FREE eBook: Thriving On Less, Simplying in a Tough Economy

{ July 3, 2009 @ 5:27 PM } · { Small Biz News }
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I came across this interesting, FREE ebook online recently. It’s called “Thriving on Less: Simplifying in a Tough Economy”. It’s written by Leo Babauta, Author of “The Power of Less”. Offers lots of good advice on learning to simplify your life during this recession. Definitely worth a read.  

From the introduction:

The recent economic recession has a lot of people worried, about their jobs, their businesses, their homes and their bills. When your income is dropping or in jeopardy and you still have a mountain of bills to pay, things can get pretty scary.

However, tough economic times do not have to be a time of struggles! If you look for the opportunity in the middle of difficulty, as Mr. Einstein suggested, then tough economic times become an opportunity to transform your life.

Click here to go to download site for eBook or click on ebook graphic below.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. A Simple Lifestyle
2. Focus on the Essentials
3. Thriving on Less, Not Struggling
4. Focusing on Enough, Not More
5. Make Small Financial Changes First
6. Look at Large Expenses for the Long Term
7. Changing Your Spending Habits
8. A Guide to Getting Out of Debt
9. Tools for a Frugal Life
10. Resources

FREE eBook

FREE eBook

From Pumps to PJ’s: Working from Home

{ June 27, 2009 @ 3:24 PM } · { Entrepreneurs, work at home }
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Work from home

At one time or another in your career, you’ve probably dreamed of being your own boss and working from home. Maybe you want to spend more time with your family. Maybe you just want to do what you love rather than do what someone else tells you to do. Whatever the reason, you’re not alone. The dream of being your own boss and working from home is one that you share with hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

My family and friends often ask me what drove me to start my own business. I think I was at a point in my career where I was really tired of following someone else’s rules and then settling for a salary they felt my skills and experience were worth, which was usually not the same as what I felt they were worth. I wanted to do something that I truly enjoyed.  For me that meant: advanced level computer skills + diverse admin and project management background/experience = Virtual Business Support Specialist.  Although I had a pretty clear picture of what I wanted to do, the road hasn’t been easy.  I still run into the occasional bump in the road.  It’s inevitable that you’ll run into obstacles along the way. I think the best way to minimize the obstacles is to have a written plan in place for your transition.  A plan that you can refer back to for guidance and inspiration when the road gets bumpy.

Below are a few points I feel are important to keep in mind when developing your transition plan:

  • Have you researched the field you’re interested in thoroughly, including talking to someone who’s currently working in that field?
  • Have you evaluated your skills and experience to determine if you are qualified to pursue a career in that field? If you don’t currently have the skills you need, have you developed a plan to obtain those skills?
  • Do you have a plan for how you’ll handle your finances until you actually start to make money from your new gig? Depending on the industry you want to go in to, it could take several months before you start earning the salary you need to maintain your current lifestyle.  Are you prepared for that?
  • Have you discussed your plans with your family and gained their support?

There’s no doubt that being your own boss is very rewarding and exciting. It can also be very stressful and demanding.  It helps to be able to network with others who have also taken the plunge:

About the Author:

Shelley Graves, a Virtual Business Support Specialist with over 15 years of administrative and project management experience, is the owner of http://www.bizsupportassociates.com.  She specializes in providing virtual business support and administrative assistance to small business owners and other freelance professionals. Visit the website today for your FREE business support assessment

A Bright Light in Today’s Dark Economy: Virtual Assistants

{ June 23, 2009 @ 12:35 PM } · { Entrepreneurs, Small Biz News, virtual assistant }
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virtual office

virtual office

“Do I really need a virtual assistant”? “Is it really worth it”? “Why would I hire a virtual assistant instead of a regular employee or temp”?

These are questions you may have pondered recently. Your business is going well, your client base is growing slowly, but surely and you’ve begun to realize the powers of social media marketing.  You may have seen several tweets referencing virtual assistant after virtual assistant, but you’re not 100% sure you even know exactly what a virtual assistant does!

Sound familiar? I find this to be a pretty accurate representation of how alot of small business owners and/or entrepreneurs view the virtual assistant industry. I don’t blame them. The virtual assistant industry is still relatively new and not suprisingly there are lots of folks who don’t know what we are or have a clue as to how we could be an asset to small business owners and/or entrepreneurs.  The definition of a virtual assistant is someone who is highly skilled in administrative and other business support services who provides off-site assistance. We are NOT employees. We are Not temps.  We are independent contractors who operate our own small business providing assistance to you.

