Are You A Geek?
I remember when being called a geek was not a compliment (and wicked meant something bad). Over the past few years the term “geek” has evolved into something many people today brag about being or aspire to be. Long gone are the days when a geek was considered a socially inept nerd with pocket protectors and coke bottle lenses. Today a geek implies being tech savvy and/or an enthusiast of things outside of the mainstream spectrum. Because of their advanced technological skills and the ability to think outside of the box many geeks become successful entrepreneurs.
So back to the original question “Are you a geek?” Here are a few clues and links to help you determine your geek factor:
- You dress geek chic by wearing witty T-shirts http://www.zazzle.com/geek+tshirts that proclaim your geekiness. Babies even have several options in onesies http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/kids/9b07/ because as one manufacturer states “geeks come in all sizes”.
- You have a well diversified Geek chart. http://www.geekchart.com/ If you have difficulty competing the Geek chart, then you are not geek material.
- You know what it means to see the dreaded BSoD http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/blue_screen_survival_guide on your computer. If you don’t, you’re definitely not a geek.
- You choose to wear eyeglasses http://www.geekeyeglasses.com/ even though you don’t require them.
- You are a Stephanie Pakrul http://people.howstuffworks.com/geek-chic.htm or Charles Ross http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/one-man-star-wars.htm wannabe. (If you don’t know, don’t ask.)
- You’re truly upset by the cancellation of the reality show “Beauty and the Geek”. http://www.tv.com/show/32037/summary.html
- You attended DrupalconDC 2009. (enuff said) http://dc2009.drupalcon.org/
How did you fare? Have you got what it takes to be a geek? With the exception of the last bullet point, I think I’m on my way to true geekdom. Isn’t that totally wicked? But first, I need to make a stop by the reading glass display rack.
Have You Had Your Morning Coffee?
January 2, 2010 by Leslie
Filed under Blog, Office Procedures, Tools & Resources
No, I’m not referring to that Soy Latte from Starbucks or even that crappy cup of grocery store generic brand that you brewed at home. I’m talking about one of my favorite add-ons for Firefox. (Sorry, Internet Explorer and other browser users, this post is only helpful for Firefox users. If you are using IE, I could list several reasons why you shouldn’t; but I’ll save that for another day.)
I LOVE my Morning Coffee! First thing when I connect to the Internet, I click on my little Morning Coffee icon and I am instantaneously connected to all the websites I need for work and/or visit for pleasure. No thinking required — each site opens up in its own little tab. I can do this when I am still half asleep and I haven’t even had my first cup of “real” coffee!
Morning Coffee can be configured in a multitude of ways. Since not all websites are updated on a daily basis, you can pick and choose which days of the week you would like to upload your page of interest. Knowing how important it is to blog and participate in social networks, I have each one of these sites open as a daily reminder to me. I belong to a forum that has a weekly seminar, so I have Morning Coffee load that page for me every Wednesday. Morning Coffee can be set up as specific or as general as you like. Another option is to have Morning Coffee load as your home page. It’s still in Beta and I haven’t tested that feature yet.
Morning Coffee has been rated 5 stars and has been downloaded over 1 million times. It was created by Shane Liesegang. For more information about Shane and this add-on, you can visit his website at: http://shaneliesegang.com/projects/coffee.php
If you have never used a Firefox add-on, it is really simple to do so. On the Firefox browser menu bar, select Tools and then choose Add-ons. Next you will see a Firefox page of recommended add-ons. Click on Browse All Add-ons. Have fun looking through all the possible ways to enhance your Internet browsing while using Firefox.
Now if only there was an Evening Martini, I’d have it made!
Remember to visit the Firefox Add-ons page to find other ways to personalize your browsing experience at https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox.Do you use Firefox add-ons? Which one is your favorite? If you are an IE or other browser user, is there a similar program to Morning Coffee available? If so, please share your comments with me.
