Practically Perfect PA

APRIL 2, 2013

So I have some big news to share with everyone today… are you ready? Okay, well… I’ve just quit my job! *Gulp* On top of that I’ve just informed my landlord that I am moving out of my house *gulp gulp* and I’ve just told my friends and family I’m going to be moving out of London *sweaty palms*… I don’t normally spend a huge amount of time talking specifically about myself on the blog, I’d much rather share my experiences and things I’ve

Budget 208

Budget Expenses Lifestyle AT&T 208

Office Organization Success

APRIL 27, 2013

'If you don’t already know, I am a big fan of spreadsheets! They have so many more uses than just calculating figures. They are also a great tool to help you manage your time effectively. As a busy soloprofessional you are not only working for your clients, but you have to work ON your business too. Effective time management is crucial for developing and growing your business, as well as income generating activities.

Management 199

Management Calendars Stress Training 199

Eat Your Career

APRIL 11, 2013

'As many of you know, I talk a lot about professional passion. I believe it IS possible to love your job and really feel a fire in your belly when you think about the contribution you’re making at work everyday. I’m always careful to note though that work passion is very different from passion passion…you know, the kind that gets you all hot and bothered…?

UPS 195

UPS Restaurants Confidence Facebook 195

Stephanie LH Calahan

APRIL 30, 2013

'Are you on Google+ or are you one of many that feel like one more social network might cause your brain to rupture?  I was the latter for quite a while.  I created an account a number of years ago and just simply did not do anything with it other than an occasional post from my blog.  Recently, I have been spending a lot of time on GooglePlus (aka Google+, aka G+).

Google 191

Google Social Media Etiquette Networking 191

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.

Payroll

Virtual Moxie

APRIL 1, 2013

Last weekend, Dominic and I went to see Oz the Great and Powerful. We both really enjoyed it, although I thought the monkeys were over-the-top scary! At one point in the movie, Glinda and Oz share a moment that went like this: Glinda : “I knew you had it in you all along.” Oz : “What…greatness?" Glinda : "No, something better than that. Goodness.". It was, I admit, the best moment in the movie for me.

Training 186

Training UPS 186

The Small Business Blog

APRIL 29, 2013

'If you haven’t been in the West African airspace recently, you may not know of the ecstatic new buzz of the town- it’s got everyone talking and investors listening. It’s the catchy innovations of Nigeria’s finest interpreneurs. Nigeria in the past decade or two has gradually been losing its predominance as an investment hub, due… Read the full article here: Investing in Nigeria- the new face of Interpreneurship on: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG.

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Small Business Labs

APRIL 9, 2013

'Older workers - those over the age of 65 - don't get much attention from researchers or the media. The reason is pretty straight forward. Historically the vast majority of older people were not in the workforce.  But that's changing. Over the last decade the workforce participation rate for Americans 65+ has consistently risen even as the overall workforce participation rate has fallen to levels not seen in several decades.

Retirement 181

Retirement Interviewing Confidence Health 181

Eat Your Career

APRIL 3, 2013

For some, ethics are black and white. For others, there are all kinds of grey areas. Perhaps you live by a strict moral code. Or maybe you just go on gut instinct. However you define your ethical standards, it’s important to perform your job with integrity. This means basing your decisions and actions on a consistent framework of values and principles.

PDF 183

PDF Filing Confidence Facebook 183

Office Dynamics

APRIL 30, 2013

'Not a week goes by that someone doesn''t ask me "how does Jasmine do it?" What they mean by this is that Jasmine Freeman, my Chief Executive Assistant, is heavily involved in my business as well as in our community and she has a beautiful family of four children and a spouse at home. We decided to sit down and talk about career and life balance to see if there was some magic formula that Jasmine knows about that she could fill us in on.

Interviewing 161

Interviewing AT&T 161

Virtual Moxie

APRIL 22, 2013

'Ramona wrote to pick my brain : Anastacia, my fee is $55/hour, and I’ve been a VA for four years, after having been an EA for 20. I’m a really good Virtual Assistant. For the first time, though, I ran into a person who, hearing about my fees, said, “Why is your fee so high? There’s a mom down the street from me who does Virtual Assistant work and only charges $18.”.

