Inside Out!

Fight or Flight --- Dealing With Stress

An good news out there today?  Banks failing; markets falling; Oprah interviewing Moms so overwhelmed with life they've endangered the lives of their children; gas lines in the south; hurricanes hitting the coastlines; MidAmerica hit with weather never before experienced.  When will it end?  I feel like I'm watching some kind of surreal party where Don Quixote is swinging at windmills and kids are swinging at pinatas.

During recent research on the subject of stress, I found there are a number of things we can each do to deal with these stressful situations Life seems intent on throwing our way.

• When panic strikes, get up and move!  That panic is really a physical manifestation of the Fight or Flight Syndrome, which releases a rush of adrenalin into our blood stream.  The best way to deal with this is to GET UP AND MOVE!  Movement simulates flight --- which calms the body down.  Take a walk around the block; walk the dog; go to the mailbox; run the vacuum; check on that project in the copy room.  Get your body moving.  The longer you sit, the more panicked you will become.
• Turn off the TV.  As a journalist, I'm a newsaholic.  But the media overkill simply whips up the fury and the fear.  Either read the newspaper daily or watch one news program a day.  Amazing how much better you will feel.
• Eat light --- eat things which are easy to digest --- why tax your system?  Limit the red meat.  Eat more veggies and fruit.
• Eat more frequently --- eating less food at more frequent intervals keeps your blood sugar level.  Keeping your blood sugar level helps eliminate mood swings.
• Drink more water --- research shows we don't drink enough water.  Drink 8 ounces of water every hour to flush and detoxify your system.
• Eliminate or reduce caffeine and sugars from your diet.
• Increase the use of cinnamon, ginger and turmeric in your system to aid digestion and help eliminate muscle spasms.  These spices should be as fresh as possible --- not from bottles that have been lazing on someone's shelf for a year.  Remember, these and other spices such as cumin, hot peppers, allspice, nutmeg, etc., have been used for centuries in 3rd World Countries as food preservatives and to assist in digestion.
• Try aromatherapy!  It's been around for centuries so why not try it?  Grapefruit is said to increase the ability to focus; lavender relaxes.  Think about it --- ever walk into a house where an apple pie is baking?  Doesn't it make you feel marvelous?  Don't want to bake a pie?  Keep a small pot of water boiling on the back burner and add cinnamon, nutmeg and a vanilla bean to it.
• Try peppermint tea (a few drops of peppermint oil in a bottle of water is an Old Wive's cure for colic that I used for years with my children); try tea with cloves and fresh ginger.  Your system will love you.

  But what about my business, you say?  What about my livelihood?  Small businesses and solopreneurs are already pushed to the wall and yet they are afflicted with more. 

This is the IDEAL climate for a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT.  Have you tried one?  If not, why not?  You are missing out on something big. 

With a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT:

• You do NOT pay for benefits:  no sick leave, no vacation, no healthcare.
• You do NOT pay for equipment that is only used when you require a temp.
• You do NOT pay someone for 8 hours when you only need them for 2 hours.
• You do NOT pay for a new temp you must introduce to your office procedures each time you need a temp.

What you DO get with a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT is:

• Someone who provides his/her own equipment.
• Someone who charges only for the amount of time they spend on your project.
• The same person every time you need help --- hence familiarity with your business and your work practices.
• Someone who is available on a unique schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Sound good? You bet!  Why pay for what you DON'T need when you can get what you DO need for less with a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT.  Less stress; less money; less hassle.  A well-trained virtual assistant is what you REALLY need. 

So ----- what do you have to lose?  And, what ARE you waiting for?   

THE NEW HOME OFFICE!!

In The Beginning . . .

Well, folks, I've been long absent from this blog and I truly apologize!  Sometime, shortly after the tax man arrived and left, I learned I would have to move from the house I've lived in for 16 years.  (No, the two incidents were not related --- just coincidental!)  Me --- with 2 Giant Schnauzers and 2 birds!  Me --- with a garage piled to the rafters and a house looking very similar!  Me --- who suddenly found herself confronted with more work than she'd had during the entire 6 months prior and the need to do it and get paid!  Wow ---- big shock ---- how do we handle all this.

It goes back a number of years --- and it's part of the reason I am doing what I am doing.  Back in the late 90's I was reading a book on retirement on the commuter train.  At that time I commuted one hour twice a day between Oceanside and San Diego, to work in a large law firm.  I've long alleged I will never be able to retire --- and was looking for unique ways of dealing with that issue.  One that came up in the book was living (and traveling) full-time in an RV while continuing to work ---- some find temporary work along the way --- some take their businesses with them.

The Light Went On Upstairs!!