Myths About Virtual Assistants
June 11, 2009 by Leslie
Filed under Blog, Virtual Assistant
by Heather McMillan, Virtual Assistant
1) I want to use a virtual assistant to save myself money, because they are cheaper per hour than employees.
This is the largest misconception businesses have about virtual assistants. If you compare hourly pay of your employees versus hourly pay of your virtual assistants, you will find the virtual assistants is generally MUCH higher. However, you are saving money in that you don’t pay for hardware, utilities, office space, payroll taxes, worker’s compensation, and benefits (insurance, vacation, sick days, etc.) for a virtual assistant. Sure you can find virtual assistants for $10.00 per hour and under. However, they are going to be from another country offering less than stellar communication and English grammar skills.
Or they are not going to stay with you long term, when they realize how much money they owe the IRS. You see, as a self-employed independent contractor, they must pay quarterly taxes. When the IRS decides they want their 25% of the $5.00 per hour those VA’s have been earning and not paying self employment taxes on to this point, they will likely have to up their rates or cease to offer services. And believe me, sooner or later, the IRS will catch them. See theathomesecretary.com/why-use-a-va.html for cost comparison chart.
2) My virtual assistant should be ready to take projects from me 40 hours a week.
Unless you are paying your virtual assistant for 40 hours a week to work for you, he or she must have other clients. She cannot drop other work to rush to what you’re doing (at least not always). Be understanding that if you use your VA for about 5 hours a week, it may take them a day or two to get to your small tasks depending on what order and priority your work request falls in the scheme of all their other requests. Hopefully, she will effectively communicate with you when she can get to your project. But no VA should stand by 8 hours a day doing nothing but waiting your email unless you’re paying her for all 8 hours that day.
3) My virtual assistant is better skilled because she has completed a VA training program online.
This is a huge misconception. VA Training programs do not enhance a virtual assistant’s skills as far as working on your projects. VA Training programs mean that the VA knows how to run a VA business from marketing, networking, setting up shop, time management, etc. It does not mean she’s competent in MS Word, html, ezines, or whatever you need them to do. VA programs don’t train virtual assistants in career skills, only business ownership skills. Now, taking classes in MS Excel or being MS Office Certified, those are good training courses to look for in a VA.
4) I’m using a freelance site to get a VA. So I will get one that is competent and screened.
The freelance sites do not screen applicants to see if they are truly qualified to complete the projects they are bidding on. Some of the sites will call to verify references or credentials, but this in no way means the person is capable of doing what you need them to do. It just means that they didn’t lie when they said they were employed by so and so for such and such dates. You take your chances as much with a freelance site as you do with an advertisement online.
5) Using a VA means more work for me, because I have to tell my VA what to do and how to do it all the time.
In the beginning, you may experience a little more time spent showing your VA how things are done. But if you get one skilled in most of the services you are seeking, the tasks that he or she has to learn won’t be so bad. And the VA should have those new things down by at the very least after the second time performing a certain task. If not, you may need to reconsider your chosen VA.
6) There is no way I can trust a virtual assistant with confidential information!
This is incorrect. Many virtual assistants are bonded or can get bonded. Also, you can always ask to contact other clients the virtual assistant currently has or recently had where confidential handling was involved. Nothing says reliable like a first hand account from a paying client. A virtual assistant should be willing to give you these references, and if not then you might have cause to worry.
7) I have a hard time delegating, so I shouldn’t use a virtual assistant.
This is the very reason you should use a virtual assistant. Little steps at a time can turn you into the master of delegation. You just have to make certain in the beginning you have an extremely competent and experienced virtual assistant to begin learning how to delegate projects ad hoc. Start out small, and keep adding as you feel your VA has mastered what you’ve already delegated. Before you know it, your time will be so free you may find yourself starting a second business!
I can’t work with a virtual assistant, because I can’t afford to pay for the software or hardware that my VA needs.
This is a big misconception as well. As long you don’t have any custom proprietary software that you use for your business, your virtual assistant should be supplying her own software or her own hardware. Your virtual assistant is also responsible for purchasing a fax line, a phone line, and broadband internet. If they try to get you to pay for those things, consider it a red flag.
