Do you have one of those fancy designer laptops?
Do you like to put stickers or skins on your laptop cover?
Do you have a favorite laptop tote?
I’m looking for your pix of your laptop and accessories to share in my weekly ezine, The Portable Business™. Shoot me over a pic (word at grittyva dot com) and I’ll feature you with a link to your website in an upcoming issue!
I’m reprinting a message I received from MoveOn.org today about Net Neutrality. If you want to help keep Internet control out of the hands of private corporations, all you have to do is follow the link and “sign” the letter by adding your details to the fields provided. They do all the work for you and YOU get to lend your voice to this very important issue! Here’s the message:
Since 2006, MoveOn members have been working to save the free and open Internet. And now, for the first time, we’re on the verge of making an open Internet the law of the land. The Federal Communications Commission is getting ready to rule on net neutrality—the key principle that keeps the internet open to all. But Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon know it, so they’re fighting in court and claiming the FCC doesn’t have the authority to do its job. It’s a smokescreen. The FCC still has all the authority it needs to make net neutrality the law. The only question is whether it’ll have the political will to take on these corporate giants. That’s where the SavetheInternet.com Coalition comes in. We already have 1.75 million voices telling Washington that we must make net neutrality the law, but we’re aiming for two million.
The FCC is only taking public comments until this Thursday before making a final ruling, so we need 250,000 signatures today and tomorrow to send a resounding message that the FCC won’t be able to ignore. Can you add your name below, and then tell your friends to sign so we reach two million?
The Internet is the future of communications, and we need to keep it open, available and affordable to all Americans so it can continue to drive free speech, democratic participation, and economic growth. Net neutrality ensures that you can go anywhere and access whatever you want on the Internet, without having to pay corporate gatekeepers for the privilege. Without net neutrality, AT&T could charge its subscribers more to visit the website of their local bookstore than Amazon.com. Or, as one DSL provider was caught doing just yesterday, they could start forcing you to use their own search engine instead of Google. And they’d love that extra profit, so they’ve sent armies of lobbyists to Washington to in one final push to control the internet.
When MoveOn members joined with hundreds of other organizations to form the SavetheInternet.com coalition in 2006, we could only dream of having a president who would fight to make net neutrality the law. But with President Obama’s support, and his appointee Julius Genachowski chairing the FCC, we’re on the verge of winning a huge victory for a free and open Internet. Can you add your name and tell your friends to help us reach our goal of 2 million signatures by this Thursday?
Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Marika, Anna, Eli, and the rest of the team
Here’s an article I wrote and published today in “The Portable Business™.” If you’d like to subscribe, go here:
Aesthetics are very important to me. The space in which I work has a a very powerful effect on my sense of well-being and I love to be surrounded by things that are beautiful, fun and practical all at the same time. Form + function, don’t you know!
1. So here is my desk area:
I adore my L-shaped glass desk. It’s the CEO series from Dania and it’s huge with workspace for miles. It isn’t the most practical thing because you have to dust it much more often, but I absolutely love the beauty of it. Plus, in a smaller office space such as mine, it helps open the room up and reduces the feeling of crowding a large desk in a small room normally gives.
I also have the separately purchased ergonomic keyboard tray that slides out in front of the computer. With the amount of time I spend on the keyboard, this is critical to wrist health!
I have a rolling filing cabinet under my desk.
This is great for keeping tickler files and other things you need on a daily basis at your fingertips.
This is my latest pen holder:
As you can see, it’s not technically a pen holder at all. I don’t like typical office organization tools; they’re so boring and humdrum. I like to find interesting and unusual holders and things at antique stores and yard sales. This latest holder was actually a Dollar Store find. I like the Asian-style flavor and it certainly holds more than the typical pen holder.
My corner cabinet:
2. I love my zebra chair!
It’s stylish, fun and practical. I have never liked high-backed office chairs with arms. Even in my corporate days, people thought I was crazy to be turning my nose up at the expensive executive chairs I was given in favor of something much easier to move around in. I can’t stand those dang chair arms getting in my way.
3. This is one of my filing areas:
I have a very sturdy Hon two-drawer lateral file. I prefer lateral files because a) they take up less floor space by using space along the wall instead; b) they offer greater filing capacity; and c) contents are much easier to file and access than in front-loaded drawers.
I like to use colorful binders for documents and manuals I refer to frequently. They add visual interest and style to the room. On the top shelf, you can see that I like to use glass vases to hold my creative supplies.
The small vase holding my Sharpie collection is actually a glass candle holder I got from Target. I’ve also found interestingly patterned and textured holders from Toilet & Bath departments, LOL.
