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A friend of mine recently posted this and I couldn’t help but want to share it with you. I’m not sure where it originally came from so I can’t apply the appropriate credit … but I hope it inspires you even just a little bit as we get 2012 underway.

20 Tips for a Positive New Year

1. Take a 10-30 minute “Thank you” walk every day. While you walk practice gratitude. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a TIVO, tape your late night shows and get more sleep—it’s the ultimate energizer.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement: My purpose is to___________ today.

5. Live with the 3 E’s. Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.

6. Read more books than you did in 2011.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Do the “one thing” you have always wanted to do.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

11. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.

12. Engage in daily random acts of kindness.

13. Clear your clutter from your house, car, and desk and let new and flowing positive energy into your life.

14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished____________.

19. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

**Which tip most connects with you? I’d love hear your comments and thoughts – please post them below.**

How would you like me to show you not only how to find clients ... but how to find your IDEAL clients.  You know,  the clients you really want to work with, who respect you, offer you opportunities, and who consider you an essential part of their business?

As the author of 'Virtually Successful:  8 Simple Ways For Virtual Assistants To Find (and Keep) Clients', it hits a soft spot for me  when I hear any VA – brand new or seasoned – ask the question “How Do I Find Clients?”.   So much so that I thought it was time to  address this question, at the very beginning of this new year, so that you can beat this challenge right away!

In the *BRAND NEW* 'How Do I Find Clients' Clinic, on Thursday, January 19th from 11am to 2pm Pacific (2-5pm Eastern), I'm going to show you, from scratch, everything you need to know and do to find, attract and connect with great business owners who desperately need your help (and who want to hire you!).

You'll walk away with solid confidence, a solid step-by-step process that will make it super easy for you to find clients  and assurance that you're saying exactly what business owners want to hear (so they'll hire you) when you meet them.  That's just a small taste of what you'll get during this 3 hour clinic.

This is the very first time I've offered a 'clinic style' program and it's sure to be fabulous.

**NOTE** The first 20 people who register before Thursday, January 12th will also receive over $250 worth of
bonuses!!

All the details are available for you at
http://hotskillsvatraining.com/how-do-i-find-clients-clinic-for-virtual-assistants/ -- check it out!

Business owners desperately need the help of a Virtual Assistant - there's no doubt about that.

So why is it that business owners sometimes struggle with the decision of hiring a  VA? Why are they not inviting us to join their business the minute they meet us?

I'll tell you why.  Sometimes this lies at the 'fault' of the business owner.   But many times, the fault is of the Virtual Assistant.

You see, the onus really is on you to do your research, ask the right questions, provide the exact information that business owners need to hear.
Business owners don't care about the technical side of things, or how many years experience you have --- they are listening for key words that connect to them.   Words that they can relate to, and words that tell them how you can help them eliminate the struggles they experience, as well as accomplish the revenue and business goals they set.

Here they are ... 3 of the top reasons business owners are not hiring you:

#1.  Your introduction is generic and you haven't proven that you really 'get' them.

Business owners want to know 'what's in it for me'.  So while you may have tremendous skills, if you haven't touched on specific points  that they're struggling with and need trouble with, you won't capture their attention.

This challenge typically happens to a VA who has not selected a target market, or who hasn't done enough research on her target  market.  When you can demonstrate that you understand their business, what they're trying to accomplish and the things that are causing the most grief PLUS how you can help them fix them ... they'll want to learn more about  you.

#2. You haven't established a relationship.

Do you personally do business with everyone as soon as you meet them?

Probably not. The same goes for the business owners you're connecting with online and offline.  One of the areas that we, as a  community, are horrible at, is follow up.

We stress about follow up.  We don't like it, we feel like a pain in the butt, we avoid it as much as possible.  You know deep down,  that in order to effectively build relationships with people you meet online and offline, you need follow up with them, build a relationship and gain their trust. As they get to know you more and see the solutions and expertise you offer, they will be more inclined to hire, or refer you.

#3.  They don't know what they don't know.

If you've known me for even a little bit, you've heard me say this line many, many times.

Business owners often know they need help. And, they often know (or are told) that a Virtual Assistant is the best person to help  them.  BUT ... they don't know how to get started, where to find a VA, or even what a VA can really do for them.

