Motivation

Motivation is defined as the process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. Motivation is important when starting a goal, but maintaining motivation is just as important to finish a goal. For monotonous and long-reaching goals, daily motivations can be just as important as daily exercise and healthy eating habits. The following are 6 motivational exercises to help you get through those tough times:

1. Be your best fan, not your worst critic. Sometimes we can be our worse critic. When you find yourself criticizing yourself, shake off the negative energy and speak positive words over yourself. Even if this means looking at yourself in the mirror and saying positive words, do it until you are ready to continue your tasks with a renewed attitude.
2. Take a break to regroup. When you feel the tension and stress of completing a tough goal, take a quick break to regroup. Take a walk, listen to your favorite uplifting music, or just walk away from your work area. Take deep breaths and come back ready to work.
3. Exercise. Not only is exercise good for the body but it is also good for managing stress. Give yourself 30 minutes a day to exercise and not only will it give you added physical energy but also help with prolonging mental clarity.
4. Compare yourself to no one. Do not compare yourself to others because it can take your focus from completing your goals. Focus only on yourself and your goals and it will take you farther than you know.
5. Make a plan. Write down your plan. Write what you would like to accomplish within 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years. Once you accomplish your goals reward yourself. The reward can be as small as your favorite ice cream treat or as big as a vacation.
6. Surround yourself with like minded people. If you want to start a business, network with business owners. It's easy to share your accomplishments and your missteps with someone who has been in a similar situation.

My Balancing Act

Ok I'm going to say it-I need a break! I am a working woman, a wife, a mother of three, and a business owner. Sometimes it feels like my days all run together. Here are a couple of things I do to keep my mind fresh and clear:

Wake up early to have time by myself. - I start my mornings with prayer and then try to at least have 15 minutes to myself before the chant of "mommy" starts.

Exercise - I have found exercising to be a great energy booster,even if it's only 20 minutes a day.

Organize - I love using the Google Calendar you can have a calendar for family, personal, and business all in one convenient location. You can also sync the information in your calendar to many cell phones. I still use an old school planner as a back up. It's something about writing down events that helps me remember them.

I found this guy who is really supportive, my husband-My husband is super supportive and when I need a break he will handle the kids for me. I find that spending time alone with my husband relaxes me. We can be at home watching a movie or out dining at our favorite Thai restaurant. The time we spend alone really helps me keep my goals and priorities in order.

My secret stress reliever is a Chocolate Devotion signature creation from Cold Stone Creamery- Yes I said it. Sometimes I just need to indulge .

Did 2009 Pass You By?

Has the year passed you by without you achieving your organization's goals? With a new year comes insight on what changes can and should be made to facilitate a productive year for your organization. A few of the questions you may be asking are: How could my resources be spent more wisely? Where can I find a professional that will partner with me to help me maintain and grow my business? A Virtual Assistant is a professional who provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance to organizations like yours.

Hiring a Virtual Assistant would allow you to focus your energies on other aspects of your business. A virtual assistant can:

• Manage your Social Media sites (i.e., Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
• Create a database of your clients
• Send out birthday or other special occasion cards to your contacts and associates
• Design and print your marketing materials
• Set up and maintain your financial records
• Manage your organizations email accounts
• Set up and maintain auto responders
• Compose and send correspondence on your behalf
• Edit and design your Ebooks
• Plan your organizations events
• Research marketing data
  

This list is just a sample of services offered. Hiring a Virtual Assistant will free up valuable time without losing productivity. Do not let another year pass you by. Contact a Virtual Assistant today.

6 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CLIENTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE #1

Offer your clients a free consultation.

These consultations should be schedule on a semi-yearly or yearly basis. If you have had a client for 5 years and have not contacted them once in those 5 years now is the time to do so.

Send them cards for special events, ie birthday cards, holiday cards, miss you cards.

Make sure you keep track of your clients birthdays or other special days. If in the midst of a conversation with your client, your client states they have a new job, send them a card. Any easy way to keep track of your clients and their special information is to use a web based CRM or contact management software.

Make sure every contact you have with them is professional and courteous.

Remember your clients can refer other potential clients to you. Every communication with your client should be professional and courteous. When answering the phone always answer as if it is your first phone call of the day. Your voice should sound fresh and energetic. Your client should not be able to tell by the sound of your voice that you are stressed out or just had a bad meeting.

Under promise but over deliver.

When your client makes a request deliver beyond their wildest dreams. For example, if you client needs paperwork faxed by next Friday, you state that you will have it there by their deadline, but you actually fax it a couple of days before.

Answer emails promptly.

Let your customers know that their emails will be answered within a 24 hour period. If you do not work on Sundays or are away from your office you should place an out of office reply in your email and when they can expect a response from you. PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN OFF YOUR OUT OF OFFICE REPLY WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE OFFICE.

When they have a complaint, listen to the problem provide a solution.

When your customer has a complaint, listen. Make sure you understand the problem before you give the customer a solution. If the problem is your fault take accountability and offer a solution.

The Art of Marketing

As I watched the movie Hero starring Jet Li, I was mesmerized by the attention to detail in this film. The movie to me symbolizes the art of a powerful marketing plan. Some business owners do not see the advantage of having a marketing plan for their business. In order to have a sustainable business a marketing plan has to be at the foundation. When it comes to marketing we often do not have a clear picture what we need to be successful.

Effective marketing is like an art form. Just like a movie, marketing has several components that work together in order to be effective. A successful marketing plan should:

• Be Measurable
  

A marketing plan should have measurable goals. You should have specific goals that are to be reached. The goals have to be measurable in order to be effective. Yours goals also have to be realistic; if they are not realistic it will be difficult to honestly critique your plan.

• Have different components
  

Your marketing plan should be composed of different marketing techniques. Online media is an important marketing technique, because it allows you to meet new people all over the world on a limited budget. The connections that you make online are invaluable. You should also make sure that you network in your local area. You can volunteer to give a presentation about your expertise or you can host networking events for local business owners.

• Be flexible
  

If you are not receiving the results that you are looking for with your marketing plan, it's time to make a change. As your business needs change, your marketing plan should also change. Do not be afraid to change or reevaluate your marketing plan. Successful business owners are able to adapt to changes in their business.

Your marketing plan can become a masterpiece if you allow all of the components to work together and always keep the big picture in mind.

What is a Virtual Assistant?

I am often asked what exactly is a virtual assistant?  A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who provides various business support services including but not limited to, word processing, marketing, and desktop publishing.  Virtual Assistants understand the plight of business owners, because we are business owners.  We understand the importance of providing superior service and quality products to our clients.

Whatever you need a Virtual Assistant can make it happen.  A virtual assistant has an expansive knowledge base and an extensive network of other independent professionals.  If you want your business to thrive in the 21st Century, it’s time you contacted Gateway Virtual Solutions.