5 Simple Tasks to Delegate so That You Can Free Up More Time

Very often solo business owners know they have a need to partner with a Virtual Assistant (VA), but are not really sure how a virtual assistant can help them grow their business – they don’t fully understand what services the VA provides. This is usually discussed during the client consultation process, but sometimes the client can still feel a little overwhelmed and are not sure about delegating their workload – in fact that is how one of my clients felt recently!

If you’ve not partnered with a Virtual Assistant yet, these tasks will make an ideal ‘first project’ for you to work together on. If you’re already working with a Virtual Assistant, have a planning session with her right away.

By letting go of these five tasks that you SHOULD be delegating ensures that you can free up your time and focus on your clients and income generating activities:

#1 Designing promotions

Need to send seasonal cards to your clients? Or maybe you have a special holiday promotion? A VA can help you here by designing custom cards, calendars, flyers, postcards, brochures, or any other promotional item.

#2 Organizing and maintaining your mailing list

Is your mailing list all together in one place? Or is it on bits of paper and business cards that you’ve collected over several months, or even years? Do you even have a mailing list? Your VA can help you here by setting up and maintaining a mailing list for you. She can maintain your list all year round so that you can send regular mailings and promotions to your clients.

#3 Sending out your promotions

So, now you have your custom-designed promotions, and your up-to-date mailing list, but do you have the time to send out your promotions? A VA can help you here by sending out your seasonal cards and promotions for you. Once you have your promotional literature and mailing list organised, then your VA can save you HOURS of time by sending them out on your behalf – via email or post.

#4 Planning your Event

Thinking of hosting a teleclass or workshop? Your VA can organize and plan that event for you–from sending out the invitations to collating the RSVPs, producing the literature, or booking the venue – with today’s technology all of this can be done online!

#5 Helping you plan your marketing campaigns

If you’re already thinking ahead, then your VA can assist you by helping you to organize your year-round marketing campaigns.

Your VA is your long-term partner in your business, and a person to hand over those time-draining projects to, giving you the time to focus on your business.

And they want your business to succeed just as much as you do!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Are You A Dreamer Or A Schemer?

The world needs entrepreneurs more than at any other time in the last century and an online business guru has come up with a way for would-be business owners to test whether they are likely to be a success or failure.

Guy Kingston, a serial entrepreneur who successfully started one of the first private enterprise businesses in post-communist Russia, says the motivation behind starting a business is often the key to success.

Mr Kingston, whose Mind Your Own Business podcast provides free help and advice to business owners said: “Every entrepreneur is driven by their dream of what they want to achieve through business. By asking themselves a few simple questions they can work out what their motivation is and from that you can pretty well work out whether they are likely to be a success or not.

“Many people are really dreamers, who like the idea of running a business but can’t cope with reality. The ones who will succeed are schemers, who will do everything they can to ensure success.”

Mr Kingston, whose website www.myobpod.com features free written, audio and video advice for entrepreneurs with no sponsors attached, sets out the following check-list for would-be entrepreneurs to test out whether they are a dreamer or a schemer.

See which statement applies to your thoughts then see whether this is a dream or a scheme.

“I want to build a business so that I can employ lots of people and be a big boss.”

Guy’s verdict: Dreamer: “if empire building is your main motivation you will probably fail.Costs need to be kept tight in a growing business and the regulatory environment surrounding employing people makes them very expensive. Operate with as few people as possible and the empire will grow.”

“I’m really confident in my idea and my ability to make it work, but there’s more to it than that.”

Guy’s verdict. Schemer: “Positive thinking alone is not enough. Whereas you won’t succeed without it, it is not sufficient alone.”

“Running my own business will mean I will be able to have greater flexibility and time for myself and my family”

Guy’s verdict: Dreamer: “You have more time if you are employed by someone else. Of course you have to get the balance right but don’t see being an entrepreneur as a passport to more spare time.”

“I know I have skills that my employer doesn’t appreciate and I want to sell them direct to people”

Guy’s verdict: Schemer “Often the core of a good business comes from an individual’s talents. Just make sure that it is more than your nearest and dearest who think you are good.”

