inside the office

StartupNation is sponsoring the first annual 2009 Leading Moms in Business competition will rank the top 200 mom-run businesses across America as determined by popular vote.

Can I have your vote?

Click the link above to see my profile and story, and let the world know if you think I should be among the top 200 mom-run businesses in America!

We thank you for your support!

Hey, everyone! I’ve updated the look off my blog. I’d love to hear what you think. Let me know!

I just wanted to send a quick note out to all of my subscribers to apologize if you receive duplicate copies of previous posts over the next few days. I had a blog-breaking issue last night and am discovering that the recovery process has caused some of my previous posts to be republished. No, I’m not recirculating old content, I promise. Just working out the bugs.

No matter what language is your native (or favorite), please accept my Christmas greetings.
Gesëende Kersfees ~ Een Plesierige Kerfees ~ Rehus-Beal-Ledeats ~ Gezur Krislinjden ~ Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah ~ Feliz Navidad ~ Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand ~ Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun ~ Selamat Hari Natal ~ Zorionak eta Urte Berri On! ~ Shuvo Naba Barsha ~ Vesele Vanoce ~ Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo ~ Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat ~ Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo ~ Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou! ~ Feliz Navidad ~ Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun ~ Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan ~ Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito ~ Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo ~ Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth ~ Pace e salute ~ Rot Yikji Dol La Roo ~ Mitho Makosi Kesikansi ~ Sretan Bozic ~ Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok ~ Glædelig Jul ~ Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak ~ Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast ~ Merry Christmas ~ Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo! ~ Gajan Kristnaskon ~ Ruumsaid juulup|hi ~ Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar! ~ Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad ~ Hyvaa joulua ~ Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar ~ Joyeux Noel ~ Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier! ~ Bo Nada ~ Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! ~ Froehliche Weihnachten ~ Kala Christouyenna! ~ Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara! ~ Mele Kalikimaka ~ Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova ~ Shub Naya Baras ~ Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara! ~ Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou! ~ Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket ~ Gledileg Jol ~ Selamat Hari Natal ~ Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah ~ Nollaig Shona Dhuit or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat ~ Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay. ~ Buone Feste Natalizie ~ Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto ~ Mithag Crithagsigathmithags ~ Sung Tan Chuk Ha ~ Natale hilare et Annum Faustum! ~ Prieci’gus Ziemsve’tkus un Laimi’gu Jauno Gadu! ~ Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto ~ Priecigus Ziemassvetkus ~ Linksmu Kaledu ~ Heughliche Winachten un ‘n moi Nijaar ~ Sreken Bozhik ~ IL-Milied It-tajjeb ~ Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa ~ Meri Kirihimete ~ Shub Naya Varsh ~ Merry Keshmish ~ God Jul or Gledelig Jul ~ Pulit nadal e bona annado ~ Bon Pasco ~ Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu ~ En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr! ~ Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo ~ Maligayan Pasko! ~ Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie ~ Feliz Natal ~ Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha ~ Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua ~ Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn ~ Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn! ~ Sarbatori vesele ~ Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom ~ Buorrit Juovllat ~ La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou ~ Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou ~ Hristos se rodi ~ Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce ~ Buorrit Juovllat ~ La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou ~ Nollaig chridheil huibh ~ Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina ~ Hristos se rodi. ~ Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa ~ Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok ~ Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto ~ Feliz Navidad ~ God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År ~ Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon ~ Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal ~ (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech! ~ Sawadee Pee Mai ~ Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun ~ Srozhdestvom Kristovym ~ Naya Saal Mubarak Ho ~ Chung Mung Giang Sinh ~ Nadolig Llawen ~ Cestitamo Bozic ~ E ku odun, e ku iye’dun!

I recently had a discussion with the folks in my business group, BizBuilderCT, about goal setting and using vision boards. It occurs to me, though, that while setting goals is a good thing, both personally and professionally, without a clear plan on how to get there, goals can become nothing more than a distraction.
Let me clarify. Setting and having goals is great, and is absolutely key to both personal and professional growth. But if you don’t then outline the steps you need to take to get there, those goals just become another picture on the wall, and another stressor on the “someday-I-will” to-do list. You want to make $1.000,000 next year? Great! What will it take for you to get there? Working more hours, raising prices, diversifying your products or services? How about all of the above? Any one person can only work so many hours in a day, though. Especially if you still have marketing, accounting, family and cleaning duties to be responsible for. So maybe you need to hire employees or sub-contractors. Great! What’s the next step?
After you set your goals, set your plan. Your plan may tell you that you need to adjust your goal some, or maybe you just need to tweak the plan. Focus on the big picture, but be sure to take time to focus on the little pictures that make up the big picture.

I wonder sometimes where people’s manners have gone, because there are many times when they are evidently not present in a lot of people. For instance – I am in charge of scheduling for a workshop to be held next week. Dates were sent out months ago to the speaker volunteers, as well as a reminder email about three weeks ago. Yesterday I got an email from one of the speakers saying that she doesn’t think she can make it. No apologies, not a terribly valid explanation either. I have been in her situation before, and have done everything possible to make sure that I can keep the commitment that I made, especially if it’s at the 11th hour.
So, I implore you all that, if you make a commitment, stick to it. Or at the very least, try to make acceptable alternative arrangements. Trust me, the other volunteers of the world will thank you for it.

