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Finishing Another Year

This month's Ask the Master newsletter is a revision of my December 2002 edition. Since it's been 5 years it's buried a little deep in my archives, however, the content is still important for this time of year.

As we near the end of another year we often find ourselves thinking about things not always present during the rest of the year. It is usually a time of reflection, appreciation, acknowledgement, rejuvenation and celebration! Personal schedules tend to be very hectic and fast paced so it is even more important you make time to consider your business.

Reflect on your accomplishments, acknowledge your successes, and appreciate the people in your community who have contributed to these. We often tend to forget the things we do and focus on what we didn't do, make a decision to change that today. I challenge all of you to write down and celebrate your business accomplishments over this holiday season!

Best wishes for a safe, healthy and relaxing holiday.

Warmly,
Mary-Lou Ashton
Master Virtual Assistant

• Building A Multi-VA Business
• Your Focus Or Theme For 2008
• Reducing Stress
• Taking Time Off

Building A Multi-VA Business

The Multi-VA business has become a popular alternative for Virtual Assistants and the clients who hire them. It's a business model that provides Virtual Assistants with a solution to turning business away and offers clients a wider selection of services, skill sets and shorter turn around times.

Now you can learn how to build a Multi-VA business, bringing together a team of talented VA's to expand your business and it's potential.

This 4-week advanced course covers every aspect of starting, managing and avoiding potential pitfalls associated with being a Multi-VA owner. Participants must be a graduate of the VATP (or any another VA training program) or have been in business for a minimum of 2 years.

Next course starts Monday, January 7, 2008. For more information send an email to multiva@vatp.ca

Your Focus Or Theme For 2008

What will be the focus of your business for 2008? Will it be marketing, passive income, starting a newsletter, a new or improved web site, bringing on associates, gaining 5 new clients? This is the time for looking at the big picture and setting your goals for the new year.

Decide what direction you want to head in the upcoming year and get clear on what needs to happen to get there. Break it down into achievable monthly goals scheduling time to focus on moving forward in that direction. Remember, businesses that fail to plan, plan to fail.

Also, make sure you have supplies for your day timer, a new calendar, planning board etc. Take the time to restock your office supplies and renew any memberships.

Reducing Stress

We tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves at this time of year with lots of additional things to do, places to go and people to see. My suggestion for reducing stress during the holiday season is to check your motives. Are you doing things because you want to or because you feel obligated? If it doesn't bring you joy don't do it. Withdraw from the Martha Stewart contest. Ask yourself "If I don't do this will the holidays still happen?" Give yourself permission to say no. Keep it simple!

Taking Time Off

We all need time and space to rejuvenate ourselves both personally and professionally and it is important to make sure we take the time and space. For sole proprietors it is not always an easy task however you can take steps to make this happen and this is when your community can come in handy.

When planning time off try to make sure it has a minimal impact on your clients. If at all possible have a VA your clients can call on if they need support or work done while you are absent. Make sure you indicate on your voice message you are out of the office and if you have voice mail I recommend you use an extended absence greeting. You will also need to have your emails responded to. You can do this by setting up an auto responder through your hosting company if you have a web site or by using the rules wizard in Outlook. Ideally if you can set up someone to check voice mail, email and respond to clients while you are gone it maintains a high level of professionalism.