“I have certain abilities but if my business is really going to take off I’ll need to pick quite a few other people’s brains to bridge the gap.”

Guy’s verdict: Schemer: “The best entrepreneurs beg, steal and borrow ideas from everyone and then adjust them to their own situation. They also recognise early on that they aren’t good at everything.”

“I have inherited some money and I think the best way to use it is to buy a business that I can run.”

Guy’s verdict: dreamer “Buying a business is about a lot more than just having the money. Many successful businesses have disappeared very quickly once under new ownership.”

“My partner / best friend and I get on so well that we would be awesome in business together and we are going to come up with something between us that we can do together”

Guy’s verdict: dreamer “Running a business together puts a great strain on any relationship. Although it works well for many people there has to be more to substantiate going into business together than the fact you are great buddies or soul mates!”

“I want a mentor who’s been round the block a few times.”

Guy’s verdict. Schemer: “Just as you wouldn’t want a brain surgeon who’s never done brain surgery before, you don’t want a business advisor who hasn’t run a business of their own. Experience trumps qualifications and theories any day.”

“Everyone likes the items I produce as part of my hobby so I am going to pack in my job and do it commercially.”

Guy’s verdict. Dreamer: “Hobbies rarely turn into good viable businesses. Before making the leap it is important to check out every aspect of the business model.”

“Business is fairly simple. You just buy things in and then sell them at a cheaper price. That is the basis of my plan for trading”

Guy’s verdict. Dreamer: “This is someone who needs to do a lot more planning on things like stock levels and what the market will stand before venturing into being an entrepreneur.”

Popularity: 5% [?]

Selamat Menyambut Maulidur Rasul Pada 9hb March 2009

Maulidur Rasul yang jatuh pada pada hari Khamis 12 Rabiul Awal Tahun Gajah bersamaan dengan 23 April 571 merupakan hari keputeraan Nabi Muhammad s.a.w (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Baginda adalah nabi terakhir yang diutus oleh Allah Subhanahu Wataala. Tapak kelahiran baginda pula kini mempunyai satu bangunan kecil yang dikenali sebagai Maulid Nabi.

Setiap tahun pada hari itu, umat Islam di seluruh dunia akan mengadakan majlis memperingati keputeraan Nabi Muhammad s.a.w dengan mengadakan beberapa acara seperti perarakan, ceramah dan sebagainya. Banyak kelebihan dan keistimewaan yang akan dikurniakan oleh Allah Subhanahu Wataala kepada mereka yang dapat mengadakan atau menghadiri majlis Maulidur Rasul.

Kita dapat lihat betapa besarnya kelebihan orang yang memuliakan majlis keputeraan Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, kerana bila berniat sahaja hendak mengadakan Maulud Nabi, sudah pun dikira mendapat pahala dan dimuliakan. Sememangnya bernazar untuk melakukan sesuatu yang baik merupakan doa dan dikira amal salih.

Jelas kepada kita bahawa pembalasan Allah Subhanahu Wataala terhadap kebaikan begitu cepat sehinggakan terdetik sahaja di hati hendak berbuat kebaikan, sudah Allah Subhanahu Wataala akan memberi pembalasan yang tiada ternilai. Seseorang yang beriman, kuat bersandar kepada Allah, ketika di dalam kesusahan dia tetap tenang dan hatinya hanya mengadu kepada Allah dan mengharapkan pertolongan dan kasih sayang Allah Subhanahu Wataala.

Keberkatan mengadakan Majlis Maulud itu bukan sahaja didapati oleh orang yang mengadakan majlis itu, tetapi seluruh ahli rumah atau orang yang tinggal di tempat itu turut mendapat keberkatannya.

Popularity: 5% [?]

