Arrest Your Time Robbers!Written by Marty Foley
If there is one area every entrepreneur must master in order to maximize their success, it's ability to make best use of their time. The saying "Time is money" certainly applies to e-commerce. Many time-robbers threaten to cripple online productivity.Let's face facts: For a large percentage of people, their use of Internet largely results in frittering away their time, with little or nothing to show for it. Just consider some of most popular online activities: Sending and receiving frivolous email (jokes, etc.). Downloading and listening to MP3 music files. Using ICQ for idle chat with friends and relatives. Random surfing, etc. Things that in themselves aren't necessarily bad - after all, we need some recreation and diversion - but downside is that unless we keep a tight reign on time we spend on non-productive Internet activities, they hinder real accomplishment. Even if, like me, your primary use of Internet is for business, opportunities to absorb business-related information bombard us from all sides: Countless web sites, ezines, forums, discussion lists, chat rooms, and on and on. More than we can possibly absorb, and sometimes potentially addictive. Any of these resources may be useful for business purposes, but even they can be distractions if they prevent us from getting more important things done. As a victim of any of above time-robbers, we may end up asking ourselves "Where did all time go?" Arresting Time-Robbers I was recently interviewed for an article in Entrepreneur's Start-Ups Magazine (Sept. 2000 Issue, pg. 30). Here are some tips I gave for effectively dealing with time-robbers, which appear in sidebar "Smart Move - Make It Count." 1) Set goals. If you don't know what your destination is, how can you get there? Write down your goals.
| | How To Start Your Own Virtual Assistant BusinessWritten by Liz Folger
Thanks to Internet there’s a new way to make money with your computer. You might be surprised at all different services you could offer with this new home business. Most people have become familiar with word processors, which usually consists of typing manuscripts, letters, transcription and writing resumes, but new virtual assistant is like word processing on steroids. Diana Ennen, has been a home-based word processor now for about 15 years. She started to educate herself about all possibilities a person has when starting a virtual assistant business. Diana Ennen along with Kelly Poelker, a certified Master Virtual Assistant, just finished writing an ebook called, “A Bizy’s Guide: How To Start Your Own Home-Based Virtual Assistant’s Business.” So What Exactly Is A Virtual Assistant? Diana Ennen explains, “A virtual assistant, or VA, is a highly skilled professional who provides administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, and others who have more work to do than time to do it. Many VAs work as independent contractors from their own home. VAs use leading edge technology to communicate work assignments via Internet, e-mail, disk transfer or such traditional methods as regular mail, overnight shipping and even pick-up and delivery in local areas. A VAs services typically include word processing, medical or legal transcription, database management, Internet research, e-mail handling, reminder service, bulk mailings, information processing, and any other tasks typically given to office secretary. Many VAs also provide web development, design and maintenance, desktop publishing, meeting and event planning, bookkeeping, and business start-up consultations. The services are endless depending upon your knowledge and skills.” Tisha Silvers explains her virtual assistant business as, “One who assists another from literally anywhere in world. I don't limit it to just business support functions. And I consider person a few miles down street to be just as virtual if you don't meet regularly or at all. I have a few of those kinds of clients myself.” How Can You Market This Business? Showing clients how much you can help them as their VA isn’t as hard as you think. Julie McMann explains, “Using a virtual assistant allows clients to outsource any projects that can be done from a remote location. It allows them to accomplish more with less time. Since time is so precious to business owners, anything that frees up time and keeps business moving ahead is extremely valuable. It's also convenient to be able to hire and utilize a virtual assistant whenever you need them. One month you may have more projects than another. It's much less expensive than hiring a full-time employee who doesn't get used to their full potential. Clients also benefit by not having to worry about providing employee benefits such as insurance, 401K, vacations, etc. Finally, office space and equipment are provided at expense of virtual assistant, which again saves client money.”
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