As a Virtual Assistant it is pretty easy for me to run out of steam, become stressed, get stumped or fee like this guy below.
There is special challenge in serving your clients whilst still running and marketing your own business. Add coming up with fresh and creative ideas and maintaining productivity to the mix and you have a recipe for insanity! Generally, Ive found following these 6 simple rules help me to stay focused, strike and balance and remain productive. What works for you? Id be happy to hear your tips and secrets.
Under-promise, over-deliver. Be honest. For most people it really is hard to be creative when youre under a ton of pressure. Yes, there are those who thrive on a challenge and enjoy working feverishly to meeting that looming deadline but for the most part, most people just dont enjoy that sort of thing. Thats why it makes sense to under-promise. If you are working on a project and you know it can take a week to get done, tell your client it will take two weeks. Even with your best planning, things may just come up that may prevent you from delivering the work in a weeks time, even though and the last thing you want is an irate client reminding you that it was you, and not them, that said the work would be delivered in a week. In the event that you completed and delivered the work in a weeks time, when you told the client it would be done in two, he or she will be pretty happy and think youre pretty sharp.
Avoid multitasking. Some people are really good at working on lots of things at the same time. I know some people have mastered the art of multi-tasking and working on tons of things at once. Others find it hard to focus on a project while taking calls and managing their inbox. If you find multitasking a challenge then you dont need to do it. It isnt for everyone. You may just discover that focusing your energies on one thing at a time helps you to be more productive at the end of the day just as the person who multitasks.
Get rid of the distractions. Ever tried working on a project for a client and found that it was hard to focus and get your creative juices flowing? Why not log out of your Twitter, Facebook or instant messenger account, switch off your phone and get rid of all the other things that can easily distract you? Works like a charm.
Eat well; sleep well and exercise, too. At the risk of sounding like your mother or doctor, get some rest and eat well, and get your adrenalin pumping too! Many small business owners tend to burn the midnight oil and in the process dont get enough rest, as there is oftentimes so much work to be done. While at times it can be tempting to pull an all-nighter, lack of sleep can really sap your productivity and dry up your creative juices! After all, it really is hard to concentrate and give of your best when you are burnt-out. Dont forget the role diet plays, too. Make sure you eat proper and frequent meals and get some exercise too.
Dont be easily offended. At some point we all experience a bit of disappointment personally and professionally. Recently I spent most of an entire week putting together proposals for two prospective clients. When they initially contacted me I told them that I was not taking on any new work as it was mid-December and I really wanted to focus on getting all my work done so I could start fresh in the New Year and preparing for the holidays. They both said they understood on the phone then started emailing and calling me again asking if I would consider squeezing them in. I relented; figuring out they must really need the support. Imagine my disappointment when after taking the time to put together the proposal and the subsequent attempts to follow up with them; theyve all of a sudden become elusive. I felt like I had wasted time and was rather upset because from the start I let them know that I didnt have the time but would make an exception because they were so persistent. That also brings me to another point: Sometimes it is best just to stick to your guns. I made the mistake by relenting even though I had other things going on. Unfortunately, disappointments tend to be part and parcel of doing business and can definitely sap your creative juices and impact your productivity. My advice: dont take it personally! Youre still good at what you do and your existing clients think you rock!
Charge what you are worth. As a Virtual Assistant from time to time I tend to run into other VAs who are not sure what to charge for their service. Im not sure what the going rate for a Virtual Assistant is and what others charge are of no interest to me because my rates are based on my time, training, my experience and various certifications. With that said, charge your clients what you are worth and dont be too concerned with what you believe others are charging. There will always be someone charging more or less than you but if you undersell your services, you may find you have a ton of clients paying you next to nothing and that you need to work night and day to keep them all and you are still not making enough to keep you going or hone your skills. If you charge what you are worth you may just find that your clientele may become more streamlined and you are not working around the clock.