Expenses 167

Expenses AT&T 167

Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions

Join this brand new webinar with Tim Buteyn to learn how you can master the art of remote onboarding! By the end of this session, you'll understand how to: Craft a Tailored Onboarding Checklist 📝 Develop a comprehensive, customized checklist that ensures every new hire has a smooth transition into your company, no matter where they are in the world.

Equipment

The Small Business Blog

APRIL 24, 2013

'Today’s infographic looks at the term “small business” and why that is actually a misnomer when considering the small business sector as a whole. Small business means really big numbers, as you will see below. Did you know there are over 18 million SMEs worldwide employing 197 million people and they spend over $3 Billion… Read the full article here: Infographic: “Small” Businesses?

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184

Practically Perfect PA

APRIL 11, 2013

'I’ve just been reading this fantastic article by Richard Branson on LinkedIn where he discusses how much he values his assistant. I’ve always admired him but to see him praise the assistants he has employed over his career has really raised my estimations! If only all our managers could be so complimentary and aware of how useful we can be.

Restaurants 196

Restaurants Salary AT&T Equipment 196

Small Business Labs

APRIL 1, 2013

It's not surprising that independent workers (freelancers, temps, self-employed, etc.) rely on word of mouth/referrals for getting business. What is a bit surprising is just how important word of mouth is compared to other methods. Survey data from the MBO State of Independence study shows that 67% of independent worker respondents listed word of mouth as the most important source for getting assignments.

Social Media 170

Social Media Temping Agencies Interviewing 170

Eat Your Career

APRIL 2, 2013

It’s easy to take work home with you…heck, with today’s technology, it basically follows you everywhere you go! In my most recent segment on Fox 31 Denver’s Good Day Colorado , I tackle this problem head on and provide simple strategies for disconnecting from work so you can focus all your mental attention on home when you’re there.

Facebook 168

Facebook Email Interviewing 168

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Management

Eco-Office Gals

APRIL 30, 2013

'An inspiring office space is crucial to motivating and engaging staff; by combining a good office design with environmental considerations, you can improve productivity, profitability and reduce your carbon footprint. Office design involves integrating various elements of furnishings, including partitioning, furniture, flooring, artwork and lighting to create an overall effect.

Environment 160

Environment Carbon Footprint Collaborate Budget 160

Virtual Moxie

APRIL 15, 2013

'I don''t know what''s been up this last week, but people have come out of the woodwork to ask me how I get so much done without working crazy hours, and so I thought this would be a great time to revisit my productivity post from about this time two years ago (you can read it here ), and share any updates to it. By-and-large, what I did then, I do now.

Calendars 167

Calendars AT&T Phones Email 167

The Small Business Blog

APRIL 17, 2013

'Today’s infographic contains more interesting facts and statistics about the Cloud and what it means for smaller businesses. It’s based on information gained from US firms, but the benefits apply equally to businesses across the world. For example, there will be lower startup costs for businesses using Cloud tech because they don’t need to buy… Read the full article here: Infographic: Cloud is a Big Deal for US Small Business on: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG.

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Practically Perfect PA

APRIL 15, 2013

'I’ve written two blog posts on interview questions specific to PAs, EAs and admin assistants and they have both proved to be very popular so I thought I’d add another ten questions that I have been asked at various interviews over the years and my answers for them. 1. Why should we employ you rather than one of the other candidates? Use this question to really sell yourself.

Interviewing 194

Interviewing PowerPoint Skills AT&T 194

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Interviewing

Small Business Labs

APRIL 29, 2013

'Well known tech journalist and analyst Tom Foremski's Futurists. and the 'End of Work'  looks at the employment disruption being caused by digital technologies. He argues that technology is destroying more jobs that it's creating, leading to a potential future where there simply isn't enough work to go around.  Key quote from the article: We face a future that will be defined by the end of work - it can become a golden age or one of horrific consequences.

AT&T 162

AT&T 162

Ian's Messy Desk

APRIL 22, 2013

'How to Win Friends and Influence People (Photo credit: Wikipedia) How to Win Friends and Influence People is the grand-daddy of all people-skills books. First published in 1937, it was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. The book still carries a lot of weight. BNET includes on its list of 10 Underrated Business Books and it is one of the books on The Personal MBA Recommended Reading List.

