I think a must have for everyone’s business library. My goal for this 28 day program is to get out there and market my book The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business and increase sales of my book. In the Get Clients Now program, Ms. Hayden suggests that you set ten action items for accomplishing that goal, so here they are … the steps I plan to take to increase my book sales:

1. Post on my blog (this one) daily
2. Spend 2 hours weekly researching for partners and getting direct contact information
3. Send 2 letters weekly to these partners
4. Write one article per week relating to my book
5. Post the article to at least 20 article marketing sites
6. Find at least one related blog weekly and add in blogroll
7. Post at least one comment on the above blogrolls
8. Post on forums daily with information relating to my book and expertise
9. Work on a teleclass I have been developing to market my book for 2 hours per week
10. Send one unadvertised bonus weekly to my book purchasers

So there you have it … these are my goals and I will be checking in weekly to let you know how my progress is going. Oh and if anyone has any suggestions of websites to help with the links I am looking to set up I would be happy to hear about them.

My blog was recently recognized by Heidi Richards of Virtual Women’s Day Celebrations. What an honor. Be sure to go to her site and check out some of the other lucky 13 women bloggers!!

Thanks again Heidi for the recognition!!

I took a much needed break and met some of my virtual friends on a camping trip. We picked a central location and packed up our tents, coolers and families and hit the road. The one condition of our trip was that no one was allowed to work, however it was important that we found a campsite with internet!! I tell you it was hillarious when we realized that we had six (6) laptops there at one point and only fifteen campers in all (including children).

Of course it wouldn’t be “normal” as a virtual assistant not to be able to check in on what was happening in the virtual world. We even joked about the fact that some of our virtual friends that couldn’t join us could camp virtually. I guess the point I am trying to make is that I didn’t realize how far technology has come until I realized that it is possible to camp and keep in touch with the world!!

Oh and the very best part of the whole camping trip was that even though I wasn’t working I still made money!! Some of my affiliate links had been used by others to purchase items I was promoting on my website. So before you, as a professional say that you can’t take time off because you can’t afford it, start putting some things in place to allow you to make money while you are off enjoying life!!

Last night my friend Sally and I were listening to a telecall and on that call they talked about stopping each day to prepare a Grateful list. By appreciating what we have we will begin to have a brighter outlook on life. So here goes – this is the “Ten Things I Am Most Grateful For”.

1. My health – I definitely take for granted that I am relatively healthy. I know that I struggle with wanting to be healthier, but I wake up each morning with the knowledge that I am not suffering from a critical illness like some others are.

2. My children – as much as they can drive me crazy from time to time I would not trade them for anything in the world. My kids are the lights of my life and they bring me joy each day. I am so proud of both of them and try to take time each day to tell them how happy I am to be their mom.

3. My husband – I couldn’t ask for any better. He truly is my best friend and my biggest supporter.

4. My career and in particular my business – I wake up every day excited to get into my office. I love what I do and I am proud to own a successful business.

5. My family – having a supportive and loving extended family has given me the courage to try new things without the fear of how they would treat me if I failed. They love me no matter what and I am so grateful they love me just the way I am.

6. My friends – both the friends I see in person and my “virtual” friends in the box. They are always there for me no matter what to share in my successes and listen to my problems.

7. My support network – outside of my friends are my business associates and those that support my business to be all that it can be. They give me a push when I need it and a pat on the back when I reach my goals.

8. My clients – I am thankful that my clients took the “leap of faith” to work with me. I love working with each and every one of them and enjoy the challenges that we face as we grow our businesses together.

9. My ability to write – something that many of us take for granted, but without my ability to read and write there are so many things that I wouldn’t be able to do.

10. My luxuries – as much as I know that I don’t need them, it is sure nice to have them. I love my home, my car and all the other things that I am able to have in life. I know I am very fortunate to have the things I have.

So what is your grateful list? What 10 things are you most grateful for? I would love to have you blog about it and link back to here with your lists. I look forward to reading all of your lists.

Until next time,
Yvonne

So today marks the one year anniversary of the day I officially opened the “virtual” doors to my business – ABLE Virtual Assistant Services. I thought today of all days would be a good day to take a step back and reflect on the last year. I am a big believer in setting goals and find myself thinking a great deal of where I want my company to go, but don’t take the time to truly reflect where I have been. So let’s take a little look back at everything I have done in such a short time …

- I went from no clients to a full business with the need to utilize subcontractors to keep up with the demands
- I learned so many new “technologies” this year. I remember that I used to think that I was so technically savvy – that was until I became a Virtual Assistant!!!!
- I went from the shy person at networking functions to the person who makes it a point to “stand out” in a crowd
- I “published” my first book and co-wrote a second book (which will be released soon).
- I met a lot of really great fellow Virtual Assistants which have become some of my nearest and dearest friends

These are not my only accomplishments, but they are the ones that mean the most to me and my business. So I hope you will all raise your “virtual glasses” with me in a toast to ABLE Virtual Assistant Services and many, many, many more years to come.

As business owners we tend to get so wrapped up in the day to day operations of our business that we forget to take time to stop and relax. Even when we do take a moment to slip into a warm bubble bath or relax in our favourite lounge chair we find our thoughts drifting back to business … so I started to ask myself why …

For myself the answer is simple, I have put my whole heart and soul into starting and developing a thriving business. It is very difficult to turn that off just because the “experts” tell us that we can’t let our businesses consume us. So what is a business owner to do, the answer is time and education. Just as it takes time to teach ourselves a new skill, it also takes time to learn a new behavior. Experts say it takes one month of repeated behavior before the behavior can become a habit.

So start small, dedicate 15 minutes a day to some form of relaxing whatever that might be. Treat yourself to an extra long shower, meditate, write, go for a walk – whatever that one thing is that will allow yourself to “forget” about business for just a short time.

We spend so much time worrying about keeping our bodies healthy we forget to also keep our minds healthy. Don’t forget that in order to truly build and maintain a thriving business it is imperative to keep ourselves alert and healthy too.

I hope you will join with me in this challenge to dedicate 15 minutes each day for the next month to yourself. I am sure that you and your business will both not only thrive but flourish.

Well I have caved in to the peer pressure and decided to start a blog. Everyone these days seems to be doing it. Lots of my Virtual Assistant friends have their own blogs and even the radio personalities on my favourite radio station are blogging. I guess the biggest stumbling block to anyone with a blog will be finding something to say … not that I ever have a problem with that!!

So here we go … here are the goals of my blog:

1. Provide a forum for educating others on the Virtual Assistant industry. Afterall the thriving business I am trying to create is a Virtual Assistant business. I have huge dreams and aspirations for ABLE Virtual Assistant Services and can’t wait to bring you along my journey to success.

2. Assist all business owners, not just Virtual Assistants, with useful advice and information to create a thriving business. Why not glean some of the ideas I utilize to grow my business on your business. You might just find yourself growing a thriving business too.

3. Have some fun and provide myself with a place to really talk about my business and how I am ensuring my business’ success. Come take the journey with me – I am sure it will be a bumpy ride but I am determined and will never, ever give up on my dreams

So feel free to stop by anytime, leave a comment or email me with your questions as we begin our journey together towards creating a thriving business.