Davis Virtual Assistants

I suppose I should warn my current clients to not read this post, because if you do you’ll know what December’s “thank you” gift will be! This “addiction” is the wondrous gift of shortbread from Ann at Vermont Shortbread Company. Ann, who’s a fellow Wild Woman Entrepreneur and a client, has the gift when it comes to shortbread. For Thanksgiving, she sent a full-sized Raspberry Shortbread, and I was in heaven. Ann is a gifted baker and her time and attention to her craft shows in her product. Flaky shortbread with a slightly crispy crust, and the raspberry did not overpower the overall goodness of the shortbread.

If you love shortbread as much as I do, visit Ann’s site and place an order!

So, I was IMing earlier today with one of my old friends who lives on the west coast. She left her job earlier this year (good thing too, as she was miserable), took some time off and now, she’s getting back into the swing of things. We were talking about life and hubsters and work and blah blah, and then she mentioned that one of the job apps she’s completing posed an interesting question:

What are your mottoes in life?

What I found interesting is she couldn’t come up with something, right on the spot. I thought (albeit incorrectly, so it seems!) that most of us have at least one motto. Since she was stumped, I decided to share my mottoes with her:

Motto #1: The worst thing anyone can say to me is ‘no’

The driving force in my life and business and probably my #1 motivator. You don’t want to work with me, or you reject my proposal? No problem! I wish you luck and I WILL find folks who do want to work with me.

Motto #2: I’d rather be two hours early than five minutes late

Lateness, tardiness, whatever term you apply, it all makes me crazy. I do not believe in the concept of being “fashionably late,” something which drove me crazy when I lived in San Francisco. If you ask me to meet you at 3:00 PM for lunch, you can bet I’ll be there at 2:50 PM, waiting for you. Does our conference call begin at 10:00 AM? Fine. I’ll start dialing at 9:55 AM. For those of you who’ve been interviewed by me, or you wanted to attend one of my classes, you know how important punctuality is to me.

Motto #3: You’re a ’sir’ or ‘ma’am’ until you prove otherwise

Meaning: I treat you with 100% respect, from the get-go, until you give me a reason not to do so. Some people get a little irked when I address them as ’sir’ or ‘ma’am’ and I have to remind them that I do so out of respect for them and their time. I also tell them they should be VERY concerned if I stop addressing them as sir or ma’am, for when I do so they’ve lost my respect, and they need to take steps to remedy the situation. For all of you offended by these terms and see them as a sign of old age, get over it. It’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T and absolutely no indication of your age. I treat everyone the same, regardless of age, until YOU show me you don’t deserve my respect.

I’ve shown you mine. Your turn!

Hubba hubba.

Here are a few nuggets of wisdom to feed your brain, nuggets which serve me very well, as I expand the Davis Virtual Assistants empire:

• After you respond to the potential client via e-mail, update your calendar for three days from the date of your e-mail response. On the third day, send another e-mail to potential client, asking them to confirm they received your information and inquiring if they have any questions.

• Still no response after five days from potential client’s initial contact? No problem. Shoot ‘em another e-mail and this time, take the initiative:
  

  Hi, Lisa! I’m available this week to discuss your Virtual Assistance needs. I’m available on Monday, 11/21, 10:00 AM (Eastern), Tuesday, 11/22, 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM (Eastern) and Wednesday, I’m available at your convenience, between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM (Eastern). Which of these days/times works best for you for a conference call?

• If you have not received a response after 10 days from potential client’s initial inquiry, and potential client seems interesting and/or someone with whom you’d like to work, try either faxing the client, with your schedule for that week, and/or sending a 5X8 postcard, also with your schedule for the next two weeks.

Experience has shown me that some people simply need to be shoved and are wanting YOU to take control and plan the next step. Experience also shows that in this electronic world in which we live, most folks are too busy with the business of running their business; as such, they need someone to “stay in their face.” Change your strategy the next time a potential client contacts you, and see what happens.

Just in case you’re thinking my strategies above don’t work, consider this campers: I picked up three new clients last week, and two this week. Why and how? Because I was polite, I was aggressive and I was assertive. It’s all another component in the grand scheme of Killer Customer Care.

