Completely exhausted

I think the post title says it all, trying to do a near full time job, look after the children and set up, my VA business has taken its toll and completely shattered doesn't even come close!

Anyway at least my business cards have finally arrived - although I'm not entirely satisfied with the colours, they don't quite match what was on the screen.

VA hopes

I've been thinking a lot over the weekend about how much I want to be able to grow my business so that it is viable for me to do this full time. I've been making a few plans about how to achieve that even in a global economic downturn and have a few friends who are willing and want to hand out my business card at some events they will be attending with my relevant target market - just need said business cards to actually arrive now!!!

Back to raising the online profile for me I guess!

Paying Client!

I have just completed and sent off my first piece of paid VA work, yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope they are happy with it and have definatly learned to overestimate the time it will take me slightly!

Lesson learned! Over estimate cost and then over deliver!

Paying client...

Yes!!!! I have a paying client and I'm rather chuffed about it all, small job but hopefully leading to a more long term arrangment.

Check out their website Assault Events.

Website!!!!

Yes it is finally live!!!! Please check out RRVA and let me have your feedback please so I can improve it. And yes I know it needs some serious SEO work on it so some direction would be good........

Thanks x




RRVA
Here to help you be Creative!

Actually doing VA things today!

Yep a whole day dedicated to setting up RRVA!!!! It's brilliant! My website is all done bar a bit of hacking at the Html code to change a picture here and a colour background there and a few networking sites visited. Unfortunately though I can't seem to get the damn website to publish!!!!!

A whole day working from home has been rather productive (once I got past the procrastination of cleaning the bathroom and going to the shop just coz I a) needed to and b) could!). I rather like this and am trying to work out if I dare take any further days holiday but then if one of the children is ill I may be a bit stuck with unpaid leave :(

Wireless sorted and day to focus tomorrow

I have got the wireless router ordered from my cable provider and the thingy that will make it work with my computer too. Shouldn't be too long til I'm all set up and Hubby can stop complaining about me hogging the computer!

Tomorrow I'm off work so currently compiling a list of things to get done on the business, will update you tomorrow.......

Getting Amplified!

Well I'm getting that way anyway. I now have a lovely new iphone which completely rocks and am busy downloading fabulous apps for the business to it. Just trying to work out which is the best productivity app and how to sync it with my google calendar without loosing all the contacts off my phone!

Off into town to get a wireless router for the house at lunchtime and then I'll be able to VA from any room in the house and the garden too. Well actually it's because hubby keeps complaining that I hog the computer and he can never get on online!!!!

And children not being sick allowing I WILL have Monday off to finalise website and explore those lovely forums and raise my profile properly....can't wait

Some more bits of client work

Just a couple of things to do for a client today, sort out a business card for them and also an invoice template. Should have that done tonight!

It's nice to have some VA work to do!

IPhone & not getting any time..

Most excitingly I got my I-Phone today, a completely wonderful birthday present from my husband! Downside is I now have to manually transfer all my contacts from my old phone. Suffice it to say that I know rather a lot of people.

Also today was meant to be my day to focus on RRVA and get the website up finally and also to explore some of the VA and online business forums BUT unfortunately I ended up having to go to work as my daughter was sick last week and I had to swap my holiday day. She's fine at the moment though so hopefully next Monday I'll get to work on the business......

Distracted from my VA aspirations.

I have been somewhat distracted over the last couple of days from anything Virtual Assistant related. However I have just joined an online course for VAs that's based in the states and also been doing lots of searches to make sure no one else has the same name as I want to trade with/use! It seems a bit trivial but I definatly want to be certain before I order any business cards or anything - otherwise it could get expensive!

I've got Monday off work to focus on my business but it currently depends on whether my daughter manages to be healthy enough to go to nursery. She really doesn't seem to be getting on well with getting teeth. Oh well fingers crossed for a Virtual Assistant focused day.

Doing & planning

Sorted out a blog and twitter background for a friend today (which is good practise) and am planning a little investigation exercise into Enterprise Nation for potential clients and VA Networking for some start up tips and support. That said it's mostly about building networks and reputation at this stage and the belief that from thence clients will come......

Twitter and Blogs

Helped a friend today to set up their blog and twitter profile, check Cherie's blog out if you're interested in music teaching with a twist!

Have liberated an office chair too but may need to do some work to make it fit in with my newly organised and colour coordinated office space!

Anyone know how to recover one of these things????

Website is sooo going live soon!

Oh yes it is finally coming!!! A lovely person who I work with is coding it as I speak so it all looks pretty and does what I want it to. Watch this space and I'll let you know when it goes up!




RRVA, Here to help you be creative!
www.rrva.co.uk coming soon

Days off to focus on my VA Business!!

Yes I have booked a few days off from my current work to actually focus on getting R&R VA Services off the ground - well a bit more anyway. Following on from yesterday's post I have decided that I need to really utilise the forums I've joined, seek out more and (rather essentially) get my website up and running! I need time for all of that.

I can't wait!

Networking & resources

I keep finding myself wishing that I had more time to look into this properly. I have joined both VA Networking and UK Business Labs (and I am sure there are others that I should join too, suggestions please) but I have not yet had the time to actually explore these resources properly. Not least because I have been caught up in the practical issue of making a space in my home in which I can actually work. However, by the time I get home from my current job, sort the kids out and eat I'm too exhausted to look at these useful things with any form of intelligence as I am just soooo exhausted.

The only way I keep up with any handy hints is either via Twitter or (and I'm sorry JessL) printing out related articles that come on the e-newsletter and reading them on my lunch break or in bed! I think I will have to take about 3 days off work soon just to really focus on the business, explore these resources properly and draft my business plan.

Getting on with things

Just getting on with things really. Nothing exciting to report today I'm afraid.

Keep organising!

Whilst I'm motivated by the forthcoming arrival of my daughter's 1st birthday party on Sunday I am keeping going with the tidying/organising frenzy.

I have been to WHSmiths and purchased an array of storage boxes in their sale and shall be requesting the matching magazine files etc from the children for my birthday and/or mother's day. So the bureau and surrounding work area is on track. Just need the office chair and Mac now!

Tidying phase 1 results....

So here is the toy containment and book facility now resident in my living room...

and Phase 2, tidying of my work space in progress.....
Promise to keep you posted (excuse the pun)!

Tidying frenzy!

This weekend has turned into a bit of a tidying/organising & cleaning frenzy! Inspired by Jess Laccetti's call to get my desk straight and go paperless I set about the task of sorting through my desk area on Friday after I'd put the kids to bed. This seemed very simple and straight forward...however, it then spread! My desk is in the corner of my sitting room and I decided that trying to work sensibly whilst being squashed by the toy mountain in the room wasn't on. To cut a long story short this has resulted in a total reorganising of most of my house, a trip to Ikea and the expenditure of £155 (wonder if I should include it on my start up cost spreadsheet?)! The only room I haven't rearranged this weekend is the bathroom.

It's still not quite finished, my bureau drawers need to be tackled and I need a few more boxes, baskets and magazine files oh and a proper office chair but it's coming together.

Picture will be posted when it's all completed (hopefully later this week). Nothing focuses the mind than a rubbish week at work and the prospect of 15 adults and 6 children running amok in my house next weekend.