4. This is my basket of small electronics accessories:
I found this gorgeous double-walled basket at a yard sale last summer for $1. This where I keep all my extra cords and chargers. It’s practical while adding beauty to the room. I use ziplock bags to keep things organized.
All the cords and plugs and accessories for my cell phone go in one bag. All those for my digital recorder go in another. All those for my camera go in another, and so forth. Then I mark the baggies with a Sharpie so I know which bag goes to what.
5. “The Wave” by Hokusai is one of my favorite classics.
I have this awkward space underneath my office window. I couldn’t figure out what to do with it for the longest time because the baseboard heater always threw a wrench in the works. When I came across this panoramic poster online, I knew it would be perfect visual interest for that area. I took it to my local craft store where I had it Color-Plaked which adds this clear, durable texturized coating over the top of the particle-board mounted piece. The way they do the wall-mounting in the back (they call it Color-Float) is ingenious. I couldn’t begin to describe it, but it makes the piece stand out from the wall for a really interesting effect.
6. I use split tubing to organize computer and electrical cords.
This is a great way to disguise those ugly cables and cords. Since my desk is glass, I have nothing on which to screw in any kind of cable organizer so this is perfect. I got mine at Home Depot where you can get one pkg of 8′ split tubing for a mere $2.99. Cords are easily tucked into the tubing with your fingers. The tubing is also easily cut with scissors so you can measure out precise lengths.
7. I have a badass surround-sound computer speaker system which is great for listening to music, movies and business teleseminars.
8. This is my vision board:
I created my board so that it could be used as a permanent art piece as well as a vision board. It hangs on the wall in front of where I sit at the computer so that I look at it each and every day. What I did was take three cork panels and glue them to a piece of cut particle board. I then painted the entire thing in a pretty plum color and had the frame shop screw-in the hanging wire. Voila! I use clear pushpins on my cut-outs so whenever I want to update my board with new intentions, I just swap things out.
9. This is my printer:
I recently switched to an all-in-one printer/copier/scanner so I could free up more desk space. I love the sleek, all-black coloring as well. I really don’t know much about which brands are better than others when it comes to printers, but I’m very happy with this HP Photosmart Plus and I have to say, HP has some fan-freaking-tastic customer support.
10. This is my glass whiteboard:
I could not live without this thing, seriously. Whenever an idea flits through my head, I can swivel around in my chair and capture it instantly. I use it for my to-do lists, too. I save on so much paper and once I complete something, I simply wipe it away. I recently found a magentic glass whiteboard vendor in California and am so stoked! They are very expensive (the size I’m getting is a bit over $700), but to me well worth it. Shipping would cost an extra $600+ so we’re making a roadtrip out of it down to San Fransisco to pick it up ourselves.
Resource: Craigslist is awesome for finding great deals on office furniture, equipment and supplies. I got my practically new, perfect condition Hon lateral file drawers that way for $50 from a company going out of business. They would have cost well over $300 brand new. The whole reuse/recycle/repurpose mentality really appeals to me, and if you ever want something that is mail-order only, pop in a search of Craigslist and you just might be able to pick it up locally without the wait.
PS: Email me a pic of your office space and I’ll share it here on my blog with your name/business and a link back to your website!
I just had a great idea for a possible use of Google Wave and wanted to try it out, but apparently I need an invitation before I can get in there and play. Are you already using Google Wave? Couldya, wouldja send me an invite? I would love you 4-ever!
Here’s an article I wrote and published today in “The Portable Business™.” If you’d like to subscribe, go here:
Piles aren’t necessarily a bad thing. As long as you are managing them (and not the other way around), they can actually be quite useful. But if you find that they are impeding your progress instead of supporting it… if you are constantly working around your piles instead of with them, it’s time to gain the upper hand.
First Things First
Create More Workspace
Instill More Productive Habits
RESOURCE: Aesthetics are very important to me in my surroundings. I love See Jane Work because they get that business and organization can be both functional and stylish. They always have a large and ever-new selection of binders and desk sets in fashionable colors and designs.
I’m taking a poll and would really appreciate your input.
If you were joining a membership site or forum, which would you prefer:
A) No monetary fee with the only “cost” required being your active participation and those accounts that don’t comply with the membership participation requirement being deactivated after a specified amount of time.
B) Membership fee with no strings (e.g., no participation expectations or requirements).
If you have comments, I’d love to hear them. Otherwise, please do submit your input to the poll form below. Thanks!
Did you know that the VACOC offers Virtual Assistants the most highly used and respected ethics pledge in the industry? Lots of VAs use our Virtual Assistant Ethics Pledge on their websites to demonstrate to clients their commitment to integrity and excellence in business. And you can, too!
