No, it's not your CMO, CFO, or even YOU. It's your assistant. These unsung heroes are the ones who really run the show.  If you plan to run a business, then you need to get really serious about this concept, early on.
 
Over time, I’ve assisted hundreds of businesses, organizations and sole-proprietors to start and grow their passion.  One of the most challenging aspects of the process has been getting the business owner to acknowledge and accept the fact that they need assistance in their back office.
 
There are dozens and dozens of applications and tools to run your business including, Microsoft,  Adobe, WordPress, officeVP, Constant Contact, QuickBooks, Weebly, WordPress and on and on.  Every application has a support team and quite frankly many of these programs are DIY (Do-it-Yourself) to virtually and literally “run themselves".

With a Virtual Assistant,  you will have NO concerns or expenses typically associated with hiring an employee. Things like payroll taxes, vacation pay, sick days, worker's compensation and employee benefits such as health, dental insurance and OSHA regulations are not issues.

So if an administrative assistant is so beneficial, why are so many small business owners resistant to hiring one? 

The two most likely reasons: 
1.) Business owners don't want to lose control. I've had assistants. I've been on both sides of the desk. It's scary for small to medium sized business owners, who have lived and breathed their business that's their dream, passion and vision, and all of a sudden give control to another person who isn't even their co-founder.

2.) Business owners don't know where to start the process of hiring (especially a Virtual Assistant).

Once you finally take the leap and hire an administrative assistant, you’ll be on your way to a more organized, thriving business. Until you do, consider every day that you are in business ….a day that you could have done better in your business!

Connect with us if you need a virtual assistant we’ll share with you some smart ways to select the best assistant for your business category and we’ll put you in contact with some very reliable resources virtual assistants.
 
Expert References:
http://www.skilledvirtualassistant.com/virtualassistantbenefits.html
http://www.skilledvirtualassistant.com/virtualassistantbenefits.html
Https://www.chrisvanpatten.com/hiring-your-first-virtual-assistant

This is a very powerful and thought-filled video from Earl Mann - the President and CEO of ComF5

Outsourcing (or hiring a VA Virtual Assistant) is one of the most popular buzzwords in business today. While it can be a great solution to help grow your business inexpensively, it also has its own challenges which need to be known before one can use it effectively. Here are some tips to help guide you through a successful experience:

Trial more than one VA for the same job - determine an identical project or task that can be assigned to several different people...a single task that takes up a significant portion of your time...this would certainly depend on the type of operation you are running, but for an example we'll say your daily or weekly news publication or perhaps your media postings.  Chances are, one or two of the the several VAs will fail miserably leaving you with 3 or 4 worth keeping around. Repeat this process of elimination until you're left with the one person that seems dependable over the medium to long term.  This will be your go-to VA for a start.

Remember to assess the value as well as the cost. - many small business owners are just going around in circles …they have a desire to grow their business but they also want to keep total control of every aspect …which is actually the core of what’s holding them back.  A great VA can help you to cut those strings or at least loosen them!

Certainly there will be some cost involved, but  your freedom is invaluable.

Keep more than one VA on your list of outsources - Now that you've set your standard and filled it with one great VA, don't stop there...keep looking and adding possibilities to your list. This is not  like a marriage, you are not legally bound to one VA relationship... as most talented VAs will not have just one client! Play the field!

Make it clear that you are looking for a long term relationship - But wait a minute ...doesn't that conflict with the previous statement? Well no...because you can have a long-term relationship with several VAs as long as the terms of your agreement are in writing and satisfactory to both (all parties).  So when you "trialing" your VAs let them know that you plan to stay connected and present your business relationship as a valuable resource; with benefits for the both of you. 

Don’t just check the VA’s references, check the references …references - Obviously there are privacy issues involved, however ....most anyone who has a business has left some sort of impression on the Internet. Therefore if a VA gives you a reference from a business, you can certainly see what that reference has to say about the VA and you can go a step further to see what the search engines have to say about the reference as well!  You will find a much better relationship with a VA that has a great deal of experience with successful  businesses that operate similarly to yours.

Don't assign a task that you are clueless about! - I know what you're thinking here...."Isn't that why I'm hiring a VA?...because I AM clueless!!??

Well according to my resources, that the one big mistake you don't want to make in outsourcing!

Every task you assign should have been completed in full that is from beginning to end ...by you ....at least once…and it is suggested dozens of times and you should have the step by step written instructions for how the task should be completed. 

The more specialized your operations, the more critical this point will be.

In larger organizations it's called SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) and yes small business owners need SOPs too!

I'll get deeper into that in another issue!

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In summary, I've got lot's more tips for helping you to decide if you are ready for outsourcing ....and I have some great tools to help you operate alone until you get to the "outsourcing" phase of your business.
Just connect with me.

We’re looking for individuals to help support our growth.

"Customized Mobile Apps Help Build Relationships for a Lifetime"

Big businesses understand that generational loyalty is what keeps them around for years.  While it's quite obvious for some companies, many small business owners are so busy trying to survive on a daily basis, they rarely think about the loyalty they could be creating with clients ....30, 40 or even 100 years from now!  If that seems like a long time to you, ask anyone who has been in business for a few years already...they can attest to how fast time has gone by!! 


As far back as 2011, Daniel Walters in his post for Infomedia.com, targeted the three major advantages for a business to have a custom mobile app: speed, volume of information, and advertising.

WE totally agree...and we'd like to add one more advantage, building generational loyalty. Here in 2014 we see that the past analysis made by many experts has proven to be true That's why we believe small business owners can especially benefit from the long term advantages that come with a custom App.

So we feel very fortunate to be in a position to not only offer this tool to businesses around the world, but also to families and organizations for private, personal use...so what could make us even happier? Helping others to gain a footing in this tough economy and training others who want to become a part of this growing technology.  I'd say we have it all!

Connect with us today and see where you can take your business in the coming years. It's easy to learn more, Click on a button below .....

Are you looking for ways to make your 2013 holiday debt go away? How about making 2014 more successful?   Consider the impact mobile technology is having on our world and then consider taking an active role in bringing mobility in communication to the business and private sectors!  Consider becoming a Mobile Application Sales Agents.  Visit my site and learn more....then connect with me and I'll get you started in a flash!  www.DonPaul.com/reps