Last Friday I attended the 3rd Annual Online VA Summit and I must say that it rocked. While I wasn’t able to attend all of the sessions (three at a time all throughout the day), the ones that I did make it to were great. Carrie Wilkerson (The Barefoot Executive) presented a great talk on “Networking & Relationship Building for Success: Connect & Grow Rich”, during which I took lots of notes and am eager to put them into action. Sharon Williams, who has an impressive career history, presented great workshops on “Marketing Your VA Business Without Breaking the Bank” and developing a personal brand identity. The key note address was given by Craig Cannings and while I was only able to catch the last half of it, I am eagerly awaiting the availability of the recordings so that I can hear the entire presentation.
I have to say that the concept of an online summit is so perfect for us in the virtual world and though I strongly encourage everyone that can attend the Live Summit in April every year to do so, I think that the online Summit is just as important. And it’s an even better option for those that, for whatever reason, are unable to attend a live Summit. And the whole day is recorded, so it’s easily accessible for later review. What a fabulous day!

Every April, the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) holds a VA Summit, which I attended for the first time this past April. After I got over my mommy concern about leaving my at the time 18 month old daughter alone with her father for four days, I had a blast. There were some fabulous speakers, like Dave Lieber, Debbra Sweet, and Stephanie Frank, and lots of invaluable information and resources. I also had the opportunity to connect with many people that, prior to then, were just names in my inbox.
The 2009 VA Summit will be held in Montreal, Canada, and I was very much looking forward to attending. Until I realized that my husband is very likely to be deployed during that time and therefore my built-in childcare would be missing. A wonderfully timed message from another hopeful attendee reminded me that Montreal is within driving distance and I began to concoct a plan – that first required that I let go of my mommy concern. Or at least suspend it for a few days. And now? I’m excited and eagerly anticipating next year’s batch of fabulous speakers, friendly connections, and great information. And, a long over-due road trip.
Until next April, however, I’ll have to depend on this Friday’s Online International Virtual Assistants Convention. Check back next week for a review.
Until then, I wish you all happy days and business success!

I recently read that in order to grow – as a person, as a business, whatever – first, you have to let go. You have to let go of the things that are holding you back, whether it’s comfort, complacency, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, or just because you don’t know what to do next. This struck me as one of those things you hear and carry with you throughout your life.

Someone once said that, at some point, we will all be promoted beyond our abilities. That doesn’t mean that you can’t grow into your new position, that your abilities won’t grow with you. But, at some point, you will find yourself in a situation that you are not 100% prepared for.

These two things together have changed the way I think about things. Every new adventure I have undertaken in life, such as college, moving away from my family, marriage, having a child and starting a business, has been something that I stepped in to under-prepared. I thought I knew what I was doing, or at least thought I knew how much I didn’t know, but was always surprised. And in order to succeed at any of these things, I first had to let go of whatever was holding me back, including my preconceived notions of how easy/difficult/fun/boring it was supposed to be. And in letting go, I discovered how truly successful I could be. And how much am looking forward to the next great adventure.

As with anything else, I’ve done a lot of research before starting my
blog. On of the articles that I came across recommended having several
blog posts available before you really market or advertise that you
have a blog. The idea behind it is that if market a new blog, and only
have one post for visitors to read, they can’t really get a feeling
for who you are, how you write, and whether or not they want to come
back to or subscribe to your blog. This thought kind of brings me back
to the blog planning stages when I was deciding whether or not to blog.

So why should a business blog? Here are some of the reasons that I found:
1. Blogs allow your customers and potentials to make a personal
connection with you. This isn’t a formatted, generic brochure. Blogs
allow your customers to talk with you.

2. Blogs help you get the scoop on small problems before they turn
into big problems. Whether its a customer service issue, or a product
or service that your customers are looking for that you don’t offer,
knowledge sooner puts you in a better position to repair the issue
while minimizing the potential for customer loss and lost revenue.

3. Blog allow you to converse with your customers – even all of them,
at once! Where else can you carry on multiple conversations with your
customers, colleagues, critics, and compatriots, while also giving
them the opportunity to converse with each other, without typing up
phone lines on a mega-conference call?

4. Blogs let you share you knowledge and can help to position you as
an expert in your field. You can have the best, most professional and
well-written copy on your website. But what does that actually say
about you? Because blogs are so personal, even business blogs, your
community gets a better understanding of your knowledge and expertise
by reading you blog.

5. Blogs can help your search engine ranking. Search engines crave new
and fresh content, and tend to pay more attention (and more ranking
weight) to sites that are updated frequently – like a blog. This is
also a great way to get other sites and sub-domains crawled by the
search engine bots. Once the bots know you’re there, and how often you
update, they’ll come back on a more regular schedule.

Still not convinced? I’d love to hear your reasons why (and why not)
you think a blog is essential for a business. Your idea might be the
catalyst another reader needs to start a blog and grow their business.