All the news Virtual Assistants can use...

At the start of every year, most of us make resolutions or have thoughts about making some changes to our lives. From telling ourselves that we need to lose weight or eat healthier, to quitting smoking or any other life-changing task, we all wish we co... Read the rest of this entry »

Recently, a potential client indicated he thought my rate (which has not been raised in several years) was too high. When I asked him what he thought would be appropriate, he replied, “Fair market rate”. He indicated that at my rate he could hire someone to come into the office for 20 hours monthly at less than half the cost…

Not possible… Not even remotely possible. I tried to explain that with a virtual assistant, he wouldn’t be paying my taxes, insurance, workman’s compensation…. He wouldn’t have to provide space or equipment for me…he wouldn’t have to pay for someone to schedule me, to do the required accounting for my pay, insurance, taxes, and so on… And he wouldn’t have to contend with in office distractions that inevitably occur with a group of people all working together.

Fair market rate…

The cost for in office personnel is far higher than the cost of a virtual assistant. But sometimes there will be those who just cannot understand this. There is nothing you can say to convince them that they will save time and money…

Remember, the bottom line isn’t always what it seems, especially when you’re not looking at all the pieces of the puzzle. Cheaper doesn’t always cost less.

Great new interview featuring my friend and mentor:

Key Challenges Companies Face

Well worth watching. Visit his site today.

As the song says, “Letting go is hard to do…” It’s especially hard knowing when to let a client go. Other than the obvious issue of non-payment it can be difficult to determine when or even if you should terminate a contract.

For me, several things must combine before I will terminate a contract.

• First, a sense of unease, a nagging suspicion that things are not right
• Second, abusive emails, disrespectful phone calls, unreasonable demands (biggie)
• Third, disloyalty
• Finally, when the use of a subcontractor is involved (in some cases this is MY assistant working to cover a client’s needs) and there is disrespect to that subcontractor.

I don’t like letting go of clients, I prefer to try and talk to them first. Sometimes though, it is necessary. As a fellow business owner, same as the client, I don’t have to continue working with someone who makes me uncomfortable, such as being rude, obnoxious, off color jokes, or just plain disrespectful. I don’t have to continue working with someone who isn’t nice to my assistant.

Working in the virtual environment is difficult enough since it’s a huge measure of trust between clients and virtual assistants. If there is anything that makes either in the partnership uneasy, talk it over, get it out in the open, and then, if you can’t come to an agreement, don’t just take it, protect yourself. We work hard enough everyday, we don’t have to be miserable too.

When you picture a business professional’s typical office scenario, what comes to mind? A classy man or woman, dressed in a high priced business suit, an overflowing briefcase sitting on the corner of the desk, dictating memos and delegating task... Read the rest of this entry »

From Scott Wintrip of StaffingU comes a terrific tip for those who are surrounded by time-wasters…

Like teenagers who let all of the cold air out of the refrigerator as they stand for minutes perusing the contents, you have people in your life who sap precious minutes from your day. From the colleague who chats incessantly about their latest drama to the client who misses appointments, these people rob you of one of the most precious and limited resources you have available…time.

To reign in these time-wasters, you must first value the minutes at your disposal and make conscious choices of how and on who you will spend this limited commodity. As you increase your awareness, you’ll then want to set better boundaries with those around you who may squander, often unknowingly, your time. The minutes you gain grow into hours of investable energy to spend on your company, yourself, and even any quirky, but lovable teenagers in your life.

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