Does this sound familiar?

You suddenly have an idea. This idea is genial. Absolutely Fan.Ta.Bu.Lous!

You sit at your desk, pen in hand (or keyboard…) and start working on this idea. In fact, you stay up most of the night because this idea is well worth it. There’s a huge need for it AND it’s going to generate loads of income.

You spend a few days completely intoxicated with your new found idea. Sooner or later, you run into an obstacle or two. You deal with these yourself but find you’re getting discouraged with distractions and eventually this brilliant idea is put on the back burner… and slowly forgotten about.

It’s never truly forgotten because months, even years down the road, you’re filled with regret. “I should have’s” fill that void to justify the failure but you never really move forward with them.

So what went wrong? Any guesses?

You should have planned!

This step is so critical, people make a living at doing just that – PROJECT MANAGEMENT… and they make good decent money too!

Project management requires more than just a short list of to-dos. You must really dissect every little piece of the project and ensure it is all accounted for.

“Yeah… but that’s going to take more time to do! I’m not experienced and I’ll get overwhelmed! Forget it!”

Well then forget your idea as well… If you can’t take the time to plan or hire someone to help you, you’ll find yourself in the above scenario. Simple. As. That!

Many argue the difference between an in-house and a virtual assistant. Is one really better than the other? Which one will save you financially? Take a look at the following list of common time wasting activities employees do at work.

1. Updating Facebook, Twitter or Ebay
2. Drinking a lot of coffee, tea or water/Eating while working
3. Cleaning off desk
4. Visits to the rest room
5. Watching videos on YouTube.
6. Reading RSS feeds or news websites
7. Cigarette breaks
8. Preparing for lunch or to leave the office.
9. Talking with office mates.
10. Calling friends and family.
11. SMSing friends and family.
12. Reading and sending personal email.
13. Instant Messaging.

Are you paying for this time with an in-house assistant?
When hiring a virtual assistant, you only pay for the time spent on your projects and NOT for time wasted. Isn’t time for you to call?

(list provided by FruitfulTime Blog Post)

The global economy has depended on imports/exports from other countries for as long as it’s been possible and now with the use of technology and the Internet, it is widely known that many entrepreneur outsource their projects to India. Virtual Assistants, among many other industries, struggle with this competition. North America cannot possibly match rates from those in India.

But what does this really mean? While I understand the economy is tough - paying someone $3/hr vs. $40 is a lot more appealing (and yes I admit that many can do just as good of a job) - what is it doing to our nation?

Take a look for yourself. Feel free to determine your own interpretation.

As a virtual assistant, my tasks range from sorting emails to updating websites, to placing ads and proofreading documents. However, lately, my projects all fall in the same category:

HELP! I messed it up and I can’t fix it!

You’ve spent your valuable time trying to accomplish something you should have outsourced. You thought this would save you money but now you find yourself

1. frustrated and
2. out of time

In a panic, you call up your VA and explain you need it done ‘yesterday’. Your VA not only has to do the tasks but has to try and figure out what went wrong which takes more time > more money. Did you really save in the end? Not at all!

Virtual Assistants are available to help you to do it right the first time around. We exist to save you the headache. Allow us to set up a project management software so you may assign projects/tasks and forget them. A good Virtual Assistant should automatically pick up the task and complete it. This makes you (and your business) look good. And everything runs smoothly.

I’m famous for comparing a Virtual Assistant to a mechanic so let’s take a look at this scenario.

You have a leak > do you buy a do-it-yourself patch for $19.97? or get it fixed right away for $150? Yikes, you want to save money so the DIY kit looks appealing. But it only works for while and eventually the problem grows. You don’t have a choice but to visit your car maintenance center to have it repaired properly. Now the kicker, since you waited, the leak caused other problems and now you’re faced with replacing parts and a $500 bill. Was it worth it?

I am more than happy to help you to do it right the first time around. Do yourself a favour and save the headache - on both sides. Outsource to your VA right away.

As a Virtual Assistant, one of my responsibilities is to save my clients a few bucks while still maintaining high quality service. With the holidays just around the corner (40 days to be exact!!!) and our economical state on the downfall, we are all facing the same challenge; Christmas on a budget! Craft Central Station has compiled an awesome list of 101 ($10 or less) Stocking Stuffer ideas! Take a look:

1. Chocolate - any kind will do!
2. Mandarin oranges or exotic fruit such as star fruit
3. Lottery tickets
4. Lipstick - Lipbalm
5. Cozy mittens or gloves
6. Personalized or Christmas print coffee mug or tea cup**
7. Tire gauge
8. Picture frames - buy a plain wooden frame and wrap it with Christmas wrap, glue on Christmas ornaments, paint on holly leaves or apply Christmas stickers.**
9. Silly Putty - fun for any age!
10. Baseball, golf ball, rubber ball….
11. Night light
12. Christmas ornament - home-made or store-bought
13. Unique kitchen gadget like an egg slicer, grapefruit spoon, garlic press, etc.
14. Deck of cards - search for one with unusual artwork
15. Hair accessories
16. A book or magazine
17. Magnifying glass
18. Gum or penny candy - buy the stuff that takes you back to when you were a kid
19. Pot pourri - create your own easy sachet by placing pot pourri in a lace handkerchief, gather the kerchief and tie with a silk ribbon
20. Novelty shoelaces
21. Stamp pad and stamps
22. Batteries
23. Decorative wine stopper
24. Journal or diary
25. Modelling clay
26. Touque or a scarf - hand-knit or purchase in a store - you can add your own personal touch to store bought by stitching on ribbon, bows, buttons or beads
27. Yo-yo
28. Home made cookies
29. Wallet or business card holder**
30. Travel games
31. Coupons for fast food, or admission to museums or other attractions
32. Underwear or socks - be racy or pedestrian, your choice
33. Candles - and there are so many to choose from
34. Slinky
35. Popcorn seasoning or spices
36. Nail polish
37. Toothbrush
38. Airplane sized bottles of liquor
39. Packets of flavored hot chocolate or cider mix
40. Die cast metal car
41. Stationary or note cards**
42. Bath beads, bubble bath or scented soap - make your own or go shopping
43. A copy of the gift recipient’s favorite recipe - you can add some of the ingredients, too
44. Stickers
45. Pencil or pen - try a pen with purple ink, a giant pencil, a fountain pen, a twig pencil, etc.**
46. Desk or wall calendar**
47. Keychain
48. Soap dish
49. The hottest hot sauce you can find
50. Seeds - try heirloom seeds or native wildflower seeds
51. Fishing lures
52. Glasses case
53. Coloring book
54. Coasters
55. Incense
56. Paper pouches in novelty shapes
57. Craft supplies - paints, brushes, wooden cut-outs, embroidery thread, beads, doll heads, kits, etc.
58. House plant tools or decorative watering can
59. Sports water bottle
60. Vase
61. Mouse pad**
62. Exercise bands or hand weights
63. Snow globe
64. Cold mask (the kind you store in the fridge and wrap around your face to relieve aches and stuffiness)
65. Travel mug
66. Photos of the gift recipient as a child
67. Christmas theme costume jewelry
68. A tool - hammer, screw driver, pliers, etc.
69. Harmonica
70. Sewing, knitting, woodworking, needlework patterns
71. Poster
72. Kaleidoscope
73. Decorative bottle opener or cork screw
74. Silly straws
75. Flashlight
76. Address book**
77. Cedar balls for keeping closets and drawers fresh
78. Blank diskettes, cassettes, or CD’s**
79. Piggy bank
80. Kite
81. Jar of homemade jam or syrup or canned fruit
82. Decorative tea towels or hand towels
83. Hand held calculator**
84. Jigsaw puzzle or other puzzle game
85. Tarot cards - they only work if you receive them as a gift!
86. Small wooden trinket box
87. Small stuffed toy
88. Napkin rings
89. Model airplane kit
90. Personal radio
91. Sidewalk chalk
92. Personalized birth chart or horoscope book
93. Thermal lunchbag**
94. Sheet music
95. Film for the gift recipient’s camera
96. Gift certificate for fresh flowers
97. Paperweight**
98. Fridge magnets
99. Travel maps
100. Long distance calling card**
101. Bird feeder

A few extra ideas:

• makeup
• jump rope
• hacky sack
• frisbee
• shaving supplies
• jewelry
• watch
• nail clippers

Office supplies**

• Postage stamp
• post-it notes
• paper clips (fancy design ones)
• stain removing pen

Have more ideas? Feel free to add them in comments!

Rieva Lesonsky, Editor-at-Large at AllBusiness.com, Consulting Editor at BizWomen.com and CEO at SMB Connects, spent the last 22 years of her life advocating for women business owners but now that she is an entrepreneurial woman herself, she is following her own advice.

She calls it “The P’s of Success.”

• Imagine the POSSIBILITIES
• PLAN, and every time you achieve your goals, PLAN again
• Be PROACTIVE
• Be PASSIONATE
• Be POSITIVE
• Be PERSISTENT

Although these are pretty self-explanatory, I would like to elaborate and add my 2 cents worth.

Imagine the POSSIBILITIES

Well I’m sure none of us have a problem with imagination. We all imagine ourselves at one point or another in the future… maybe a year from now, or 5 years, even as far as 10 years or retirement! It’s human to dream and imagine the Possibilities of our lives. I know for myself, I have a vision for my business Key Administration, for my children & for my own personal life. I know what levels I want to reach for certain goals.

However starting a new business can be both exciting and frightening. You start off with a dream, a possibility. You envision the big picture. You talk it over with some friends and family and realize Hey, it’s a pretty good idea… Now what?

PLAN - and every time you achieve your goals, plan again…

While you want to reach for the stars, I suggest you plan small and plan often. Keep the big picture in focus, break it down into steps and break those steps down to even smaller steps. Every time you reach one of your small goals, rework your steps, your plan and work towards another one. This eliminates being discouraged when trying to reach a big goal. Make every small step count!

Be PROACTIVE

It’s all fine and dandy to have a plan on paper however it won’t get up and accomplish anything on it’s own. Take charge! Work on some easy goals in between the big ones. Hire some assistants to take care of redundant tasks while you focus on the big picture. Go out into the community (local, online… whichever) and make yourself known as an expert in your possibility!

Be PASSIONATE

“When there’s a will, there’s a way” and when there is passion, there is a will. Your motivation is boosted by your passion. And without complete dedication, there is no success. Assure to keep your passion on the upscale.

Be POSSITIVE

A way to stay passionate about your possibility is to keep positive. There will always be a few bumps, scratches and bruises along the road. Those will create the character of your vision and shape your possibility into new directions. Don’t allow yourself to get down in the dumps. Assess the situation and rework your plan!

Be PERSISTENT

Try, try again… Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go! (T. S. Elliot)

To conclude,

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. (Mark Twain) ~ And keep the P’s of success in check!

C