It doesn’t cost a dime–just your promise to honor and abide by these ideals. Simply place the badge on your website and you’re good to go! The coding includes a link that opens the full Ethics Pledge in a new window so you don’t have to type everything out yourself. How convenient is that?
Here’s what the badge looks like:
Click here to get your Virtual Assistant Ethics Pledge badge!
Here’s an article published today in “The Portable Business™.” If you’d like to subscribe, go here…
One of the ways I’ve been able to run my business smoothly and take good care of clients while I split time between the U.S. and Germany is by using a web-based tool called HyperOffice. Any business owner who wants to have more freedom from the office and collaborate more easily with virtual partners should take a look.
First a little overview… Imagine an office space with, among other things, a desk, calendar, rolodex, file drawer, to-do list and message pad. Perhaps there’s also an attached room for holding meetings and discussion groups. This is exactly what HyperOffice is—only virtual. You can create as many “offices” as you need, organizing them by project or client. Each “office suite” that you set up has its own desktop, calendar, contacts, documents, task/project manager, lists, email, notes, reminders, forums and blogs—all of which can be shared with just those people you allow. You can even “decorate” each of your virtual offices individually.
What HyperOffice allows you to do is centrally store and organize information online so you and those you work with can access that info and work together from virtually anywhere, using their own Internet access and computers (and not logging into yours). You control who has access to what. Unlike no-cost solutions that can be slow, unstable and “here today, gone tomorrow,” HyperOffice is fast, secure and reliable with nightly backups and 99.9% uptime.
There are lots of web-based virtual office solutions out there, but HyperOffice offers a few completely unique features that the others do not. For one thing, HyperOffice customers enjoy worldclass customer support and training. They have excellent video tutorials, and I’ve never failed to get a friendly, helpful person on the phone to answer any question or walk me through any set-up.
Another distinction HyperOffice offers is actual, real-time document sharing and editing. All the other solutions out there, both paid and no-cost, do not offer this. What they do instead is version-tracking where users must download, then reupload, documents in order to make changes. It gets real cluttered and real confusing, real quick. (The only exception to this is Groove which is a standalone software for which you must find your own hosting. Since it is software and not a service, you do not get any customer support.).
On HyperOffice, you simply open a document, edit and save. It’s all done instantly with no tedious uploading and downloading. Your team is then working off the very same document. This is what also makes it so fantastic as a place for centrally storing and managing the most current versions of your client guides, SOPs, training manuals and all other manner of documentation many users must share, print and work from. Some of the other solutions don’t offer central document storage at all!
So you might be thinking, “Geez, another software to learn? I don’t have the time or patience!” Well, that’s what can be great about working with a Virtual Assistant who uses HyperOffice. As her client, she might offer you one of her suites. Or, she might have you purchase your own service and set things up for you according to your wishes. You don’t necessarily have to learn how to set things up yourself in order to use it. Your Virtual Assistant may instead enter and manage the data and give you a tour so you know where to find documents, how to view the calendar, etc.
What features you use and what you don’t is completely customizable and up to you. And HyperOffice integrates with many tools such as Outlook (including calendar, contacts and email). I’ve used, tested and reviewed just about every single service out there, and HyperOffice truly does it best!
RESOURCE: HyperOffice is Mac and cross-browser compatible. In addition to virtual collaborative office space, HyperOffice offers integrated solutions for web conferencing, online database creation and sharing, and more. Visit their website to get in on the next live virtual tour or take a test drive for 30 days at no charge.
About the Author: Danielle Keister is a business advisor, innovator and thought leader in the Virtual Assistance profession. A veteran Virtual Assistant of 12+ years, her logical, no-nonsense approach to business development has gained her recognition as one of the leaders in the field. She loves what she does and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and know-how with the world. She’s all about inspiring others to reach for their highest excellence. When not taking care of clients in her own Virtual Assistant practice, The Relief Virtual Assistance, she is busy leading the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce.
© Copyright 2009, The Portable Business™. All U.S. and International rights reserved. You are granted permission to republish this article only if used in its entirety with this copyright notice, title, article content, resource, author’s bio and links left intact.
On this Grateful Monday and week of Thanksgiving, I’m reflective of all the wonderful things in my life for which I’m thankful. Even during difficult times, something can always be found about which one can feel much gratitude. This holiday season, I’d like to issue a challenge to all Virtual Assistants…
THE ISSUE: Community food banks around the country are in dire need. With rising food prices and companies continuing to lay employees off in the declining economy, many local agencies are reporting a nearly 50% increase in demand from families needing assistance. Many of these agencies have bare pantry shelves or are otherwise not prepared to assist what many expect to be record numbers this year.