Assertiveness 158

Assertiveness Skills UPS 158

Eco-Office Gals

APRIL 3, 2013

As a local restaurant owner, you’ve got a lot on your plate (pun intended). From open until close, you have to play chef, matradee, custodian and customer psychologist all at the same time. It’s a taxing job, but rewarding nonetheless. Of course, with all the hustle and bustle that comes with restaurant ownership, it’s easy to glance over your establishment’s environmental footprint.

Restaurants 157

Restaurants Carbon Footprint Staples Purchasing 157

Virtual Moxie

APRIL 9, 2013

'Too many times, business owners roll over—doing what the client wants, even when it makes no sense. For instance: you invoice by email, and the client prefers a paper invoice, so you decide you’ll mail one to her so she can have what she wants. That makes no sense when you can invoice via email and she can print your invoice on her end. Don’t be a “yes” person.

Email 155

Email 155

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Policies

The Small Business Blog

APRIL 23, 2013

'Intrinsic in all dealings of men is the Rubicon we all must respect to ensure the continued existence of the system. To the entrepreneur, this rule is no exception. As a growing entrepreneur, I have often wondered, what is the golden rule to being an entrepreneur? Dealing with other people? Are there no limits? What… Read the full article here: The Morals of Entrepreneurship on: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG.

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Practically Perfect PA

APRIL 30, 2013

'This is a question I have faced many times during my career. Your personal life can affect your work in so many ways, it could be anything from a few late nights that make you feel tired in the office to have real stress at home that really does impact your performance. How do you stop what is happening at home from interfering with your office persona?

Legal 190

Legal Holidays Filing Stress 190

Small Business Labs

APRIL 18, 2013

'CNN's Hotels vie to become the offices of the future looks at the growing trend of hotels offering office and meeting spaces as well as coworking-like lobbies.   The key quote comes from Mark Gilbreath, CEO of workspace marketplace LiquidSpace : "Hotels implicitly are in the business of space; they are extraordinarily efficient at providing space on demand.

Collaborate 159

Collaborate 159

Job Advice Blog

APRIL 19, 2013

'Many articles point to the fact that the job interview is really all about the so-called cultural fit of the candidate, provided the skill and experience requirements are met as well of course. The thing is that in addition to the hiring manager, several other company members, too, are interviewing candidates to add their own [.].

Interviewing 152

Interviewing Skills Management 152

Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions

💢 Do you find yourself stuck in never-ending review cycles? Are you wondering if your Subject Matter Expert actually got that last review request? Are you having trouble trying to decipher impractical or conflicting feedback? 💢 If any of these scenarios sounds familiar, you may benefit from a crash course on managing SME relationships!

Collaborate

Eco-Office Gals

APRIL 1, 2013

A lot of people want to be eco-friendly , but they’re either not sure where to begin, they think it’s too much work, or they think it will cost too much money. With the huge advancements we’ve made in energy saving programs within the last few years, these concerns are no longer valid for most families across the nation. There is a ton of ways that families can now become more energy efficient while not spending a lot of money and in many cases, even saving quite a bit of money.

2012 152

2012 Forms Learning UPS 152

Virtual Moxie

APRIL 24, 2013

'Each morning, figure out your highest priorities for the day. Make sure that you have time for them. For anything else that comes along, have the courage and commitment to what you know you need to do to say no to them rather than trying to bend time in order to say yes.

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The Small Business Blog

APRIL 12, 2013

'According to YouGov over 55% of the mobile-wielding British public will be using a smartphone in 2013, with one-in-three regularly using their phone to browse the internet. That’s over 14 million people in the UK accessing the internet from their mobile phones every day. This brave new world of information access means a mobile optimised… Read the full article here: Is your website mobile optimised?

2013 172

2013 Phones 172

Practically Perfect PA

APRIL 8, 2013

'Thank you everyone for your kind messages over the last week. It is really nice to know that I have such amazing readers and just emphasises how supportive assistants are of each other… I always knew we had each other’s backs! Some of you have asked if I will continue the blog and I can confirm that I certainly am and actually will be able to spend a bit more time on my writing as my new employer is very happy for me to spend at least a day a week on it.

Social Media 183

Social Media AT&T Training Filing 183

Speaker: Tim Buteyn

Let's set the scene: you’ve identified a critical performance gap in your organization and need to close that gap. A colleague suggests training, but you suspect there’s something going on that training can’t address. How can you determine if training is the right solution before you commit your budget and resources to a new training program? In this webinar, you will learn how to determine if training is the right solution using the Behavior Engineering Model.

Training