The economy is changing. Some small or home-based businesses, as well as many large corporations, are feeling the clinch of this economic crisis.  The large corporations especially, are ready to consider non-traditional ways of managing their workforce and reducing their overhead costs, while still producing quality goods and services.  This generates the perfect opportunity for a virtual assistant. There are many advantages to hiring a virtual assistant that could be very appealing to today’s business owner:

  1. no hiring or recruiting costs
  2. no benefits to be paid
  3. no payroll or tax issues
  4. no need to buy equipment or software
  5. no need to make space

Both large companies and small/home-based business owners recognize that outsourcing certain aspects of their business may be the way to go. By partnering with a virtual assistant, they have more time to focus on the big picture: growing their business.

For the new small business owner with a limited budget , a virtual assistant is a good alternative. According the U.S. Small Business Administration, small business owners spend up to 40% of their time on routine administrative tasks.  A virtual assistant can handle some of these tasks:

  1. basic bookkeeping – invoice customers, collections
  2. marketing support – help with creating eye catching promotional pieces
  3. basic clerical duties – manage your schedule, monitor your email
  4. social media networking – set up profiles on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIN

The possibilities are endless!  For a free report titled “How Can a Virtual Assistant Help Me Grow My Business”, please visit http://www.bizsupportassociates.com. This reports illustrates more than 4o unique ways to utilize the services of a virtual assistant. Some you may have never even thought of.  

About the Author:

Shelley Graves, a Virtual Business Support Specialist with over 15 years of administrative and project management experience, is the owner of http://www.bizsupportassociates.com.  She specializes in providing virtual business support and administrative assistance to small business owners and other freelance professionals. Visit the website today for your FREE business support assessment.

Small Business Poll

{ June 22, 2009 @ 8:21 PM } · { Uncategorized }
{ Leave a Comment }

What aspects of running your smalll business do you dislike the most? If what you hate is not listed, please feel free to add it. 

How Can a VA Help You Grow Your Business?

{ June 6, 2009 @ 8:33 AM } · { business support, Entrepreneurs, Small Biz News, work at home }
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deskThere are lots of ways an Independent Business Support Professional (IBSP) or Virtual Assistant (VA) can help a small business owner grow their business. Some you may not have even thought of before. Here are just a few:

~ A client wants to create a blog to promote their business. The IBSP/VA can research the various blog platforms and provide recommendations to the client. The IBSP/VA can also set up and maintain the blog for the client.

~ A client needs a Web presence but can’t justify spending thousands of dollars on a company that specifically deals in Web design. An IBSP/VA who has significant skill in this area can design, build, and maintain a professional Web site and save the client hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

~ An IBSP/VA can create and maintain profiles for the client on various social networking websites, including Facebook, LinkedIN, and Twitter.

~ A client has routine paperwork that must be filled out on a daily basis (i.e., sales call re-cap). The client calls a IBSP/VA with the information. The IBSP/VA fills out the form and faxes to the home office.

~ A client makes a back-up tape of the computer and sends it to the IBSP/VA for safe-keeping. A small task, but well worth it. In the event of a disaster, all your files are located off premise.

~ A client travels frequently and needs an IBSP/VA to coordinate air travel, car rental and hotel reservations.

~ A client takes notes at meetings and needs them typed. The client mails or faxes the notes to an IBSP/VA, the IBSP/VA types the notes and e-mails them back.

~ A consultant needs invoicing services only. A consultant sends an email or fax to the IBSP/VA with the number of hours to be billed to his clients. The IBSP/VA prepares and distributes the invoices via email, mail or fax.

~ An association mails annual due invoices upon membership renewal. The IBSP/VA prepares the invoices and mails according to schedule. The IBSP/VA can also receive payments and deposit into the association’s account. All transactions are recorded in accounting software and sent to the association via; E-mail (Zipped File) FTP transfer or mailed on diskette/CD.

~ A client has several account receivables that are past due. The IBSP/VA can mail past due notices or follow up via telephone to collect on past due invoices.

 

For the complete list, visit our website: http://www.bizsupportassociates.com

Hello world!

{ May 19, 2009 @ 4:49 AM } · { Uncategorized }
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Well…I finallyWoman Blogging did it. I finally created my very own Blog. Now where do I start? I have lots of ideas swimming around in my head. I’m excited to find a spot where I can share my thoughts and ideas with others and hopefully help them along the way.

The Virtual Muse will be a central point for small and home-based business owners to visit to find lots of interesting, fun and informative tidbits on growing their business, marketing their business and how my company, Business Support Associates, may be able to help.

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