Today’s bride is no different than the bride of years past … she is looking to create the perfect fantasy day … the one that makes all their dreams come true. However, the one thing that does set today’s bride apart from the bride of years past is their hectic schedule. We live in a society where many brides are career women, some are already mothers and many lack the time to truly focus on their wedding plans. Many are turning to Wedding Planners and Consultants, but some brides are just looking for a couple of extra hands. This is now possible thanks to the Virtual Assistant.

A Virtual Assistant makes a perfect addition to your bridal “team” and here are just some of the ways that you can put your Virtual Assistant to work for you:

1. Preliminary Research

Have a date in mind or some specific criteria for your day? A Virtual Assistant can make phone calls to churches, wedding locations, reception sites as well as photographers, videographers, caterers, florists and the list goes on. Why waste time to find out that they are unavailable or don’t meet the criteria of what you are looking for? With a Virtual Assistant, you are simply left with a “short list” with which to follow up.

2. Appointment Scheduling

Once your Virtual Assistant has created your “short list”, she/he can also phone and make appointments that meet with your schedule to meet with these professionals.

3. Invitation Creation

Many Virtual Assistants have design experience and can work with you to create customized wedding invitations.

4. Mailing List Creation

Many brides spend endless hours putting together their mailing list including verifying addresses and postal codes. A Virtual Assistant can take care of this for you and put it into a spreadsheet format that makes using it for future applications a breeze.

5. Mailing of Invitations

Once your Virtual Assistant has the database for your mailing list created, she can easily use that database to mail shower and wedding invitations as well as your Stag and Doe, Bachelor and Bachelorette Party announcements.

6. RSVP Follow Up

Even though it is good etiquette to RSVP for showers and weddings, not all people take the time. Your Virtual Assistant can make the phone calls to follow up and finalize the numbers on your behalf.

7. Follow Up with Your Wedding Team for Final Arrangements

Your Virtual Assistant can keep track of the event day and those people involved and follow up to make sure that the final plans are all coordinated.

8. Wedding Program Creation

Not only can your Virtual Assistant create your invitations, but she/he can also create other materials for that day including wedding programs, namecards and seating plans.

9. Wedding Favor Preparations

A Virtual Assistant can suggest ideas for wedding favors and arrange to have them purchased and prepared for your guests or a Virtual Assistant can arrange, on your behalf, for a charitable donation if you choose to forgo wedding favors as many brides are doing these days.

10. Travel Arrangements

A Virtual Assistant can arrange for the travel arrangements and hotel arrangements for out of town guests and even research possible honeymoon destination spots on your behalf and make the necessary arrangements.

11. Thank you Notes

Guests expect to be acknowledged and thanked, however many brides today do not send thank you notes. Your Virtual Assistant, armed with your mailing list and the gifts received by each guest, can personalize thank you notes on your behalf and take care of sending those out.

Remember that you can still have your perfect wedding, but you don’t have to do it all!! With a Virtual Assistant, we take care of the “To Do’s” so all that’s left for you to worry about is the “I Do’s”!!

Although many Virtual Assistants are offering event planning services, when Virtual Assistants are able to team up with Event Planners, the events that they can produce together are phenomenal. Rather than viewing Virtual Assistants as “competition”, Event Planners need to realize what a valuable asset they can be to the success of their event planning business. By having a Virtual Assistant working on the administrative tasks, it frees the Event Planners to focus on the actual event and co-ordinating all the components necessary to make event day run smoothly. Here are samples of some of the ways that Virtual Assistants and Event Planners are able to work together:

1. Mailouts – A Virtual Assistant is able to handle all aspects of your event mailouts including creating the invitations, coordinating the printing, preparing the documents for mailing and ensuring the documents are mailed on time.

2. Database Creation and Management – A Virtual Assistant can prepare a database and maintain that database including organizing the data by event and/or by client and can also maintain your personal contacts as well as business contacts. They can input all the data in one location so that you no longer need to shuffle through several spreadsheets trying to find just the right information.