We were bracing ourselves for a future of uninspired interior decorating until we heard about IKEA’s latest offering. IKEA’s Home Planner Tools let you become your own interior designer with online software that allows you to drag and drop furniture into a room and fit them to the exact measurements of your home. The program permits you to rearrange and try different styles as much as you like, appealing to even the most fickle decorator. You can even view your decorated room in 3-D and print it out with all the measurements, just like an architect.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Extreme Flat Abs: Bicycle Maneuver

The words flat and abs got your attention, didn’t they? Want to know the secret to getting a tight tummy and flat abs? The secret is… there is no secret. There is however, a formula that works for everyone.

Attaining a flat and tight abdominal area will depend on the total amount of body fat you have to lose. However, anyone can flatten the mid-section… Yes, anyone!

If you read my articles often, you know that I place a great deal of emphasis on reducing body fat through a calorie-reduced nutrition program and by incorporating weight training and cardiovascular exercise to stimulate the metabolism.

Abdominal exercises serve to strengthen and tighten the abs, so when your body fat reduces — you then see the fruits of your labor (flat abs!). I’m focusing on three abdominal exercises that will strengthen and tighten your tummy, but your food intake must be taken into consideration.

Extreme Flat Abs routine will require some gym equipment, but it’s very effective for tightening the upper and lower abdominal region, as well as the oblique muscles (”love handles”).

key to the effectiveness of any exercise is based on proper technique, sufficient intensity and intelligent frequency.

Exercise #1 – Bicycle Maneuver  (see the video below!)

Starting Position:
– Lie on a mat with your lower back in a comfortable position.
– Bring your knees up to about a 45-degree angle.

Movement:
– Slowly go through a bicycle pedaling motion alternating your left elbow to your right knee, then your right elbow to your left knee.

Key Points:
– This can be a more advanced exercise. Do not perform this activity if it puts any strain on your lower back.
– Do not pull on your head and neck during this exercise.
– The lower to the ground your legs bicycle, the harder your abs have to work.

2. Reverse Trunk Twist

Starting Position:
– Lie on the floor with your back relaxed and your arms out to the sides forming a “T” with your body.
– Extend your legs straight up in the air so your hips form a 90-degree angle with a slight bend in your knees.

Movement:
– Contracting the abdominal and oblique muscles, lower your legs toward one side, keeping your feet together and your back on the floor. Stop at the limits of the strength of your abdominal and oblique muscles.
– This may start out as a very small range of motion and gradually increase as you get stronger.
– Slowly return to the starting position.
– After completing the set on the one side, repeat on the other side.

Key Points:
– Exhale while lowering your legs.
– Inhale while returning to the starting position.

Exercise #3 – Machine Ab Crunch

Starting Position:
– Adjust yourself in the machine per the instructions.

Movement:
– Contracting the abdominals very tightly, curl your rib cage toward your pelvis, stopping when you have reached a peak contraction of the abdominals. Don’t focus on just pushing the torso downward. Instead, focus on the abdominals pushing down and tight.
– Slowly return to the starting position stopping just short of the weight stack touching.

Key Points:
– Exhale while curling forward.
– Inhale while returning to the starting position.
– Do not round the upper back or let the chest cave in.

ow often should you perform this workout?
If you’re a beginner, perform each movement slowly and at your own pace. Try for 12 to 15 repetitions of each exercise and take your time moving from one exercise to the next. Perform only one cycle. A cycle is defined as performing all three exercises in order. Attempt the routine three days per week on alternate days of the week. Don’t worry if you can’t get the recommended rep range. Do as many as possible with good form and try to increase week to week.

For those with more experience, perform three cycles with one minute of rest between each cycle. The key to the Extreme Flat Abs workout is to keep the intensity level high, as well as a constant contraction on the abs. As you progress, you’ll be amazed at how hard and tight your abs get. Perform the routine three days per week on alternate days of the week.

The Machine Ab Crunch will focus primarily on the upper ab region, the Reverse Trunk Twist on the oblique muscles and hips, while the Bicycle Maneuver will focus on the entire abdominal area.

In research studies, the Bicycle Maneuver ranks as of the most efficient abdominal exercises.

Remember, work at your own personal fitness level and focus on perfect form to avoid injury and in order to isolate the muscle.
As always, please check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Popularity: 5% [?]