THE CHALLENGE: In view of the rising need and coming holidays, the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce has issued a challenge to Virtual Assistants worldwide to mobilize as an industry to do what they do best—helping others—by donating a minimum of $10 or more to their local food banks and charitable organizations this holiday season.
At my house, we sponsor a family each year and donate food and grocery store gift certificates to our local community service agency. I like donating gift certificates because people can get the foods they like instead of food someone else has picked out for them.
Cassandra Cooper of The Time Miner responded to my challenge on Twitter and made an excellent point: Community service agencies are also always in need of toiletries such as bar soap, toilet paper and travel shampoos, which aren’t things that can be purchased with food stamps. These are things that would be very useful (and appreciated) to include in your donations.
My buddy Christine Wade Christine Wade of eRealtyAssistance.com had a great tip: The Feeding America (formerly Second Harvest) website has a food bank locator in the bottom right-hand corner where you can enter your zip code and find out where to deliver food.
Christine donates food and toiletry items through her children’s Christian school every year, as well as bags of food at an annual ornament party she attends, which are then delivered to a local charity.
Another buddy, Victoria Miles, is a Virtual Assistant in Argentina and owner of TheBilingualVA.com. “I love the idea of ‘think global, act local’ that the VACOC promotes. I will be definitely embracing the initiative locally, and hopefully engaging many others to do so as well.”
VACOC member Dinah Cline is the owner of Your Success is My Success. She suggests Angel Food Ministries at www.angelfoodministries.com, a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States.
Dinah likes the fact that Angel Food Ministries donates $1 to every host site’s benevolence fund for every Angel Food Box distributed.
“We are all here to help one another, whether it’s professionally or personally; being a part of the VACOC community provides this opportunity in both aspects. I feel not only blessed but honored to be a part of them both,” says Dinah.
The ways you can help are limitless and every gesture, no matter how big or small, has a big impact. Please, I implore you, will you join us this holiday season and help us help others?!
I would love to hear what you did or are doing to meet the challenge. Please do comment here with your stories and tips and ideas. You can also join in the discussion at our VACOC Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22876770984
Oh, and if you’d like to submit our release with your own info, tip and quotes included, feel free to use our template (Word format)
Thanks be giving!!!
After much deliberation and your very persuasive appeals, I’ve brought back one of my most proprietary premium tools, the Activity & Time Tracking Analysis Tool (GDE-37) for Virtual Assistants. Plus, it’s improved and more streamlined than before.
One of the most difficult aspects of getting started with new clients in your Virtual Assistant practice is the time it takes to get a feel for the client’s business and all that they have on their plate. Most often, we simply ask clients to keep a pad and pencil with themselves for a week or two and write down their activities.
Well, this tool is evolutions beyond that, and takes your Virtual Assistance consulting with clients to an entirely different level–one that puts you in control of the delegation process and your role as the administrative expert in your own Virtual Assistant practice!
Not only does this tool help you more quickly and effectively ramp up with new clients, it gives them a clearer, more “scientific” visual of their business and activities. It helps you analyze their time and energy busters, see where their core strengths and weaknesses are, identify where key systems and processes can be developed, and allows you to make more informed recommendations about where your services can be most strategically utilized as you begin working together.
The Activity & Time Analysis Tool will add value to your processes and systems, and clients will be “wowed” by the invaluable, eye-opening business data and charts you will be able to present to them.
==LIMITED TIME OFFER==
From now through July 4, you can get the Activity & Time Analysis Tool for a discounted price of $49.99. After that, it goes back up to its regular price of $64.99.
Order yours now at http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/virtual-assistant-business-forms.htm
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Posts to this blog are the intellectual property of Danielle Keister. However, you are authorized to make certain use of them pursuant to a Creative Commons License. Under the terms of that license, you can copy or republish any post, for any non-commercial purpose, so long as you attribute the post to this blog.
NOTE: The terms "Gritty VA," "Gritty Virtual Assistant," and "Saucy business savvy for clients and colleagues from a Virtual Assistant industry veteran" did not exist in the public domain when this blog was launched August 2005. The author claims exclusive right to use those terms as identifying marks for this weblog and other written, digitized or electronic use, pursuant to U.S. and International copyright and trademark laws.
This weblog is published by Danielle Keister, The Relief Virtual Assistance and Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce. If you would like permission to reprint any of my published columns, please contact me at word@grittyva.com. At all times you may provide the link to these copyrighted columns when referencing them in any form.
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