Inside Out!

YOU NEED ME!

This won’t be the usual entry for me.  Why?  Because times are tough and I’ve decided to put my cards on the table!

 

YOU NEED MY TRANSCRIPTION AND EDITING SERVICES! 

You need me!!

Why do you need my services?  Simply put --- I can save you money and make you look like a million bucks!

 

 

My transcription work is speedy, accurate, and to quote a long-time client --– I can turn your pig’s ear into a silk purse!

 

 

CONSIDER THIS:

 

CUTS YOUR OVERHEAD:  I use my own equipment – no scrambling for equipment for a temp you only need a few times a year.   No empty desks; no unused computers collecting dust.

 

 

REDUCES YOUR PAYROLL:  My rates are reasonable.  You pay ONLY for the time I work on your project.  No healthcare benefits, no vacation or sick time, no 401k.  No paying for someone to keep a chair warm 8 hours a day when you only need her services once a week. 

 

 

WE FORM A TEAM:  We develop a good working relationship – I learn about your business, your clients, the way you work.  You learn to depend on me.  No reinventing the wheel with a new temp every time you need help. 

 

 

AVAILABILITY:  My hours are your hours.  Frankly, I work pretty much 24/7.  If you need something overnight, I can generally accomplish it for you.  I am currently in the Central Time Zone which, in many cases, increases our ability to coordinate your needs with my ability to produce. 

 

 

In today’s tightening financial market, you need every advantage you can get.  YOU NEED ME!!  I have more than 30 years of experience --- mostly in law firms.  I have the ability to assist you with everything from drafting documents to coddling clients.  But most of all, I HAVE WHAT YOU NEED MOST --- great skills and a passion for the work I do!!

 

 

HAPPY HOUR!

~~Happy Hour Specials~~

Transcription Work ~ $12.99 Per Hour
Mailings ~ $10.00 Per Hour

Mon. - Friday
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Central Time)

Have you delayed trying a Virtual Assistant?  Are you looking for ways to save on overhead costs during this difficult economy?  Then HAPPY HOUR is just what you need!!

On orders placed during HAPPY HOUR, I will provide you with my regular transcription services at less then half my regular hourly rate.  I specialize in legal transcription and also have a medical background which is invaluable to those preparing cases involving legal/medical materials.  Whatever your transcription needs, I can provide you with speedy, accurate, professional service.

With the holidays approaching, I have chosen to include mailings in this HAPPY HOUR offering.  Let me prepare your holiday mailings for you.  This will save you time and energy as well as money.  My HAPPY HOUR rate is 50% of my normal rate on computer generated labels and 25% of my normal rate on hand-addressed mailings.     

Have You Tried Digital Dictation/Transcription?

Many years ago I started researching digital dictation and transcription.  As a result, my clients were well ahead of the curve when digital became popular.  I am frequently called upon to educate clients on the concept of digital transcription work.  And I have prepared and presented digital transcription training materials to many lawyers and their staff. 

Digital Transcription saves you time and money:  No more broken/damaged tapes; no more lost tapes; sound quality is incredible; reduced equipment costs; and if a file is damaged in transference to your transcriptionist, you still have your original file to work from.  Why not take this opportunity to try my services.  You can't beat the rates!

Remember:  To take advantage of these Happy Hour Specials you must contact me between the hours of 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM Central Time.  If you know in advance that you will have work late in the day, email me early in the day and let me know.  Or call me at 760-494-7099.

Happy Hour is a limited time offer.

A New Beginning

The election is over.  We will soon have a new President.  As I watched  President-Elect Obama give his speech last evening I was struck by the immense amount of planning he now faces.  And then I thought about how good it would be if each of us started out fresh periodically.

We all develop bad habits.  We dig ourselves into a hole and just keep flailing away.  WHY?  Because it's easy!  It's routine.  It's a rut.  The truth is there are things we like to do --- and there are things we avoid.  Human nature being what it is --- we generally get into the habit of doing what we like first and ignoring the rest. 

I too am guilty of this.  I grab my morning coffee and settle in to check emails and Twitter and Linked-In and all the other social networks I belong to.  Before I know it, 6 hours have elapsed and I've not done the marketing letters I've been thinking about for weeks, nor made the phone calls on my list.  I promise myself I'll start out with those first thing in the morning --- but the next day is just a repeat of today.

A Different Approach:

Let's play a game.  Let's pretend we --- like the President --- have a Cabinet.  For this exercise I want you to pretend you have 2 cabinet members.  Take a piece of paper and list those jobs that in your business that you've been dragging your feet on --- list all those things you've been avoiding or haven't had time for.  Wow --- what a list . . . aren't you amazed at its length?  How good would you feel if you could assign those to your cabinet members and walk away?  Wouldn't you approach your work with a new found vigor and joy if you didn't have all of these "must do" items dragging you down?

Time to Delegate!

