Archive for June, 2008

Introductions are in order …

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

Good morning to all my Killer Sharks! It’s Monday, June 23, 2008, and it’s time to get moving on the day. Pop that exercise CD into the player and have a kick ass work out, eat a hearty and nourishing breakfast, and prepare to take the world by storm! Whatever you want today, you can have. Allow nothing and no one to stand in your way.

I do believe introductions are in order:

Business Owner, please meet the Virtual Assistant. Virtual Assistant, please meet the Business Owner.

VA, the Business Owner is bogged down with the minutiae of the business. The daily grind of pushing through the details to keep his business in business has reached its limit, and our dear Business Owner needs to make a change. Today.

Business Owner, the VA is a true business partner! She possesses the skills and the information on systems which can help improve the way you do business. You can have your VA handle so many different things for you, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t outsource sooner.

Next steps? First, our Business Owner must let loose of any fears or concerns about outsourcing. I know the thought of “going virtual” has your entrepreneurial brain all tied up in knots. Stop thinking. Start acting. Put your plans in motion today, and begin the research process.

Second, schedule a consultation with the Virtual Assistant, inquire about her rates and the virtual services she offers. Also, don’t forget to download your very own copy of the VA’s Going Virtual Checklist.

Last, but certainly not least, is for the Business Owner to come to the realization he needs help. I’m giving you the permission to ask for help, and there’s no shame in your game for doing so. There’s no way you can handle every aspect of your business on your own! Begin the process today of partnering with other business owners who can help you achieve your biggest, baddest and wildest dreams.

The introductions are over, and the time for action is now. Not this Thursday, not next Tuesday, and not sometime in September. Now. Get it? Got it? Good! Schedule your own consultation with Lori Davis, the outsourcing expert, and let’s get to work.

Don’t lose heart

Monday, June 9th, 2008

A superb good morning to you, my fellow Business Owners! It’s a new day filled with things to do, people to meet, challenges to overcome, and deals to close. I want your mind vibrant and your body strong for your activities today — don’t forget to work out and consume a hearty breakfast (I’ve already done both) to help prep you for the day. Get out there, either in person or virtually, and kick some major ass today!

One of the saddest things I heard last week was, “I’ve lost heart and I don’t feel about this the way I used to.” Sweetheart, my goodness … don’t make me cry! This statement came from a business owner who found me on the web, liked what I had to say, and decided to pick up the phone and dial my digits. (Love that very last part, by the way!) He, a Midwestern business owner, had started to lose heart and the excitement he felt at the infancy of his business.

I think we all have these feelings at some point, and I’ll include myself in that statement. There are some days when I wonder why in the hell am I doing this! Sure, I could go back to Corporate Cubicle Monkeyland and possibly end up like this guy:

But then I stop and think back to all my time in business when I wasn’t in charge, or waited for my yearly performance appraisal for some schmuck of a manager to tell me what I already knew, and then to fork over a 2.5% raise, or having to work with co-workers who didn’t share my work ethic. Whatever. I’m done with all of that.

I’ve come to accept that “losing heart,” albeit temporarily, is okay, as long as my brain doesn’t take that initial thought and translate it into zombieness and make me want to close up shop. I look at it as a course correction; something is amiss in my business world, and that’s my cue to step away from everything I’ve built and step away from the day-to-day grind. It’s at this point I take stock of all my successes and everything I’ve achieved and smack myself back into my reality, which is pretty damn good. Yes, I’ve got stresses the likes of which “Lori the Office Worker” never had, and that’s cool. I dig that part of my life! I’m tougher, smarter and more in touch with my entrepreneurial side. My reality is that I’m the Head Chick in Charge and what I say goes, and there is absolutely no way anyone or anything will take that away from me.

Mr. Midwestern and I had a very good chat, and I’ve come to find out his “heart” is truly not lost. Like many of us, he’s mired down in the minutiae of it all, and can’t see his way to clearer skies. This guy and YOU and YOU and YOU in the back hiding your head in shame, are too special and amazing and businesslicious to not bound out of bed every morning and have thoughts of World Domination on your mind! That’s how I feel every morning, and I want to ensure you experience the same giddiness I feel each morning when I open up the world HQ of Davis Virtual Assistants. I don’t want you to lose your heart about your business! When you start to feel that way (and at some point you will), I need for you to verbalize these thoughts and then take the next step of getting help, so you will once again feel warm and fuzzy and sexy about your business. Can you do that for me? I know that you can … ;-)

DavisVA.com Directive: Do not beat yourself up about having these feelings. Write them down, tell a family member and colleague, and keep the positive momentum going to unfunk your mind. I know I can be of assistance for one very important aspect of your business world, and I’d love to tell you why. Don’t lose heart! Instead, call me at 866.611.LORI and let’s talk.