3. RSVP Tracking – Once the invitations have been sent, a Virtual Assistant can track your RSVPs and call those that do not respond so all you are left to worry about is the actual number of attendees at the event.

4. Research – A Virtual Assistant can research any and all things that you might need researched including possible locations, data for handouts, possible attendees, and the list goes on.

5. Compilation of Giveaways/Gifts – Not only can a Virtual Assistant make phone calls to collect items for you to give to your attendees, but he/she can also put those together and make them look awesome!!

6. Attracting Sponsors/Speakers – A Virtual Assistant can make calls on your behalf to potential speakers or sponsors and take care of sending them information packets about your event.

7. Preparation of Materials for the Event – From information packets to handouts and other materials, a Virtual Assistant can not only prepare the documents, but can also arrange for printing and compilation of the documents.

8. Follow Up – A Virtual Assistant can take care of following up with your attendees, speakers and sponsors with thank yous and surveys.

9. Marketing Assistance – As an Event Planner, you not only have to worry about the events you are planning, but also about your business and attracting new clients. A Virtual Assistant can help you with preparation of marketing materials such as newsletters, blogs, a web site, marketing packages, etc.. He/she can help you attract the clients so you can concentrate on impressing them and landing the next deal.

10. Writing/Editing/Formatting – A Virtual Assistant can be a second set of eyes for all the materials that will be provided to your attendees. He/she can make them look nice, check for errors and omissions and make sure that you are putting your best foot forward.

Once you begin to see a Virtual Assistant as a team member as opposed to competition, you will soon see how your business can blossom and thrive.

How many times have you stared at a blank computer screen or a blank piece of paper just waiting for the words to come? One of my favourite tasks to provide for my clients is my writing services, but I am often asked what types of things I would write for my clients. Here are just 10 of the writing services I am asked to provide:

• Business Letters

Are you introducing a new sale or product or looking to let your clients in on an upcoming promotion? A Virtual Assistant can help you to find the right words for the letter and can even take care of distributing it to your clients.

• Web site copy

Web site copy can be a very involved process, especially if you want it to be search engine optimized. Creating impressive and persuasive copy takes more than just telling someone that you have a product or service. You need to answer the question “What’s in it For Me?” and you need to do so in a unique way to set your web site apart from your competition.

• Marketing materials

A Virtual Assistant can assist you in finding the right words to portray your message in all your marketing materials including brochures, information sheets and business cards. A Virtual Assistant can also assist with preparing the copy for your marketing package as well as assembling and mailing these packages to potential clients. Keep in mind that not only can your VA put together the perfect words, but he/she can also format them and add design elements that will make your marketing materials appealing as well.

• Articles

Article marketing is fast becoming a great way to prove to your potential clients that you are an expert and know your stuff. It is also an additional way to market your product or services indirectly through your article by-line. As blogging is becoming more popular, people are often looking for quality content and turn to article sites for their content. There is a potential for a well written article to reach thousands of potential clients. Not only can a Virtual Assistant assist you with writing this article, but they can also handle submitting your article to the article directory sites.

• Press Releases

Another great way to tell others about your product or service or about an upcoming event or promotion is through a press release. Keeping your press release non-adversarial can be difficult, especially when you have a personal stake. Just as with articles, a Virtual Assistant can also assist you with submitting your press release to the necessary submission sites.

• Autoresponder series

Many people are setting up autoresponders as a way for keeping in touch with their existing clients. Especially where a product has been purchased, an autoresponder can send out reminders at suggested intervals. It is great to have a Virtual Assistant not only write the autoresponders for you, but also set them up and maintain them. You can also utilize autoresponders for ecourses as a way of producing a residual income.

• Newsletters

Finding content for your newsletter can be a daunting task and as such, often our promises to send periodic newsletters become overwhelming. A Virtual Assistant can not only assist with writing valuable content on your behalf, but they can also provide the services to produce and maintain your newsletter to ensure that your promises are kept.

