JL Virtual Assistant

12/07/2022

11/23/2022

How perfect is this Paolo Coehlo quote?!

Simple, to the point, and we all understand it immediately.

Get back up. Maybe you needed to read that today?

Some days I need to hear that too.

So there you go. Get back up!

Oh, and wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

11/16/2022

Savvy, intelligent, and strong solopreneurs at some point in their increasingly successful business will have to delegate.

And while you may think you can wear all the hats and do it well, the truth is, you can't - not if you want to scale and become the badass business owner you dreamed about.

It's not easy to delegate though, especially when you think you can do all tasks better yourself or not give up control of an outcome.

However, all successful business owners delegate. Here are three tips to help you do so successfully:

1. Set clear goals and expectations. Be clear and specific on what is expected. Give information on what, why, when, who and where. You might leave the “how” to them. Confirm and verify task goals and expectations.

2. Delegate early. Provide appropriate time for the task to be completed to the standards you expect. If possible, allow for a buffer of time for last-minute edits and additions.

3. Select the right person. Ensure that the person has the time to take on the responsibility. Assess the skills and capabilities of the expert and hire the most qualified assistant at a mutually agreed-upon rate. As with most things, the lowest bidder doesn't always produce the best results.

Effective delegation allows solopreneurs to be more productive by focusing on why they started their business in the first place.

Are you currently swamped and wearing too many hats in your business? I can help.

I provide virtual support for small business owners with administrative tasks, document design, market research, invoicing, document review and CRM account setups.

Book a call with me today! See link in my bio.

11/09/2022

Sort of an aha moment for me when I learned/realized that the opposite of success was not, in fact, failure.

When or where or from whom I learned it initially (failure = bad = not successful) does not really matter.

What's most beneficial is realizing it now and learning that all steps - even the imperfect ones, the sloppy ones, the embarrassing ones, are STILL steps.

And the very act of stepping - out - into - perhaps the great unknown - is worthy.

So be messy, be imperfect, just be you - and do the thing. Whatever it is, whatever your dream or goal - do the thing and keep on stepping!

11/02/2022

When was the last time you said or thought,

IT'S TOO COMPLICATED!

As a business owner, you are constantly being presented with new tools, software, tips, tricks, and shortcuts. You could spend all day just reading up on new trends or watching webinars on any number of business topics. At the beginning of 2022 I spent nearly 30% of my day trying to stay educated on WHAT TO DO FOR MY BUSINESS!

And some of those topics - I thought - Whew! Too damn complicated!

Or, as one definition goes; " it has so many parts or aspects that it is difficult to understand or deal with."

Another way to look at complicated things is to redefine your thoughts on it. Is it too complicated but you want to learn (and take the time) how to do it? Or;

Is it too complicated, although it could be a game-changer for my business, AND I'll hire someone to help me implement it?

Brava! If you want to learn it.

Also, Brava! If you know it will help your business AND you will hire someone to see you through it!

IF, you have thought about purchasing a CRM (Client Relationship Management) platform such as Honeybook or Dubsado BUT it all sounds too complicated - DM me! I can help!

I once thought they were complicated as well! I took classes and seminars on both Honeybook and Dubsado, started using one for my business, and started customizing them for my clients in 2021 - and now they aren't complicated to me anymore.

Let me help you un-complicate a CRM for you. Book a discovery call with me today. Click the link in my bio!

Change the statement from It's Too Complicated to I Understand This and now I'm GROWING my business!

10/26/2022

I simply thought this quote was funny and wanted to share.

"The problem with human beings is we think we can wear many hats at once. It's not possible. It's an outright fashion disaster!"

-- Joan Bauer

Don't wear too many hats! 😁

10/19/2022

I have nothing against hats. In fact, I love wearing them. I own several.

But what I am referring to in this question; "How many hats do you wear? - is this;

As a business owner - strike that - a SAVVY business owner, perhaps you're wearing too many proverbial hats? Another words, you're spreading yourself thin and in the process, causing yourself stress and costly mistakes.

Do the following "hats" sound familiar?

CEO: Head honcho, looking to the future and making growth happen
CFO: Chief money-juggler, keeping track of expenses and ensuring money is coming in not just going out
COO: Chief operating officer, ensuring the business process is keeping clients happy
CMO: Marketing Guru, cheerleader, keeping the good word out there about your awesome business services
CIO: Chief Information techie geek, maintaining security and staying on top of trends

Wow - you're busy! And all that ON TOP of actual client work you do every day.