Thrifty Thursday: Coaching for Virtual Assistants

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

Good morning, campers!

Thrifty Thursday** for June 5, 2008, is a very special discount for my partners-in-crime in the Virtual Assistance field. Whether you’re starting your own practice, have been in business for some time and reached a road block, or you need coaching and support from one of the most successful VA’s in practice today, this one’s for you. Contact me, the VA coach, by 6:00 PM (U. S. Eastern time zone) next Wednesday, June 11, 2008, and I’ll give you 10% discount coupons for any four (4) coaching calls during the remainder of 2008. Mmmmmmmmmmwah! I love you too, and you’re welcome!

I know how tough it is living the “virtual lifestyle;” I live, eat, drink and breathe the stuff every day. From the tire-kicking prospects to the high-maintenance clients, from the husband who barges into your home office, to the clients who think they can call you at midnight … it’s a tough gig! On the flip side, those of us who work virtually enjoy a level of autonomy most humans will never experience. I wouldn’t trade what I have now for all my time in Corporate America, and I know you feel the same.

There’s no shame in your game for reaching out and asking for help. “Help” is one of the best 4-letter-words going, and it’s empowering to let go and get the hardcore support and advice you need. My mission is to share my knowledge and experiences with you, to help you move quickly from “employee” to “business owner” mindset, and to prevent you from making the mistakes I’ve made on my journey. I also want you to think differently about your own practice, and how you’ll manage the balance between your home life and your business life (both of which are conducted at home).

To my upstart VAs, I applaud your efforts as you launch your own business, and I want your pretty little brain jam-packed with good and tested information. For my fellow Virtual Assistants who’ve been in business for a while and you’re stuck, let’s work together to get you out of the rut.

Thrifty Thursday** phone lines for 6/5/08 close at 6:00 PM Eastern next Wednesday, 6/11/08. Contact the coach for virtual assistants and let’s talk!

** This Thrifty Thursday discount may not be combined with any other discounts offer by Davis Virtual Assistants.

Reminder: 2 webinars coming up later this month

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

Good evening, campers!

Did you know the world’s most amazing virtual assistant company has two must-attend Webinars later this month? Well, you know now, and now is the time to register and secure your spot! Read on for more …

Ask the Virtual Assistant Webinar

It comes down to this: I’ve got the knowledge you need to help you get your own VA practice up and running. I want your brain cells crammed with information, and I want you excited and energized about starting your own business! Living and working the “virtual lifestyle” is one of the toughest things you’ll ever attempt, and your interest in my world is best-served when we mind-meld for 60 minutes. During the first part of the Webinar, I’ll discuss my history and how I got into this field, the 1 thing you should never do when you sign a new client, and other juicy tidbits of knowledge. Thereafter, the floor is open to you and all those questions roaming around in that gorgeous head of yours. Give me 60 minutes of your time, and you’ll walk away with a better comprehension of what it takes to truly become a successful Virtual Assistant.

Register now for the June 2008 Ask the Virtual Assistant Webinar.

HTML Webinar

HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is a basic technical skill all Virtual Assistants must possess. Don’t argue with me on this point, for you know I’m right! Clients need their VA to apply basic coding to their Craig’s List and Backpage ads, along with their articles and their blog posts. I know that HTML codes look like hieroglyphics, and I know you’re scared about acquiring this skill. Let go of both of these things, right here, right now. I’ve got a passion for sharing my knowledge, and I want to ensure you’ve got the skills you need to make you very successful. One of the skills you must have is HTML Basics. We’ll discuss Lists, E-mail Linkage, Image Linkage, Hyperlinks (and of course SEO) and a wide variety of other HTML codes. You’ll dazzle your clients and at the end of training, you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about! Give me 2 hours of your time, via the comfort of your own home, and I’ll give you a skill you’ll use for life.

Register now for the June 2008 HTML Webinar.

Got questions prior to registration? I’m a phone call away at 866.611.LORI, or contact me, Lori Davis, and let me know what’s on your mind.