• Blog entries

Blogging is fast becoming a great marketing tool for business. However, many business owners are finding it hard to keep up with the demands required to maintain the blog. Just having one or two blog entries per week can mean providing enough content to establish a readership. A virtual assistant can not only write that content on your behalf, but can also prepare the entries and maintain your blog comments.

• Thank you notes

So many of us forget to take the time to say thank you. However, so many of us say that we love to receive a thank you and acknowledgment from others. A Virtual Assistant can handle writing and sending out your thank you notes so that your clients (and friends) can see that you truly do value them.

• Ghostwriting of E-Books, special reports, etc

Creating a residual income can be a great way to grow your business without having to put in more hours in a day. Many of us, as business owners, are sitting on a great deal of knowledge and expertise ~ we can come up with the ideas, but lack the time or skill to convert those ideas, knowledge and expertise into a tangible product. Working with a Virtual Assistant is a great way to do this. Utilizing your ideas, they work with you to put your thoughts into words and create a tangible product for re-sale.

Keep in mind that all Virtual Assistants come with their own skillset and services and not all will provide writing services, however the next time you are staring at that blank screen or paper, remember a Virtual Assistant can assist you to find the “write” words.

Well I am just coming back from an awesome weekend at FoVA (Forum on Virtual Assistance). Barb Lang did a fantastic job and I cannot believe that she put this all together on her own … kudos to you Barb.

I thought I would share with you (without giving away the farm, because hey you didn’t pay (wink, wink)) some of the things I took away with me from the weekend.

1. When making a decision for your business, determine the best solution for your business based on one simple thing … would you care if your solution was tomorrow’s headline in your local paper? For example, which headline would hurt your business more … Virtual Assistant screws up, fesses up and loses client anyways - OR - Virtual Assistant screws up, hides error and client leaves after learning of the coverup
2. It is great for increasing your on-line presence and possibly attracting clients for you to answer questions on forums as an “expert”, but not as a sales pitch for your business. The clients will come in any event because you know your stuff and not because you have pushed your services down their throat. This is one of the most effective on-line marketing tools if you take the time to make social networking work for you
3. It is okay to change your niche market as your business changes and evolves. It is also okay to decide that you would like to offer new or different services as you develop more skills. However, make sure that you have the expertise you require to do this first. Nothing can ruin your business faster than offering a service that you know little or nothing about
4. Every person has their own unique personality and once you learn to accept we are all different and embrace these differences, you will be amazed at how far your friendship and business circle can grow. If you want to understand personalities more the book “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman was a suggested must read.
5. Without looking to alternative streams of income (passive revenue), every service based business is restricted by the number of hours in a day. The difference comes from taking the time to create an idea from the skills you already possess - there is an endless amount of possibilities for creating passive income that are only limited by your imagination.
6. The only way to make a business work is to be willing to let go when and if you need help. After all as Virtual Assistants aren’t we asking our clients to do the same? What message do we send when we are overworked?
7. Always plan for the future. The most successful businesses have a plan in place to “save” them from every conceivable “disastrous” situation.
8. We must work together to educate the masses about what Virtual Assisting is and must keep in mind that we are a new industry. By working together we can strengthen our industry and add credibility to the words “Virtual Assistant”.
9. There are a ton of technologies out there (more than we ever imagined) that can make our life more simple - you just have to find them and you can do that by asking because as VAs someone is likely to be using a technology you are looking for and will have an opinion on it.
10. We are in an industry where others within our industry are supportive and truly see us as collaborative and not competitive. The next time you have a question, don’t be afraid to ask.

Most importantly, I learned the value in attending a convention and I am already starting to save for next year. I am sure that next year’s conference will be bigger and better than we could ever imagine possible.

Time is of the essence; time is money; so much to do-so little time. Time is a common theme among old adages and for good reason. What you do with your time determines everything you are and everything you have. Being a good master of your time as a home business entrepreneur is one of the best ways to ensure your success. With that in mind, the following list of the top ten time management tips for home business entrepreneurs is the key to your fortune.