In reality you DO have a Cabinet available to you --- ME!  I bet I could finish most of those jobs for you in half the time you've spent thinking about them.  And you know what?  It's easier for me to do most of them than it is for you.  Hate to make collections calls?  Not a problem for me as I don't know the people personally.  Need to send out follow-up notes or thank yous?  Not a problem --- I already have the stamps.  Need to rewrite that publicity material?  I don't mind bragging about you!  Need to start a BLOG?  Everyone needs on -- I can do that --- and I can keep it updated for you too!  What a draw for your business THAT will be!

And Save Money $$$ . . .

When you use my services you save time AND money.  I provide you with:

• multiple skills and 30+ years of experience
• the same person each time so there is no time wasted on training and retraining

Because I work from MY office, you have:

• no need for extra equipment which is only used by a Temp
• no benefits to pay (vacation, medical, dental, 401k)
• no need to pay for hours when you don't need my services

Are YOU spending valuable time on tasks that do not generate income?  Then let me handle those projects for you.  Are you being distracted from meeting new clients and getting client work done?  Then let me help you find more time to focus on your business!

Time to Move Forward:

Are you spending valuable time on non-income-generating tasks?  What a waste.  Those kinds of projects overwhelm and distract us -- they slow us down.  Competition is fierce -- do you really need distractions in this tight economy?  Let me remove the distractions from your plate. Not only will you have more time to focus on your business, the JOY you once felt in running your own business will return. 

Wouldn't you like to really ENJOY your work again?  Time to reoganize and simplify your life.  Today's economy is perfect for solopreneurs like us -- we bring something truly beneficial to the job market --- highly focused project-oriented work products which don't require the backing of a huge corporation.  But if you are going to compete in today's market, you need to focus, streamline and delegate.

Talk to me.  Let me know how I can help you!  I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

DID YOU VOTE TODAY?

IN THE BEGINNING . . . .

I grew up in Mid-Michigan.  We lived with my Grandparents and I have vivid memories of gathering 'round the old Zenith radio in the evenings to listen to the political conventions.  Normally that time of year we would have spent the evening on the screened-in front porch, hoping to catch a slight breeze -- waiting for it to cool down before bedtime.  After all, this was the 50's --- we had a lovely house, but air conditioning was not part of the package. 

So here we were -- huddled in the darkened heat and humidity --- hanging onto every word that came across that radio.  It was exciting.  My blood raced as we listened to the speeches from the podium and the floor.  Mealtime conversation revolved around the previous night's convention activity.  The newspaper was read from front to back.  This was post-WWII and the U.S. was involved in the Korean "action" at the time.  The election of a new President was an incredible responsibility.  It was exciting.  It was patriotic.  It was OUR DUTY!  And I could hardly wait 'til I was old enough to vote. 

I was 20 years old in 1964 --- could not vote that year.  What a disappointment.  But, I was living in Mexico City at that time and learned much about our political process through the eyes of the international community as we watched Goldwater and Johnson bash it out.  What tried to pass for a refined political contest inside the U.S., simply looked like a 3-ring circus from another country.

My First Vote!

My first Presidential election came a year after my marriage to a man 10 years my senior --- Richard had served in Korea in the Marines.  He had lied about his age to enter the Marines and felt strongly about the Presidential race.  It was my first time to vote and I was incredibly excited.  However, my husband and I disagreed loudly about the candidates.  To make things worse, Richard was determined that my youth rendered me incapable of properly determining who should be the next President.  He wanted Nixon.  I wanted Humphrey.  All the way to the polling place, all the way through the line, he constantly pushed me about how to cast my vote.  I voted for Humphrey and never told him who I voted for.  Given the Watergate fiasco, I still feel I was right.

Years passed.  Elections came and went.  In 1978 I moved to Denver.  My dad moved to Colorado in 1979 and he was a Reaganite if ever there was one.  Dad loved to cook and my son and I had Friday night dinners with him.   Once again I was under the gun for my support of Jimmy Carter.  Election night that year was difficult --- half the country had already voted before our polls closed.  The country was overwhelmingly "red" and I couldn't even get any sympathy from my own Father!

In 1991 I married again and moved to Southern California.  My husband's family was largely Republican.  The elections in 1992 didn't really matter much to me because the race was declared by the media before I even got off work and headed to the polls.  Not only was West Coast news on TV too early for those of us who worked in REAL jobs, we were effectively shut out of the voting cycle by those in earlier time zones.  I still voted in every election; but it no longer carried the mystique or appeared as compelling.  The fire had gone out of our election process for me.

Patriotism Returns!

Fast forward to 2008.   My life was in transition as I left SoCal and headed East to move my office and home into an RV.  I watched with interest as the political "field" whittled itself down.  I remembered a speech made by a junior senator at a 2004 convention -- a speech which brought tears to my eyes -- a speech which renewed my appreciation for our political process.  I awaited this year's conventions with renewed excitement.  I only wish we could return to conventions of old -- where decisions were made AT and DURING the conventions -- in smoke-filled rooms with lots of conjecture taking place outside closed doors.  OK --- maybe we could do without the smoke.  But it would be nice if there were still some anticipation about the process during the conventions!

