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Excellent article. Thanks Christian!

If you're a Mac user, MacFreelance is pretty great. It manages invoicing, client contact info, projects and charges, tracks time, and saves all of your invoices as they're sent. I'm hooked. But it's Mac only.

Aww, thanks, G!

So I've been on the lookout for a great new LCD monitor so I can have more room on my screen and also make things a little easier on my awful eyes....and I think I've found a winner! The Westinghouse 24" was very highly reviewed on newegg.com and several other sites. We actually found it on sale at Best Buy for $349! For that price, it really doesn't get much better than this! My laptop now has a monster screen! I think it helps productivity when I'm not moving all over the house with it.

I also just got MacFreelance yesterday to help streamline my invoicing and time tracking. So far, it's a nifty little tool and I think it will really help me keep track of my projects.

My business is still growing, but I can definitely justify these purchases because of how long I'll be able to use them, and how much simple they make my life. Balancing work, school, and child is always the biggest issue for me. I need to constantly find ways to keep myself in line!

Hi Michael,

Those are all fantastic tasks for a VA to handle for you. Hilary's description of how a VA can increase billable time is just perfect.

The bottom line is that you need to chat with several VAs. Some VAs' personalities are better for certain people than others. It all depends on you and your work style. Some VAs are more laid back, creative types and others are more structured and work well with people who require tight deadlines.

Also, regarding confidentiality, I personally wouldn't enter into any agreement with any VA unless their contract contains a confidentiality clause. The reason I say that is because VAs quickly become very intimate with the inner workings of a business. Don't let that scare you at all, though. A VA can be a true extension of your business. You'll be able to see that as your time with clients increases.

I know there is an ethics systems out there for VAs to become ethics-checked, but that doesn't really mean they are.

Like I said, just chat with a VA or two or three and get to know them. There are a lot of them out there (and several on Biznik) so it shouldn't be hard to find a good fit. If the VAs you talk with specialize in research, have knowledge of image organization, and calendar management experience, that should also help create a smooth transition when you hand those tasks over to a VA.

Like Hilary, I'm here to answer any questions you have as well.

P.S. Thanks for the compliment, Justin!

I'm kind of late chiming in here, but I decided to out my husband. He's a gym nut, and that causes stinky feet. He uses a peppermint-scented lotion on his feet after working out for its cooling effects...and to help spare the nostrils of anyone coming near him before he has the chance to shower. Ok, they really don't stink that bad, but he loves the cooling effect. He used a liquid-powder substance from a popular bath and body store, but it's no longer available.

Hey Shelly!

When not pregnant, I LOVE the smell of sweet pea. When pregnant, I hated the smell of everything! Heh. The only lotion I could stomach was cocoa butter for impending stretch marks. Other than that, all other scents made life miserable! It is SO hard to find unscented lotions that actually work!

Hi Chris! I sent you an email!

Bri

P.S. Thanks, Justin!! You're like my personal PR guy! :)

Hi Tricia! It's nice to see another VA around here! Welcome!

Carl, that's an awesome business! My husband builds computers, so I'm definitely sending him your way! :)

Actually, Art, you reminded me of one important eLearning bit of advice. If you aren't good at math by nature, NEVER take a math course online. That's the reason I'm currently retaking it on campus.

Although, I actually took a lab science (general Biology) course last semester, and it was really interesting. Our labs were simple experiments or observational studies submitted to an online discussion board. I was impressed. I didn't think it could be done.

Thanks, Judy...I will definitely check out your article! The business is actually doing very well. I had a great team of Virtual Assistants volunteer several hours per month of their services to help implement some of my plans for 2008. I will surely keep in touch!

Hi Judy, and welcome!

Online education is the reason I have been able to come so far in school, even while starting a business and raising a little girl. I was afraid that having anew baby at home would keep me from pursuing my goals for higher education, but I was wrong!

About 80% of my past two years in college has been online, and I feel like I got the same education (if not, better) than others who haven't taken online classes. I had to work much harder to get a good grade, read more of my textbooks, and asked far more questions than I think I would have in a traditional classroom setting.