In order for a VA to be able to help a business owner in this position, they must ask the right questions, to get key details from the business owner, and then tell them exactly how they can help them.

This is a key piece that could literally turn a non-committed business owner into a solid client ... and a VA into a very successful VA!

So there you have it ... 3 reasons business owners don't hire VAs.

Based on the content above, what will you do differently in your hunt for new, ideal clients?

Is your website working for you, or is it an outdated, not-so-great representation of the value and expertise you bring?

It's interesting to me that we put in time and energy (albeit sometimes scattered) into networking, social media and promoting
ourselves in different ways ... but then the one tool that most represents who we are, who we want to work with, what we offer and more, is a weak depiction.

In this month's Get Clients Club session, I'm going to share 2 Mistakes Many VAs Are Making On Their Websites That Are Turning Away New Clients.  It's not about the overall look of  your website (although this is important), it's about two very specific and strategic things  that if done right, will make a huge difference in your business - i.e. attracting,  connecting and building relationships with potential clients.

Join me in the Get Clients Club -- www.GetClientsClub.com.  We meet monthly (via live video) on a very  specific topic related to helping you find more and better clients, and building a financial rewarding  business.

The January call is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11th at 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern.  Head on over to www.GetClientsClub.com to hold join me.

It's that time where many entrepreneurs are bustling around thinking about what they need to finish before the holiday season, as  well as what they want to achieve in the new year.

For us virtual support professionals, this is our PRIME time to listen.

Through casual conversation, you will likely hear your current and potential clients share information with you about:

• what they want to do NOW, before the end of the year,
• what they want to create next year,
• how they expect to make money
• what kind of strategies they want to focus on,
• new things they want to introduce into the business,
• how they want to find more clients,
• where they're going to network,
• who they're going to continue following, or
• people they're going to work with.

With little to no effort, you can get all kinds of nitty gritty details ... golden details to you.

So ... are you listening to what they're sharing?  Are you asking questions?

And are you telling them how you can help?

While not every moment will be an appropriate one for you to share how you can help, you can note them and revisit them at a later date - when things are back up and running.

It's creates an incredible opportunity for you, the Virtual Assistant ... the one who IMPLEMENTS various pieces to help with the  growth of the business - to check in with your client and start to develop a plan of attack.

So while it's a season to clean up, think ahead and relax for the holidays, it's a GREAT opportunity for you to get a  head start at applying your mindset.

And if you're working with a client who doesn't as openly share these kinds of details with you ... then why not ask them?

Questions like:

• "What do you want to make sure you finish before the holidays?"
• "What is the one thing you want to tackle in January?"
• "What do you want to make sure you accomplishing the first 3 to 6 months of 2012?"

will give you the answers you need to apply your mindset.

So don't sit back and wait for them to tell you how you can help them ... apply your mindset and you tell them how you can help.

Help your clients move towards achieving their goals (which support the growth of their business and increased revenue) and you'll have no problem building a stronger relationship. (and you might even make it on their Christmas list!)

So make an extra effort to listen .... you'll be glad you did!

Tell me ... what are your client sharing with you and how will you apply your mindset??   Please include your comments below.

I love sitting down and writing down the goals I want to achieve in my business. I find it interesting how my goals change year after year, depending on what I've experienced, what I've achieved and what I've learned about myself, life and business in general.

When I first started my business, one of my goals was to simply get as many clients as possible. Not long after that, I had way too many clients ... and my goal changed to wanting to work with just a few ideal clients who I could develop a strong long-lasting relationship with.

Think about the goals you've made for your business over the last few years. Have they changed? I bet in many cases, they have and there's nothing wrong with that. It's part of growth ... as you too experience and learn new things, your goals will change accordingly.

However there is a piece to this that I think we need to get clearer on. And that is, when we create new goals for our life and business, there's some work that needs to be done in order to make room to achieve those goals.

I like to call it 'detoxing'. In order to make room for the things you really want to create in your life and business, you need to clean, remove, filter or release -- so you consider the new goals with clarity and an open mind.

The first step in detoxing is a simple, yet critical one. I call it 'taking your own inventory'.

Here's what I'd like you to do:
Step #1: Sit back in a quiet room, no paper and pen required, and visualize what you would like your business to look like in a year from now. So if you had the perfect business at this time next year, with the perfect people, offering the things you like to do most, working a specific schedule, earning a specific amount and more ... what would it look like?