But if you're like me, a fellow small business owner, you probably don't LIKE to do all those things.

Am I right?

10/12/2022

James Clear, author of the book "Atomic Habits" says;

"Keep ignoring feedback and life will keep teaching you the same lesson"

I received that quote in his email newsletter a few weeks back and oh, how timely a message it was.

I have been considering sending clients an 'End of Project' feedback questionnaire to gauge if my work product has met, exceeded, or disappointed them.

I know this is good information to gather and yet one part of me did not want to hear criticism - if they were potentially unhappy. This was playing into my fixed mindset thinking of "Failure is the limit of my abilities".

So instead, I took Mr. Clear's wise words, realizing ALL feedback is good feedback and the questionnaire is on regular rotation when offboarding clients.

Because here's the truth; when we fail at something, that is when we learn the most. So the next time a client mentions something that they didn't like or wasn't done to their satisfaction - that's when I readjust, pivot, and do better next time.

How are you with feedback and constructive criticism?

10/05/2022

Be honest. When you hear the word 'Automation', you think, ughh;

COLD and ROBOTIC!

Because the opposite of something being automated is - 'by hand, manually'. This 'sounds' more personal, more human, more thoughtful.

And perhaps your reaction is due in part to having received, at some point, an automated bot message that you knew was being sent out to hundreds of other people with no thought for you or your business personally.

I get that. That's valid. I've received those bot messages as well.

So here's where I play devil's advocate. What if you had a system that was indeed, automated (hear me out) BUT personalized and thoughtful, tailored to your clients in language that you actually speak.

That can be a reality. I know because that is what my CRM does for me. I know because that is what my clients' CRMs' do for them, every day, every email, every document, every time.

Don't believe me? DM me. Book a call with me and I'll answer all questions you have about automating your business with a Dubsado or Honeybook CRM account.

Because the one objection I hear the most when talking with folks about a CRM is that they don't want to sound impersonal with their client communication. It doesn't have to be. Let me show you how!

And just for fun, comment below with an annoying bot message you've received recently!!

09/28/2022

I post and write a lot about mindset and I found this quote from Tomas Bata that I love.

"Don't say it can not be done, rather say, you don't know how to do it yet"

When I start to fret about something that seems too hard or not in my current knowledge base, I stop and literally close my eyes to reframe the messages in my head. Instead of no, can't do this or this is too hard - it becomes - I don't know how to do it now but I'm willing to try and learn.

I'm also reminded of being a child when everything we do is a new learning experience and we boldly go ahead and do it - mistakes and all.

Then we do it again, and again, and again. Until it's learned.

So be a child. Go ahead, it's okay.

09/21/2022

Do you really need a Customer Mapping Journey?

Short answer; Yes.

Here's why; knowing what your clients' "journey" through your business service is, can be a very important part of having happy clients and even repeat clients.

Writing out this process can provide you three crucial insights:

1) It will allow you to stay focused on your client, and;

2) Helps create easy steps for potential leads to book your services

3) Having an end goal of more satisfied clients

Knowing what your client journey is will give you a roadmap of sorts to help focus on business growth. A good roadmap should cover the entire experience of your client.

Here are 4 steps to include on your roadmap:

Step 1: Awareness/Consideration - How did they find you?
Step 2: The Sales Process - Your connection via SM, website, discovery call, Welcome Guides
Step 3: Working together - Delivering on your promise
Step 4: Retention/Referral - Continuing to serve them and/or offboarding process

All businesses big and small, no matter what the service, have these touch points with their clients.

If you would like help mapping out your client journey, contact me through the link in my bio or simply comment below.

09/14/2022

It's a mindset thing, right?! When I choose to focus on what I can do for my clients and how I can provide ease in their daily business issues - I thrive. Also, I feel more content and happy.

If I focus on how successful I am or how much money I want/need to make this month - I'm stressed and feel anxiety.

If like me, you want to feel more content and happy during your days, try focusing on providing significant help to others. And really, I'm not just talking about your clients. Focus that intention on any and all in your realm.

I do believe it will return to you tenfold!

Any opinions on this? Share; would love your thoughts or if you do this now, how has it affected your days?