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It's that time of year again

Yes, once again, Christmas is just around the corner...With only a few weeks to go before Christmas Day and the start of a fresh New Year, my partner and I are already planning summer trips away on our boat (remember - we are in the Southern Hemisphere!)What plans have you made?...

Promoting your business in 2011

With 2011 fast approaching, it's time to think about what you can do to keep up the momentum of 2010. Maybe your website hasn't been updated for a while?  Remember - fresh and relevant website content will also help your Google rankings!...

Take care of your shop window

Websites should never be static entities, they need to grow with your business.Your website should be treated like a working document - forever requiring fine tuning and adjustment....

Mark your mark

Getting your name out into the world doesn’t have to be difficult.Writing topical media releases and informative news articles are a great way to gain credibility within your industry....

Words to live by

Here are 35 tips I stumbled across, written by Hugh Macleod, cartoonist, author and CEO of a South African wine company.So you want to be more creative - in art, in business, or whatever..?...

Get rid of your hats

More often than not, enabling yourself to move your business onto the next level you need to delegate some tasks.Even though you know in your heart how right this advice is, you’ve probably grown accustomed to going it alone....

It's amazing how things turn out

Back in March 2009, when I first launched My Virtual Assistant, I figured that a lot of the work I’d be doing would be things like typing meeting minutes, letters and reports.Not that I mind doing that kind of stuff, but it’s funny how things turn out....

Take time out to look at rainbows

Some days are just rain days, but some are rainbow kinda days! Don't ever let yourself get so busy and so wound up in your own world, that you don't have time to stop, look up into the sky, and take time out to enjoy the beauty of a rainbow....

Call in the cavalry

Are you a person that often says “if only...”?When you continuously dwell on what could have been, instead of dealing with what is now, you’ll find it difficult to move forward in your business. Instead of wishing for something, take the time and the steps to make it happen....

Do you have the time?

When you hire a plumber, do you think you should have to learn how to do plumbing as well?How about when your car needs fixing, is it necessary for you to also know how to fix it? ...

Stick to doing what you do best

The best way to figure out if you need help from a Virtual Assistant is to work out what your business strengths and weaknesses are.Whenever you find yourself doing something that drains you or doesn’t come naturally, try writing it down on a list. ...

DIY is not always the best option

As we all know, New Zealand is a nation of do-it-yourselfers.We just love rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck into everything, whether it’s renovating our own homes or having a go at all aspects of running our own business....

Getting time back for YOU!

On an almost daily basis, my partner and I seem to invent things.Just the other day he was fast forwarding through the ads with the Sky TV remote, when he looked at me and said ‘we need a button that instantly fast forwards for 8 seconds at a speed of x30, so we can miss all the ads at the touch of a button’ and then he said, ‘I bet someone, somewhere is working on that right now’....

In the spirit of Christmas

Here's a little light-hearted virtual assistant Christmas poetry...!...

Small business success

As an entrepreneur, you need to possess self-confidence, along with a never-ending sense of urgency in order to develop your ideas.To succeed, you need to be far-sighted, accepting things as they are and deal with them accordingly....

Taking time out

I’ve recently been away on a South Pacific cruise and I have to say, it was fabulous! Waking up every morning in a different place and not having to hang around in airports, makes cruising a wonderful way to travel. ...

The importance of computer back up

I have just spent a few days without a computer, as the motherboard in my machine decided to give up the ghost....

Making an impression

As the saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”Whenever you meet someone for the first time they will always size you up straight away.How you are dressed, how you talk and how you carry yourself.  All of these things will create an image of you in someone’s mind that can be difficult to shake....

Shout about your business success!

Have you recently reached a business milestone?Maybe you're celebrating one year in business, or maybe it's 25 years....

Ten commandments for reducing stress

The following appealed to me and should be something all Virtual Assistant's adhere to:...

It's not what you know, it's who knows you

I recently attended my first business networking meeting – what a buzz!Being in a room full of friendly, like-minded people, all wanting to introduce themselves and in turn, find out who I was and what I am all about, was energising and exciting....

Fast growing industry

Back when I was working at my 9 to 5 job, I remember having ideas of starting my own Virtual Assistant business.I was sure that a lot of the things I did in the office could effectively be done ‘virtually’ (apart from making the coffee!)...

What is a Virtual Assistant...?

Since starting my virtual assistant business in March 2009, I have encountered a similar question from many people when I mention what I do....