Don't allow yourself to judge your thoughts this through this process ... just note what your mind is sharing with you.

Now grab that piece of paper and pen and describe what you visualized. Include all the details you can. Don't think of the 'how' right now ... simply allow your 'perfect business' visualization to transfer to your piece of paper.

Step #2: Now describe your current business.  Your current clients, what you offer, how much you make, the hours you work, the things you love, the things you dislike ... everything you can think of.

Step #3: Compare the description of the business you'd like to have in a year and your current business.  What is consistent?  What do you want more or less of?  What are the holes? What needs to be detoxed? What needs to be released, filtered or revised to make room in order for you to even start the journey towards what you want your business to look like in a year?

This is just one step towards detoxing your VA business, supporting your growth and achieving your goals!

Please take a moment to note your comments below ... I'd love to hear how this exercise connected with you.

To learn more about detoxing your VA business and moving towards creating that perfect business, join me for '3 Mistakes Virtual Assistants Make Each Year that Costs Them Clients & Profits' on December 6th. Take a moment now to reserve your spot.

Can you believe it?  2012 is right around the corner!  And while I'm not one for setting new years resolutions, I am one to think ahead about what I want to achieve in the coming months.

However, I will admit to one thing that I know you can relate to.  Over the years I've made several mistakes around planning my goals for the new year. In fact, I've made the same mistakes over and over again.  Mistakes that have cost me clients and a considerable amount of profits.

This year I'm going to kick these mistakes in the butt and do things differently. Are you ready to do the same?

Let's start together.  I hosted a complimentary call on the '3 Mistakes Virtual Assistants Make Each Year That Costs Them Clients & Profits'.  You don't want to start 2012 without watching/listening  to this call.

On our session I shared:

• 3 common mistakes we make each year (simply to acknowledge and release them)
• 3 things you can do NOW that will dramatically support your business growth in 2012
• 3 specific strategies on how you can clear the junk to make room for what you want
• 1 ESSENTIAL step that will significantly increase your ability to appropriately plan for success

and much more.

If you've joined me for any calls, training or mentoring to date, you know that I share genuine and valuable content in all my sessions.  This session will be no different.  I am fully committed to supporting you with continuing to develop a Virtual Assistant business that allows you to obtain your goals, while generating generous profits at the same time!

Fill out the form below and you will get immediate access to the recording.

Be sure to share your comments on the top items you will be take action on for 2012!

What will you be asking Santa for this Christmas?

Apparently it's 'Dear Santa Letter Week' - did you know?   The first thing that crossed my mind was it's already that time to get the boys to write their letters to Santa.

But then I started to think about business and I couldn't help but wonder "What will business owners ask Santa for this Christmas?"

While we all know that neither Santa's workshop in the North Pole, nor his big red bag, contain what we want for our businesses, it got me thinking about what we would ask for if the North Pole and big red bag could really provide us with the perfect gift.

What would you ask for?

Would you ask for more clients?  Better clients?  Organized processes and procedures?  A marketing system that works?  Maybe additional technology or programs?  Or developed products that you could sell and make money with?

Whatever you would ask for, perhaps it's not Santa you should be asking.  Maybe it's a little bit of asking yourself to take action but also asking for help in areas that are not your strengths?

Typically business owners start the year with a bunch of goals they want to accomplish before the end of the year.  But then before the year is even finished, they're already making plans and setting goals for the next year to come.

May I encourage you to act on and complete a few items now that will pave the way for you to better achieve your goals for 2012. What are these action steps you will commit to completing now?  It may make it easier for Santa to help with your requests if you start taking steps towards what you want for the new year.

Share you thoughts/action steps below.  What will you commit to starting or completing within the next 5-6 weeks?  And if Santa could give you the perfect gift, what would it be?

It's 'Give Up Your Shoulds' Day, today, November 1st.  Did you know?  I guess I should have told you sooner (ha ha ... yes, VERY funny, I know!)

Honestly - apparently the  'Give Up Your Shoulds' Day is noted as a day to observe on November 1st ... and this year is it's third anniversary.

I found this day rather interesting because we all do it --- we should do this, we should do this ... should should should .... says who?