Knowing more about what your virtual assistants do and don’t do is a great way to make certain your relationship with a virtual assistant is the most successful it can be. After all, a virtual assistant can greatly enhance your business and your productivity.
For the last five years, Heather L. McMillan has worked with clients and companies dba as The At Home Secretary. She is also offering virtual assistant coaching through her company Secretaries on Demand – http://www.secretariesondemand.com. She enjoys writing fiction and poetry, reading history, gardening, being active in Girl Scouts and pit bull rescue groups. She is always eager to offer advice and direction for those who seek to better their lives and their careers.
Solutions for Summer Boredom
June 4, 2009 by Leslie
Filed under Blog, Work-Life Balance
The last day of school ended at 1:45 pm yesterday. At 2:45 I was already hearing the dreaded “I’m Bored!” statements from my kids. Are your kids guilty of repeatedly lamenting this fact during the summer? Here are a few suggestions on how to keep your kids busy and happy for part of the summer:
Bowling – I just received an email with information on how to provide your kids with two FREE games of bowling per day during the summer months. You still have to pay for shoe rentals, but at least it’s an indoor event with AC! Check out their website for more information and to sign your kids up: http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/
Movies – Movies don’t have to be an expensive outing. There are many $2 theaters around that show first release movies shortly after they have opened in the regular theaters. Even better than that is the FREE option provided by Regal Cinemas during the summer. Selected movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during nine weeks of summer. Visit the following site to see what movies will be featured this summer: http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx
Books – Endless adventures abound when children read or listen to stories. Many bookstores and public libraries offer Story Times with crafts and activities. Our elementary school will be open to the public every Wednesday morning for storytelling and children will be allowed to check out up to six books each week. Investigate whether something like this is available in your area. If you go to the Borders website, there is a calendar of events to download for June: http://media.bordersstores.com/pdf/kidscalendar.pdf
Water Fun – Wherever there’s water, you’ll find kids having fun! It can be the ocean, a lake, a river, a pool, a sprinkler, water balloons, or even the bathtub! Kids are attracted to water like bees to honey. Just beware if you live in warm areas as amoebas thrive in warm water and can be deadly. Much to my kids’ dismay, my fear of alligators keeps them away from all freshwater areas regardless of the season! For more information about Healthy Swimming, visit the Centers for Disease Control site at: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/index.htm
What kind of activities do you have planned for your kids this summer? Share your comments below. Unless your kids are jaded like mine, it shouldn’t be too difficult to please them. We live in Orlando and my kids think that if they aren’t spending everyday at an expensive resort or theme park, they aren’t having an enjoyable time!
Time Waits For No One
May 25, 2009 by Leslie
Filed under Blog, Featured, Time Management
“Hours are like diamonds, don’t let them waste.” sing the Rolling Stones in their song “Time Waits for No One”. Yes, time is precious and it is ever so fleeting. One day I had a baby boy and now he will be going into Fourth Grade! One day I decided to start my own business and now I’m so busy that I can barely find the time to get everything done!
Time management is a problem for many people, but especially so for small business owners and entrepreneurs. In my twelve month Build and Grow Your Online Business Mentorship Program with Erin Blaskie, she asked us to list some things that we are struggling with that prevent us from reaching our goals. An overwhelming majority of the participants listed time management as one of their biggest obstacles to obtaining their goals. Mothers tend to have even more difficulty managing their time as they try to balance their work and family life. It’s not easy to juggle carpool schedules, client phone calls, meal planning, teleseminars, homework… and the list goes on!
Have you found the secret to staying focused and organizing your day in a productive manner? Would you care to share any tips and advice with my readers? Please feel free to share your comments here or contact me. I’m also interested in interviewing time management experts for an upcoming book. If you wish to participate in this venture, please let me know.
The Stone’s song ends with the verse, “The dreams of the night time will have vanished by dawn.” Don’t let your dreams and goals vanish with time. Take steps now to get your time management back on track!