FREE On-line Event: Wild Women Entrepreneurs
Date: Monday, November 21, 2005
Time: 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Eastern)
Location: AOL Chat Room (You’ll need an AIM screen name to participate)

This is a free event, so mark your calendar and join us on Monday, November 21, 2005. We’re discussing Gratitude, and how it can change your life.

IMPORTANT: Click here and scroll to the bottom to RSVP for this on-line event. Ensure you have your AOL Screen Name!

After you RSVP, I encourage to you to read this month’s newsletter. Lots of nuggets of useful information, and I think many of you will appreciate Ann’s “Other Mother” article.

Time’s a wastin’, so click here and RSVP for Monday’s event.

I’ll see you, on-line!

Via BizReport, comes this nugget about Google givin’ away the freebies.

This week’s highly-coveted Gold Star Customer Care Award goes to Price Chopper, here in my neighborhood in upstate New York. Here are a few reasons why I love Price Chopper:

• My Price Chopper is always clean. I’ve been in the store at 6:00 PM and 2:00 AM and it’s always the same: clean and bright and shiny.

• Everyone is super friendly and always willing to answer my questions. I went to the store late last night looking for capers and the friendly clerk actually walked me over to the next aisle and showed me where the capers are located. I find the good folks at Price Chopper will walk you to find an item if said item is no more than one aisle away. Otherwise, they’ll give very detailed instructions to find the item. Amazing.
• Deli service! A dizzying array of specialty cheeses and meats, as well as hot dishes and sandwiches.
• Seafood counter. Fresh and clean, and the staff is amazing. Makes me think they’ve got a fishing boat out back!

I suppose what really pleases me is they act as though they want my money: friendly staff, quick checkout times and always an offer of, “May I assist you to your car?”

Keep up the superb work, Price Chopper!

Any potential clients willing to sign a $500K retainer with Davis Virtual Assistants? Virtual Assistance for life …

Last night, as I was trollin’ around and letting my mouse take me hither and yon, I stumbled upon this:

The Millon Dollar Homepage

I ask you:

1. Do you consider this part of “internet history”?

2. Would you consider buying a pack of pixels, to advertise yourself or your business?

My answers are yes and yes.

What say you?

Here are two links to programs to support our men and women in the United States Armed Forces:

Soldiers’ Angels

I correspond with two members of the U.S. Army, both of whom are stationed overseas in extraordinarily dangerous areas. You too can “adopt” a soldier or sailor or airman. Our fighting men and women love to get letters and e-mail messages and the coveted care packages! I think letters and e-mail messages are far more important, as they provide them with a sense of normalcy in their chaotic world. You don’t have to be a veteran to adopt a soldier — it’s the work and the time and attention of the “average” person which makes all the difference. You can find 10 minutes during your week to correspond, so please consider becoming an Angel.

Sponsor a Soldier’s Album

My friend Kate Powers is on a mission, and you can help! Her husband’s unit will be deployed to Kosovo next year, and Kate is offering “Soldier’s Albums” to help support her husband and the other members of his National Guard unit. Please visit Kate’s site today, and sponsor a Soldier’s Album.

To all my friends who are currently serving in harm’s way, stay safe. I miss you.

We’ve all made the excuse of “I don’t have enough time” or “I’m too busy.” While it may be true that you are too busy or that you simply don’t have enough time, the bottom line is that your lack of action in reaching out for assistance is causing things–sometimes very important things–to slip through the proverbial cracks.

subliminalmessage:advertisementfordavisvirtualassistants

If you’ve ever considered working with a Virtual Assistant, now is the time to take action and not merely sit around thinking about the idea! The stack of papers on your desk is not getting smaller, and neither is your I-need-to-do-these-things-today-or-else list. And just in case you’re wondering, “I Dream of Jeannie” does not exist, so stop with the arm crossing, already!

Contact me and let’s discuss your administrative and technical needs. To sweeten the deal, blog readers (and lurkers) are welcome to partake of our BTGO program. Buy Two and Get One: For every two hours of Virtual Assistance you purchase in November 2005 and December 2005, you’ll get one free hour.

The best customer care in the Virtual Assistance industry, plus a special offer for the remainder of 2005, all courtesy of Davis Virtual Assistants.

It’s time for action — Contact Lori and let’s chat!

Whoo hoo!

Ahem …. pardon me.