And it's hard to give up the shoulds.  But I have to be honest, thinking about giving up my shoulds for the day feels peaceful ... almost like a huge weight is off the shoulders --- even if it's for just a few hours.

May I ask you to ponder this with me.  How many "shoulds" do you do in a day?

Maybe you can relate to these:

• I should be spending more time working on my business
• I should be better marketing myself and my business
• I should clean up and organize my office
• I should go out and network more
• I should eat better
• I should exercise more
• I should be getting more work done
• I should call my friends and family more
• I should spend less time working and more time with the family

The pressure that comes with 'shoulds' is exhausting - would you agree?

So while the day is coming to a close, may I encourage you to give up your shoulds even for a few hours some time this week?  I'd love to hear about your experience ... feel free to submit your comments below. I'm going to make a point of giving mine up a few times this week and see if I can make baby steps towards removing them permanently from my days.

Is all the time and effort you put into marketing your business a complete waste of time?

I ask you this question (quite bluntly, I know) because I've spoken with so many Virtual Assistants who are beyond frustrated that their marketing efforts are not converting enough clients.

When I start to dig a little deeper into what they have in place and what they're doing, it's easy to see why.

Their marketing efforts are not working for several reasons.  Perhaps you can relate to these sample scenarios:

#1 The VA attends several networking events.  She introduces herself, makes a connection with new contacts and hands out her business card.  These people check out her website to gather more information, however her website:

• does not include an enticing opt-in so they can't 'safely' get additional information and learn more about her expertise (they're not willing to call or email for more info at this time)
• looks professional but is very generic --- the VA doesn't stand out or clearly indicate who she specializes in working with
• offers a huge menu of services, confusing the new contacts on what kinds of solutions and value she really offers (they don't get 'what's in it for me')

The VA has no idea the new contact has even visited their website and they've lost the chance to connect further and build the relationship.

---

#2 A VA has all the 'goods' set up - a website, a blog, social media, etc., yet her blog is outdated or rarely posted to and the information that is there is general and does not reflect the expertise she really offers.  Her social media is scattered and the posts are boring.

A potential new client may wonder if she's still in business, if she's serious about her business or how on top of things she really is.

---

#3 The VA is determined to go out and find great clients.  She attends various events and networks with business owners of all kinds.  She's unable to clearly demonstrate how she provides value to her clients because she doesn't have a target market, her description of her services is general and she doesn't strongly connect with the business owners she is speaking with.

While she's kind and professional, she can't clearly and confidently demonstrate her mindset and value and clearly share how she provides specific solutions to their unique challenges.

Can you relate to any of these scenarios?

The tragedy in these three examples above is that a skilled, likeable and professional VA will likely not convert these contacts into clients because her 'foundation' is not built.

In order to best leverage our marketing efforts, both online and offline, there are specific items that must be in place.  Without them, our efforts are essentially useless.

Are you ready to step it up, develop your foundation and fully leverage your marketing?

The 'Marketing Bootcamp:  Stand Out, Find Clients & Build A Great VA Business' starts Tuesday, November 1st. This intense, 'take action and implement' program is designed to help you put the essentials in place for your business. >> http://www.HotSkillsVATraining.com/marketingbootcamp

There's just 2 months left to 2011.  Perhaps you owe it to yourself to jump on an action plan now and be well ahead of the 8-ball come January?

Check it out >>> http://www.HotSkillsVATraining.com/marketingbootcamp

I'm looking for VAs who are serious about taking steps forward in building their business.  If you're one of them, please do join me.  Just like my previous participants and VA mentor clients, you'll generate MUCH more than this investment in little time, IF you get down and dirty and put these pieces into place.

Here's a few words from one of the previous participants:

“As an established VA, my marketing strategy looked like an old, half-eaten piece of Swiss cheese – it had been neglected along the way, there were holes in it, and pieces missing – I REALLY needed to revisit it and commit to a consistent marketing regime.

I was looking for something to provide a kick-start to my marketing plan – something to invigorate it. I found just the kick-start I needed to formulate a consistent and solid marketing strategy with Hotskills Marketing Bootcamp.

I was not only able to re-visit and re-analyze my “mindset” and refocus on my target market, I came away with a solid plan and specific strategies to implement and last but not least, motivated!”

– Carrie Anderson, The Virtual Inch | www.thevirtualinch.ca

I look forward to having you join me.

See you, Tuesday?