1. Devise a plan. “Failure to plan is planning to fail”, as they say. Both a weekly and daily schedule are vital. You should have a general plan of basic tasks that need to be completed regularly as well as more specific jobs. Taking a few minutes at the end of each day to plan the next day’s activities will save a lot of downtime and greatly increase your productivity.

2. Prioritize your activities. It is all too easy to become busy working on insignificant (but often necessary) tasks and get to the end of the day without really accomplishing anything. Make a habit of completing the most critical tasks first and everything else will fall into place.

3. Find a use for otherwise lost minutes. Keep basic items such as your cell phone, a notebook and pen with you wherever you go. You will be able to take notes while in waiting rooms or other downtimes. This will also help you be prepared to write down ideas as the inspiration strikes you.

4. The early bird catches the worm. Getting up a little earlier will allow you some peaceful time to work before the rest of the family arises. Waking before everyone else will also allow you to collect your thoughts and feel more at ease while helping the rest of the family off to school and/or work.

5. Take time to rejuvenate. Regular breaks will help you regain your focus. You should get away from your desk and focus your mind on something else entirely for the duration of your break.

6. Keep your focus. Don’t let life’s distractions keep you from completing the things you have scheduled for your home business for the day. There will always be dishes and laundry to do, but putting off your home business activities will cause you to delay or prevent your success.

7. Create balance. Focusing all your energies on one aspect of your life will put all the other areas out of balance. This will ultimately hamper your success even if it brings temporary rewards.

8. Get rid of clutter. They say “cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind” and while this may not be entirely true, a cluttered office and/or desk will result in a lot of wasted time and energy. A clean, organized office space will actually encourage your creativity and give you access to the tools and space you need to accomplish whatever tasks come your way.

9. Don’t devalue your time. We often try to save money at the expense of our time and energy. Be careful not to make this mistake. The few dollars you save by doing everything yourself is not always worth it. Save money when it counts, but not at the expense of your time.

10. Keep your family and business separate. The danger of the multi-tasking myth is that you are never completely focused on any one thing and therefore you never achieve your full potential in any area. When it is your scheduled work time, focus your complete attention on work. When it is family time, unplug the business phone and give your family 100% of your attention.

These time management tips will help you achieve more in the same amount of time. You might want to take an inventory of how you are doing in each of these areas and make a commitment to improve in one area at a time.

For more information go to http://www.bigbusinesscashflow.com

I was, as usual, perusing the internet the other night and came upon a website of Murphy’s Laws. As I was reading I was amazed at how many of the murphy’s laws applied to business … here are just 10 such examples:

1. Everything takes longer than you think

Have you ever heard anyone say that as business owners when we are preparing a quote we tend to underestimate the amount of time something takes? You see now that we are doing the thing that we love the most, we oftentimes don’t realize how long things really take to do. Next time before providing a quotation for a client, do a sample of the work they are looking for and time yourself … you might be amazed at how long it takes you to do the task. Once you start realizing this Murphy Law and applying it your quotation skills will much better balance the actual amount of time things will take you.

2. Whenever you set out to do something, something else must be done first

How many times do emergencies or tasks that need to be handled now in the middle of something else you are working on? You can combat this easily by taking the time to plan your day and work in a contingency to allow yourself for unforeseen situations that may arise within your day.

3. You cannot successfully determine beforehand which side of the bread to butter

In the same respect, it is hard to determine which efforts will have the best results until we try. Also, sometimes the best projects or clients come from the least expected areas or contacts. In order to succeed in business, you must remember to never discount any situation or possibility presented to your business as you never know which will have the best results for your business.

4. You will always find something in the last place you look

This means to me that for those that are patient in business, success will come. Don’t ever give up … just keep plugging … many successful entrepreneurs will tell you that there best successes have come just as they were about to give up.

5. It is never in the last place you look. It is in the first place you look, but never discovered on the first attempt.

I know, I know, almost completely different than the last thought, but remember that sometimes it can take more than one attempt to make something work … again the lesson is to never give up.