Today I will vote in a new state (Missouri).  I could have voted absentee ballot.  In the end, I opted to really participate in the process this year --- if it means standing in a long line -- so be it.  I've stood in line for Sony Playstations for my son's Christmas gift; I've stood in line to have a book autographed.  Surely I can stand in line to exercise my right to vote.

What Excitement!

I am glad to see a renewed sense of excitement about this year's presidential race.  I am proud to live in a time when we finally have a black running for President and a woman running for Vice President.  There were times, through the years, when I thought I would not live long enough to see either event.  I rejoice that I am young enough to truly appreciate the renewal of our political process.  Regardless of who wins, it will be a joy to observe another successful transition of the United States Government.

And I think I'm actually going to enjoy the excitement of spending election night in the middle of the country, listening to the pundits do their thing, wondering who will REALLY win when the final votes are tallied. I will miss some of the Old Guard --- like Timothy White and Eric Servareid.   I hope we won't have a repeat of the Florida drama of prior elections.  And I pray that whoever is elected serves our country safely and with wisdom. 

Now, I'm off to vote --- meet you at the polling place.  Call if you need a ride!

What Are YOU Doing to Cut YOUR Expenses?

CHANGE --- something we all try to avoid.  But sometimes change is good.  It broadens our horizons and makes us rethink our lifestyle.

Financial issues are paramount in everyone's mind these days.  Over recent weeks, nearly every discussion has started with some comments about the state of the economy and personal finances.  Rightfully so.  In one way or another we are all facing issues which affect the security and well-being of our families.  We would be remiss if we did not examine what is happening and make necessary adjustments in our own personal lives.

Now is a great time to talk to our elders --- what did THEY do during the Great Depression?  During WWII?  I remember my folks talking about Monopoly Parties where couples got together to play Monopoly and eat popcorn --- rather then going to the movies.  There were candy-making parties during the holidays.  And Mom related calling up friends and inviting them to bring whatever they were making for dinner to a local park for an impromptu mid-week potluck.  Potlucks used to be a very popular way to entertain.

MY "PERFECT STORM!"

As many of you know, I have spent the last year transitioning to living and working full-time from my RV.  This is a move I had planned for nearly 10 years.  It was my way of being able to travel and expand my horizons when I knew I would never be able to totally retire.  Forming my business as a virtual assistantand obtaining enough clients to support my lifestyle has not been easy.  But it has brought about some tremendous opportunities.

I always knew living in a house in Southern California was expensive.  California is notorious for its housing prices.  While some think salaries make up for it, I found they seldom did.  The highest wages were in Los Angeles.  Law firms in San Diego always justified the wage differential as a "Paradise Tax" for living in such a beautiful city.  Believe me -- I love San Diego --- and it's natural to expect to pay something for the wonderful climate and other benefits.  BUT --- one still must survive.

Moving into my RV and hitting the road has reduced my cost of living tremendously.  First, it has always been my intention to spend several months in various places --- unlike the whirlwind vacations we have all experienced through the years,  I want to be able to truly experience a location and learn about the area.  You can't do that in a week.  Add to that all the interesting places you fly over and never see!  And what about that queasy tummy you get when you think about returning to a desk piled high with work . . . .

My lot rent on a monthly basis is less then a third of my SoCal housing payment.  And it includes an electricity allowance (which I managed to stay within, even when the AC was running 24/7 this summer from the humidity).  Propane usage will increase with cold weather.  I DID purchase 2 good electric heaters to supplement the furnace.  Since I won't be using AC, that should fall within my electrical budget and lessen the propane usage. 

Vehicle fuel prices in the Mid-West are incredibly low compared to SoCal (even now).  Diesel was $5.10 in San Diego when I left.  It dropped quickly as we crossed the country.  Currently diesel is $2.29 here in Missouri.  And since I am no longer commuting, my mileage has been significantly reduced. 

The cost of food --- much fresh from local farmers --- is also less.  And I've had such fun frequenting the Farmer's Market, sampling local honey, enjoying wonderful jellies and jams from the local Amish Community, buying corn-on-the-cob from roadside stands, and visiting apple orchards this fall.

Let's be honest -- we can't all move into an RV -- and it's not an appropriate lifestyle for everyone.  My wanderlust makes it a no brainer for me to try.  Mom said I had "itchy feet" from the day I was born.  But there are things we can all do to lessen our monthly expenditures.  For instance --- I've given up the artificial nails I do so love (my nails are scrubby when left to their own devices).  Because of an ankle fusion and foot problems, pedicures are a requirement.  But I'm learning to cut the frequency by doing some of it at home.  And the fun of buying from the Farmer's Market has resulted in more home-cooked meals -- all healthier because they are based on fresh ingredients.

So -- What Are You Doing To Cut Your Expenses?

So, the question is ---- what are YOU doing to cut your expenses?  I hope you'll leave comments about things you are changing in your lifestyle.  Your responses will be gathered into a future article on this Blog --- sharing should be fun.  Think outside the box, folks.  

And remember to VOTE tomorrow!!