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AUGUST 3, 2009 Don't forget to add "newsletter@virtualassistantnetworking.com" to your email friends list so you won't miss future issues! STRESS BUSTERS ISSUEIn This Issue:
A Note from Danielle...All work and no play... can make you crazy, LOL. For fun, we asked some of our members to share what they do to stay sane and inspired living the life of a solopreneur. Yours in goodness and success!
- FEATURE ARTICLE -Keeping Zen
Dawn Lane of Your Office Online used to have a little squishy plastic teddy which was filled with gel and little orange balls. "I would squeeze it when stressed (a little like squeezing bubble wrap). Unfortunately, he's been squeezed so much that he developed a hole in his skin and now has gone solid!" Carol D'Annunzio of Divine Virtual Assistance likes to always keep a bouquet of flowers on or near her desk. "When I need to regroup, I take a moment to focus on the beauty and simplicity of one of the flowers." Carol also likes to make sure she is working by a window when she's not sitting at her desk, especially in the summer. "I love to listen to the birds and hear the children playing in the background as I work." Mary Judge of Virtually Working for You likes to reflect on a couple of buttons she keeps on her bulletin board which say:
Mary also keeps a beloved poem printed out that a friend gave her called "The Courage to be Myself," which she reads when she needs inspiration. For Nicole Paull of Mainspring Enterprises, atmosphere is everything. She's tried to make everything possible in her office something that makes her feel good. She has a hand-painted tray hanging on the wall above her monitor—a wedding gift to her parents that her mom gifted to her. "I loved the picture as a kid and still enjoy it every time I look at it." She also has a watercolor of a galloping horse ("love horses!) that she painted herself and stuck on her bulletin board. "Speaking of the bulletin board, I chose a board and magnetic pins that make me smile." Nicole also can't do without her houseplants. "I have three of them on the edge of my desk. They're relaxing to look at, take care of and in the cold season, they give me something green and growing to enjoy." Eronie Coleman of Write on Schedule Support Services is all about luxury. When she needs a break, she loves to browse travel booking sites and build dream vacations. "Paris, Cozumel, Brazil, Jamaica... it's like going on vacation right at my fingertips!" Eronie also like to keep pictures tacked up of her favorite get-away destination goals, especially of the Renaissance Eden Roc Hotel and Spa at Miami Beach. "When I need to calm down from a stressful day, I like to look at pictures of the beautiful, lively lobby and the bed and goose-down comforters. Looking at these pictures makes me feel at ease. I think of vacation, waking up to a beautiful beach sunrise, no obligations, no worries, room service and posh furnishings... aah, the life!" Libby McIntyre of McIntyre Office Assistance surrounds her workspace with all kinds of things she loves and make her feel good. "During the summer, I ALWAYS have a flower from my garden—roses and daisies are my favorites—in a bud vase on my desk." She keeps scented candles on a little table next to her desk. A shelf above holds several inspirational figurines as well as some pink quartz and other gem stones collected from her Franklin, North Carolina, vacation home. And she's never without her collection of New Age CDs playing soothing, relaxing music in the background as she works. Norma Bowers of Southwest Virtual Assistant LLC keeps several things in her office to calm down her Type-A personality. "Believe it or not, I have my engagement and wedding portraits, a baby picture of my daughter, and a baby picture of each of her two little girls." Also displayed is her mother's college diploma, her shorthand books from high school ("yes, I couldn't wait to learn and yes, I can still do it!"), several of her father's ministerial study books and lots of relaxation/meditation CDs. When she's more stressed than usual, "I push back from my desk, spin around a time or two, put on a CD and look at my past, present and future and know that I am truly blessed." RESOURCE: Spirit Stones are an inspirational way to connect with your clients and customers. Each clay stone is handmade and handpainted with a Chinese symbol, with a card providing a meaningful quote to represent the word used such as courage, peace, love, balance or life.
© Copyright 2009, The Portable Business™. All U.S. and International rights reserved. You may print this article for personal use or republish it online only if it is left unaltered and used in its entirety, including bylines, links, copyright notice, resource and author information. Contact the author for any other permission.
- VACOC NEWS -New Service for Clients: Quickie Gigs™
The core business of a Virtual Assistant is providing one-on-one, ongoing administrative support to clients they work with in long-term, continuous relationship. We always encourage clients to go that route because it's where you are going to reap the most rewards in terms of value, continuity and cost-effectiveness. However, if you have not yet found your right Virtual Assistant or you are between Virtual Assistants, but still have occasional tasks and projects you'd like completed, we can help you out! Quickie Gigs™ is primarily for simple, straightforward administrative tasks and projects that can generally be completed and turned-around in few days with no fuss or muss. You fill out our online form with the project specs and once the preliminary account set-up is completed, we'll get to work right away. Everything is simple! You sign only one contract (this will cover our terms for one year in case you have other occasional projects that pop up) and each project will be quoted on a flat fee basis (easier for you to budget). For more information, be sure and check out our Quickie Gigs™ page.
Let's Connect
We Love Hearing From You!
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As
small business owners and solopreneurs, it can be tough working on your
own most of the time, whether you are a client or a Virtual Assistant.
We recently asked members what they do to maintain their motivation, excitement
and gratitude for working for themselves.
About
the Author: Danielle Keister is a business advisor and innovator
in the Virtual Assistance profession. An administrative professional of
20+ years and veteran Virtual Assistant of 12+ years, her logical, no-nonsense
approach to business development has gained her recognition as one of
the leaders in the field. She loves what she does and is passionate about
sharing her knowledge and know-how with the world. She’s all about
inspiring others to reach for their highest excellence. When not taking
care of clients in her own Virtual Assistant practice, she is busy leading
the 
The
VACOC has a new service for clients we call Quickie Gigs™.
Here's the idea:
"This
was such a great teleseminar. There was so much great information and
insights into the world of writing. I am so glad I attended. Jan King
is a wonderful presenter. I appreciate the chance to listen to her presentation.
Thanks for offering the seminar.
The
dream of the big client—no more marketing, no more chasing new business,
and no more revolving door. But at what cost? Join us on Thursday,
August 20, for the next VACOC Guest Expert Teleseminar with Sherri Garrity.
In this teleseminar, Sherri will reveal the truth about anchor clients,
what an anchor client is really worth, how to strike the right balance
and warning signs that your clients are taking you for granting.