6. After you bought a replacement for something you’ve lost and searched for everywhere, you’ll find the original

Well this one is just self explanatory … how many times have you misplaced things and replaced them. However, in business it can be interpreted by some to be a reminder of the importance of having great systems in place and a practical way to handling everything!! Now where did I put my pen (just kidding!!!)

7. Remember the “boomer-rang” effect; Whatever you do will always come back to you.

Have you ever attended a BNI meeting? They act on the philosophy that “givers gain” … start talking about other people’s businesses and spreading the word about other people and you will be amazed at what it will do for your business. If you work to gain referrals for others, they are more likely to want to return the favor.

8. Great ideas are never remembered and dumb statements are never forgotten.

A great reminder to always write things down no matter how big or small they are so that things will not be overlooked. This is also true with those ideas that we come up with. I suggest that you start a folder and jot down those ideas on pieces of paper and put them in the folder as a reminder to yourself at a later date. Secondly, remember that you, as a business owner, truly represent your business now … think twice before you say absolutely ANYTHING … you don’t want to be in a situation of wishing you could “take it back”.

9. The complexity and frustration factor is inversely proportional to how much time you have left to finish and how important it is.

A great reminder about the disaster that can be caused from procrastination … always try to leave yourself plenty of time to finish a project. In my business I try to make it my practice to underpromise and overdeliver so by building that extra time into my projects, I know that I will alleviate some of the stresses that come from leaving a project until the last minute.

10. If anything can go wrong it will.

Oh yes, this one has to be my favourite and perhaps the best know Murphy’s Law. My interpretation of this law as it applies to business is simple … you MUST, MUST, MUST (did I stress that enough) prepare ahead. You absolutely need a contingency plan if you want to grow a thriving business!!

It truly is amazing, when you think about it, just how important the lessons we learned as children were. Even daily as I go through my business I remember these lessons and apply them to my business:

1. Don’t forget to say thank you. I always try to thank my client’s for their business and I also thank potential clients for the opportunity to tell them about my business. I think it is important to let others know that you truly value them and the opportunities they have presented to you.
2. Always be polite. Rudeness gets us no where in life and it certainly doesn’t get us anywhere in business. Having a cheerful and polite attitude on the phone, in person and even in our written word is key to our business. Afterall rude people and poor behaviors are not going to keep people coming back.
3. Stay away from bullies. Even in business there are those that try to “bully” us and get us to do things we wouldn’t normally do. If you have a client (or potential client) that makes you unhappy about your business or asks you to do things you are uncomfortable with, don’t be afraid to walk away.
4. Always give it your best effort. Any job doing is worth doing well … if you remember this golden rule, you can’t go wrong. When businesses fail it is usually because they have not put everything they have into it. They have a substandard product or service or the owners just simply do not put forth all the effort it takes to have a successful business.
5. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Remember your Mom telling you to “just try it you might like it”, well the same holds true in any thriving business. When your business becomes stale it is hard to keep your existing clients and attract new ones. Don’t ever be afraid to try a new marketing idea, try a new service, learn a new skill or “go out on a limb”. Keeping your business exciting and fresh is just what you need to be a success.
6. Be leery of strangers. Obviously we can’t say “Don’t talk to stranger” because most of our business growth has taken place from meeting new people and experiencing new situations. However, if your gut says that something doesn’t quite feel right, go with your gut. Unfortunately there are some out there that are just wanting to take advantage of you so don’t ever be afraid to ask for references, meet in public places and think twice before “saying too much”. Otherwise you might just find yourself with a less than desirable client, a competitor that has stolen your idea or a situation that is very uncomfortable.
7. Treat others as you would want to be treated. This golden rule is so important in business. Sometimes it is so hard to remember when others treat us with disrespect, but you will get so much farther in business by remembering that no matter what others do to you, treat them as you would want to be treated. Your mother (and you, yourself) will be proud of you.
8. Speak clearly when spoken to. Not only is it important that you speak clearly and confidently rather than mumbling or speaking so others can’t hear you, it is important that you are very, very clear in just what it is you and your product or service will and will not do. Do not ever leave people without knowing just what it is you do and/or do not do. If you want them to use your services or buy your products it is important that they clearly understand what you are offering.
9. Always admit your mistakes. The best business owners and most successful, are never afraid to say “oops” and more importantly never forget to fix things for their clients. Trying to hide your mistakes will only make things worse, I guarantee it.
10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Even though it often feels, as a business owner, that you are “going it alone”, don’t ever be afraid to ask others for help. There are business experts and personal cheerleaders and supporters out there just waiting for you to ask.