I can't wait to hear what you have going on! I am currently building a small business around education and career choices for young women. I really think eLearning will play a huge part in this.

Hi g,

I use Mail Chimp for both myself and my clients. It's super user-friendly and includes all kinds of nifty tracking and reporting features. There is also a no monthly fee option that allows you to simply purchase credits. I was able to send messages to about 200 people for $7.

Also, you can use your own design, and during set up, you can insert the unsubscribe codes and extra technical stuff.

Good luck!

Bri

Ahh, yes...that's a tough balance! I really missed my family, and the pressure was tough, so I decided to move home to Oklahoma and start my own business.

To answer your question, a virtual assistant provides administrative services via the Internet, fax, and snail mail. Services vary, but most VA's have a specialty in addition to administrative services; mine is research. Our goal is to save clients money by handling all their non-billable tasks.

You'll find a few other virtual assistants on Biznik as well!

Happy Christmas!

Hi Dan, welcome to Biznik!

I used to be in geriatric care, myself. I worked for an assisted living company out of Salem and traveled all over the U.S. cleaning up the messes that previous directors left in their wake. I miss that job!

I look forward to seeing you around!

Bri

Oh, I totally agree. I really enjoy his site. I think what he's doing could work for some VAs who are more marketing focused, and would probably give them an excellent service to add to their repertoire.

Although Erin Blaskie is pretty awesome!

Yikes it costs $599, though! I'm not so sure about spending that much to "build my practice." If anyone has had experience with this, I'd love to hear about it.

Yay! That's better! :)

Awww, Christian....let us see your handsome face! :)

Good to see you here!

Bri

Justin said, "I personally would never use a religious symbol to increase profits. i find that practice distasteful."

I agree that in most parts of the country, that seems odd, but down here it's quite normal. Businesses use it to attract the kind of customers they want to do business with. It's much like the "fish handshake" in my opinion. Christians use it to tell the believers from the non-believers. I also think that for the most part, these business owners mean well. They are proud of their faith and around here, professing something like that gives a business quite a lot to live up to! If they treat a customer badly, they are automatically labeled as hypocritical because they were supposed to be "Christian." I think some of them even use this to make their faith stronger and keep themselves accountable.

Like I said, this could very well be viewed as poor taste in other parts of the country, but in the south, it's a symbol of faith, honesty, and pride for a lot of people.

Please note that I do not condone this practice, and I am quite out of place here in Oklahoma. My husband and I are very liberal, and conduct our businesses in accordance with those values.

But in answer to the original question, yes, people do use the Bible in business (in these parts) but I really don't think they take direct advice. I think searching within (like Justin does) is the main goal.

I can't imaging that the Bible would have any direct information on up-to-date business practices...especially since the world, and people, have changed so much since it was written. Most everything would have to be interpreted by the individual, like most of the Bible is anyway.

Boy this hits home for the Oklahoma gal (where there is a church on every corner)! This discussion is fascinating!

It is common practice down here in the sticks for businesses to publicly state "Christian-owned business." There are many people in this part of the country (and I know some personally) that would choose someone self-labeled as a Christian to do business with over a competitor who is not labeled as such.

Now, I personally do not have any clients in the state of Oklahoma, and so this aspect of business does not affect me as much as it does businesses that are strictly local. (I also don't care about my service-provider's religious preference, nor do I believe that it makes them any more honest or trustworthy than any other business.)

I also have to say that I know local people who DO consult the Bible for business advice, though I think it usually goes back to what Frank was saying about values. Reading the Bible for advice more likely means the business owner is searching for meaning in the scriptures to help him/her discern the most appropriate actions for that person's set of values.

Does it have to be a "regift" or can it be something you buy?

If you can buy it, a "movie night" gift is always fun. You can find an older movie on sale for $5 (one you know no one would buy for themselves, but they secretly want it), a box of candy or two, and some microwave popcorn. My husband and I like to do this one!