How Outsourcing Can Help the Busy Entrepreneur – Guest Post

If you’re a regular reader here, you’ll see that Deidre’s October 5, 2009, blog post: “DON’T GIVE UP! Beginners need to persevere!” is a perfect predecessor to the comments I’m including today about the beauty of “outsourcing” and tapping into utilizing a Virtual Assistant…

Been there, done that!

There’s a great, often-used saying that “experience is the best teacher,” and so I come as a “mini-teacher”–with a good bunch of offline and online experience I’m eager to share; a lot of it gathered from the assessments of my own recent e-journey as a VA.

For the most part, I know what you’re going through since I’ve walked in your shoes to some degree. Although I’d had years and years in an office support services setting, three-and-a-half years ago I, too, was a beginner to the online world of e-business with little to no idea what to do next or when. Or at what physical or financial cost!

I just knew I wanted to shift my knowledge and expertise to a profession that would help to keep me in clothes and food! I also knew that while I had a bucketful of experience, there would be some things I would not be able to or even want to do.

After a good deal of online research, I found the Virtual Assistant (VA) industry and eagerly but apprehensively entered its ranks shortly thereafter. A move that’s turned out to be a Godsend for me as I was able to earn while I learned!

Furthermore, I know that various members of the VA industry have been a significant “tool” in the online lives of thousands of solo-, small- and mid-size business entrepreneurs like you.

I’ll put this into perspective with this:

You’re “up to here” with an email box so full that a bottle of Rolaids isn’t strong enough to lessen the pain. You haven’t seen your spouse or kids for seven days because they’re sleeping when you’re working. You think there’s some “do” coming up but your appointment calendar is long-gone (or maybe it’s under the pile of papers on your desk)…wherever that is!

Facing all that in the wee hours of each day and into the spooky hours of the night, your conclusion is that you just might need a little bit of help. Goodness knows, you’re getting nothing done as it is now, nor are you able to even think about approaching a new client.

What about changing your letterhead, or the logo on your Web site–who’s got time for a Web site? Writing articles to submit to Article Directories; starting an Affiliate program? Uhhh! Forget about it!

These are just some of the things outsourcing can do or improve for you.

Particularly in today’s economic climate, it’s a tremendous benefit for you, the online entrepreneur, to have access to outside help, such as a Virtual Assistant (VA). One of the main “draws” to using a VA is the cost-effectiveness; you just pay for the time your VA spends on your specific project(s)—in addition, you can happily say “good-bye” to overhead costs when you engage a VA.

Some of the benefits to using a VA

• A VA operates from a remote location in her own fully operational office, with the latest occupational machines and software packages, so she finances her own utilities, telephone costs, and other associated amenities, and
• You’re freed from paying taxes and insurances costs for the in-house employee, and
• You don’t even have to be a “know-it-all” in each and every office procedure imaginable or have all the high-tech equipment

• Under your current circumstances you can’t take the time to find the assistance you need to help you operate your business so a VA can fill that void.
• Without some sort of outside support for your operation you realize you will be able to do no more than the basics that keep your business alive.

And right now, that means–no marketing, no networking; no nothing new!

So this is as good a time as any to let a VA (or some other outsourcer) “do your online walking for you.” Things like:

• Lining up appointments and keeping your schedule up-to-date.
• Communicating regularly with your clients, your business associates and managing your speaking engagements or purchase orders
• Managing email and promotions
• Creating Desktop Publishing, web design, or similar needs

In the process, your days will be shorter, your workload lighter and you really will begin to see that light at the end of the tunnel.

So here’s to you in “new beginnings,”

P.S. With that said, click on over to Konceptuality for a complimentary copy of “Whut’s Rong with this Sendtuntcs?” our hot, new, teeny, tiny primer, full of grammar, proofreading and editing tips and tricks. You’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to our weekly ezine, “On the Bright Side.”

Karen McGreevey, Expert Author, and owner of Konceptuality, specializes in ebook production support services that include proofreading, editing and general admin support for coaches, speakers and small business entrepreneurs. Contact Karen at kmcgreevey@konceptuality.com

The Importance of Focus and Finding Yours

“Nothing is as simple as we hope it will be.” ~ Jim Horning

One of the biggest challenges I often face with learning about Internet Business is keeping my focus. As a newbie, I find the amount of information that is presented to me daily and the various arenas I visit to seek out new ideas can often be overwhelming. Add to this the fact that I have always been a multi-tasker. I think when you become a Mom it is a divine requirement handed down from the universe and once you learn it you tend to integrate it into everything. Why just wash dishes when you can wash dishes, cook dinner, and listen to your eight year old recite spelling words? I can hear my Mother laughing.

So when it came to learning about Internet Business I began to follow the same habit. I would read on every subject, follow every link, listen to every podcast, and absorb as much as I could on every Internet Business model out there. I was following 5,000+ people on Twitter (big mistake) and had added so many friends to my FaceBook account that the term Friend completely lost it’s meaning even in a Social Networking sense. Trust me when I say at the end of the day your head is spinning and by the time you actually sit down and attempt to go to work, you are paralyzed! Should you write a blog or an eBook? Do I start a website or learn about AdSense? Should I order this product or join a forum?

If you try to do everything at once you will successfully arrive NOWHERE FAST.

It was only of recent that I have started to understand the absolute necessity of focus in Internet Business. It is ESPECIALLY important to stay focused when you are still working full time (like me) and only have a limited amount of hours to dedicate to your Internet Business. The Internet, as we know, is still in it’s infancy and yet even now the amount of information available to us is enormous and scattered. In order to move from analysis paralysis and into action we have to find our focus. This is not to say that you should not take the time to learn and seek information. I just recommend that when you find a subject that interests you, keep your learning focused to that one item and learn it until you feel confident that you fully understand it. Then, move on to the next.

Here are some steps you can take to get and stay focused as you begin to grow your Internet Business.

Begin with the end in mind. In other words, know what it is you are trying to accomplish. This doesn’t always have to be the BIG picture (although you should have that in mind). Just think about what you want to accomplish today and then think of three immediate actions that can do to get you there. For instance, if your end goal is to start a blog you should focus your action toward that intended target until you reach it. Some examples of immediate actions you could take for this goal might be: Sign up to WordPress, Learn the program, and set up your profile.

Write it down! This was a hard one for me because I always thought I had a mind like a steel trap and, therefore, never needed to write it down. But there are two things that happen when you start writing things down. First, something in your thinking changes when you take a thought from just hanging around in your head and actually put it on paper. I don’t know the psychology behind it, all I know is there is something in our subconscious mind that gives more importance to something once we write it down. Second, you are less likely to get distracted from your goal. If you rely on all the things floating around in your brain then you will just keep shuffling them around like a deck of cards and picking them out randomly as they come to the forefront.

Keep it simple. Don’t make your daily TTD (Things To Do) list so long that you will never complete it. Only you know your pace so keep your action items digestible. There is a great sense of accomplishment when you actually get through your TTD list but you will never accomplish this if it has everything on it. So make it manageable. You can always make a second list if you are feeling particularly productive that day. =)

Find and Use Tools to Help You Get Focused. There are some really great tools out there that can help you with time management and goal achievement. Just don’t take valuable time away from your end goal getting caught up in researching 100 tools to get yourself there. Often the basics work just as good. So think legal pad and pen to start.

Once I started to get focused I noticed I was able to accomplish much more in the limited time I had. Make a plan and stick to it. You will be moving forward with focus and your business will start to excel.

Ancora Imparo!