When you truly take a minute to think about it, the basis for everything in our life started when we were children. Don’t ever be afraid to look to those centers of influence in your childhood (whether Mom, Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Grandparent, Teacher, etc.) for their thoughts on a situation because as you can see, they have truly taught you the basics of “everything” you know!!

As a business owner, it is quite easy to fall victim to a “slump”. Each and every business, no matter the product or service, is subject to the ups and downs of the business world. Without a boss standing over your shoulder and without the call of a 9 to 5 punch clock, it is easy to get stuck when your business hits a valley. So what can one do to save yourself from a slump? Here are 10 ideas to get you started:

1. Find a Positive Attitude - it is quite easy to develop a negative attitude when faced with tough times, but the key is to find the “silver lining” and focus on that.
2. Get a Cheerleader - a coach, a business associate, a friend or a family member are all suitable cheerleaders provided they too want to see your business succeed. It is amazing what having someone cheering you on can do for your business
3. Make a Schedule and stick to it - make sure that even if you are slow, you are still spending time on your business on things such as marketing, networking, etc.
4. Review your business plan - see if you are still on track and don’t be afraid to revise your business plan.
5. Check your passion - many times as our businesses grow and evolve, so too do the things that we are passionate about - try to always work doing the things you love … when your business becomes a chore it is hard to find motivation
6. Do some research - find out if trends have changed and if your business will require some changes to turn things around
7. Try a New marketing idea - maybe you just need to reach some clients in places you hadn’t tried before!!
8. Learn a new skill - maybe it is time to educate yourself and update the skills you presently have to service a new client
9. Never, ever give up - the light at the end of the tunnel will surely always come to those who wait it out … the next peak is on it’s way if you can be patient
10. Take a break - sometimes the best thing you can do is to take a short break and recharge your batteries … whether its a vacation or just a day off to relax this can be just the medicine to get you back up and running!!

Remember, the key to any thriving business is to plan for and acknowledge that most businesses do in fact have these ups and downs. Try not to look at any downturn in your business as a personal failure … look at it as a learning tool … find out what caused the downturn and then take steps to ensure that your business is safe from the same turn of events in future.

Today I thought I would take a break from business for a little fun!! So here are the top 10 Best April Fool’s Day Media Hoaxes

The tradition of April Fool’s Day stories in the media has quite a history. To wit, here are the top 10 such pranks ever pulled off, as judged by the Museum of Hoaxes:

1) In 1957, a BBC television show announced that, thanks to a mild winter and the virtual elimination of the spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a fantastic(al) spaghetti crop. Footage of Swiss farmers pulling strands of spaghetti from trees prompted a barrage of calls from people wanting to know how to grow their own spaghetti at home.

2) In 1985, Sports Illustrated magazine published a story that a rookie baseball pitcher who could reportedly throw a ball at 270 kilometers per hour (168 miles per hour) was set to join the New York Mets. Sidd Finch was said to have mastered his skill in a Tibetan monastery. Mets fans’ celebrations were short-lived.

3) In 1962, Sweden had only one television channel, which broadcast in black and white. The station’s technical expert appeared on the news to announce that thanks to a newly developed technology, viewers could convert their existing sets to receive color pictures by pulling a nylon stocking over the screen. In fact, they had to wait until 1970.

4) In 1996, fast-food chain Taco Bell announced that it had bought Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, a historic symbol of American independence, from the federal government and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Outraged citizens called to express their anger before Taco Bell revealed the hoax. The White House press secretary at the time (Mike McCurry) was asked about the sale; he said the Lincoln Memorial in Washington had also been sold and was to be renamed the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial after the automotive giant.

5) In 1977, British newspaper The Guardian published a seven-page supplement for the 10th anniversary of San Serriffe, a small republic located in the Indian Ocean consisting of several semicolon-shaped islands. A series of articles described the geography and culture of the two main islands, named Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse.

6) In 1992, National Public Radio announced that Richard Nixon was running for president again. His new campaign slogan was, “I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t do it again.” NPR even had clips of Nixon announcing his candidacy. Listeners flooded the show with calls expressing their outrage. Nixon’s voice actually turned out to be that of an impersonator.

7) In 1998, a newsletter titled New Mexicans for Science and Reason carried an article that the state of Alabama had voted to change the value of pi from 3.14159 to the “Biblical value” of 3.0.

In 1998, fast-food chain Burger King published a full-page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of the “Left-Handed Whopper,” specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the ad, the new burger included the same ingredients as the original, but the condiments were rotated 180 degrees. The chain said it received thousands of requests for the new burger, as well as orders for the original “right-handed” version.

9) In 1995, Discover magazine announced that a highly respected biologist, Aprile Pazzo (Italian for April Fool), had discovered a new species in Antarctica: the hotheaded naked ice borer. The creatures were described as having bony plates on their heads that became burning hot, allowing the animals to bore through ice at high speed — a technique they used to hunt penguins.

10) In 1976, noted British astronomer Patrick Moore announced on the radio that at 9:47 a.m., a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event — in which Pluto would pass behind Jupiter — would cause a gravitational alignment that would reduce the Earth’s gravity. Moore told listeners that if they jumped in the air at the exact moment of the planetary alignment, they would experience a floating sensation. Hundreds of people called in to report feeling the sensation.

Next week I am going to be enjoying a well needed rest, but I find myself fighting procrastination daily as I get closer and closer to my vacation. This made me stop and think about why it is that we procrastinate. This week I am going to tell you the ten reasons I believe people procrastinate and as we move forward I will try to give you tips and suggestions for combating this procrastination so that you don’t fall victim to these traps.

1. Dislike the task at hand and find no joy in completing the task. When we are faced with completing a task that we deem boring or unpleasant, we are likely to find excuses to put the work off.
2. The task is too large and seems overwhelming. Sometimes when we are looking at the big picture a task can seem so overwhelming that we just don’t know where to start.
3. Overstressed and overworked. When we are tired and fatigued we lack the desire and commitment to get the job done
4. We are unsure of how to complete the task. When we lack the skills required to complete the task, it will be hard to put forth the effort needed to complete the task
5. Distractions, distractions, distractions … need I say more
6. Lack of personal consequence. Although each task has a consequence if not completed, if the consequence will have no reflection on us we are less likely to complete that task.
7. No definitive deadline. If there is not a deadline set, it is easy to put the task off until a later date or time
8. Forgetfulness. I am a huge advocate for lists, but if you don’t write it down, sometimes it is easy to forget a task, especially if it is a task that we would normally procrastinate anyways.
9. Fear of an outcome. If you are afraid of how the result that could be found upon completion of the task, you are likely to procrastinate. Even if the possibility is a great outcome, often we fear success as much as we do failure.
10. The thrill of leaving something to the last minute. Many people actually believe they work better under pressure!!

Keep in mind that perhaps some of these can fall into one category and the reason many fall victim to procrastination is the belief “I just plain don’t want to and could care less if the task is ever done.” Whatever you do to combat your procrastination, the first key is to identify the reason why you are procrastinating in the first place.

As I stated earlier, I am going to take the next few weeks (at different times) to talk further about procrastination and how to combat it!!