BINGO!!!  I was ONE HAPPY CAMPER!! I started making plans from that very moment --- doing my research; investigating; joining numerous RV groups; and much more.  I even became the moderator on one of the RV boards.  People were wonderful --- tons of useful information offered, along with a willingness to answer all my stupid questions.  This RVing community was what my neighborhood had been like as a child.  Friendly, warm, interesting, varied!  Wow.  This was going to be fun.

I attended a Life on Wheels Seminar early on and took every important mechanical/how-to class I could squeeze in ----- propane, electrical, tires, batteries, etc., ---- save the FUN classes for another time.  I needed the Nitty Gritty!  Even though I did not yet have an RV, folks were incredibly pleasant and helpful.  A friend and I attended a seminar in Arizona, presented by two original full-timers, Ron and Barb Hoffmeister.  They did it for 14 years and now live near Phoenix and RV occasionally. 

My friend and I looked at RVs of all sizes, shapes and descriptions.  I visited folks out boondocking at The Slabs (near Niland, CA).  I talked with folks who have done it for years and folks still into "vacation mode" RVing.  And over the years I saw the number of full-timers grow enormously.  Still I was tied to an office and had just a few weeks of vacation a year.  Working 12 hour days, the weekends went for errands.  It just wasn't going to happen any time soon.  Upkeep on a home was hard work and time-consuming.  Little time for real vacations, let alone RVing on weekends.

The Dream Takes Shape . . . 

I was aiming for 2008 as my year to move to an RV full-time.  For someone who loves new faces and new places as much as I do, this was to be an "escape" of sorts.  While fully tethered to my business, I could expand my horizons.  With the addition of satellite and solar panels, I would be free to roam just about anywhere I could fathom myself driving.  I'd have more time to spend with my critters.  And I'd even have time to do some of my neglected projects:  bead work; photography; quilting; and gardening (just in a more mobile fashion).

Sixteen months ago I left corporate America and started pushing my own Virtual Assistance business full-time from home.  It has grown.  I have been blessed with great clients and work I love.  So, when it became apparent that I was in for a big change in my life, and my son and his family decided to leave California at about the same time, I decided why put off what I had hoped to do.  I'm not getting any younger.  All those years of saying "Someday I want to . . . " were quickly becoming less likely and, in truth, some things I had delayed doing I was no longer interested in!

Welcome to THE HOME OFFICE!

So I bought an RV.  Took some heavy research.  Always thought I'd want a 5th wheel because of better space utilization and more storage.  But decided with the dogs --- a big pick-up truck might not be in my future just yet.  So I bought a 1989 Holiday Rambler Imperial Travel Trailer which is in beautiful shape.  Didn't want to buy new --- they depreciate the moment you pull them off the lot, just as cars do.  And everyone kept telling me the older ones were built better.  So, as Tina Turner likes to say, we were starting out easy.  Nice and easy.

Reality Sets In With A Thump!!

Right!  Until I discovered just how much junk I have accumulated in 16 years!!!  Let me tell you there is nothing easy about de-constructing 16 years of life in a house into a 31' RV and a small storage unit!!  How will I accomplish this?  I'm not yet sure.  With the assistance of many wonderful friends and many long, hard days, I hope to accomplish this transition with some semblance of order coming out of the chaos.  I have to be out of here by July 11th, so I'm in the final stages of this massive project. 

Don't expect many updates to this blog in the next week or so.  Once I get on the road, I'll be updating again daily.  We will meet our new home in Springfield, MO, in late July.  I plan to stay there for a bit to get things organized and reworked the way I want them.  First order of business will be removal of the massive couch in the living room and setting up my work/office area.  Everything else will flow from that.

A New View Of The World . . .

One thing you CAN expect from me in the months to come is a whole different perspective on organization!  By the time I'm out of here I think I will have learned many NEW lessons --- may even have earned a new degree:  Master of Moving.  And the constantly changing scenery once I am on the road --- new faces and new places --- should provide much new fodder for this wonderful blog venue.  I look forward to introducing you to some great new success stories and ideas for your personal use.

I plan to spend a good part of each year in Southern California.  I will still be involved with Southern California Giant Schnauzer Rescue.  And I will look forward to seeing all my old friends on the "left coast" frequently.  But this will allow me the freedom to travel to other areas of the country I've longed to see --- or places where friends have relocated --- I can visit without imposing.  And if I find a place along the way that cries out for a longer visit, I'll be able to do that too.

And after all is said and done --maybe I'll decide this isn't my cup of tea.  In which case I'll park it somewhere as a "summer home" or sell it.  Better to have realized one's dream and moved on then to find yourself rocking on a porch somewhere down the line doing a "woulda, coulda, shoulda."

In the meantime --- please come along for the ride.  And welcome to the new HOME OFFICE!! 

Today's Lesson:  Haven't used it in the last year?  Dump it, give it away, sell it, auction it off.  It's just taking up space --- and someday someone will have to deal with it!!  Welcome aboard.  We're on our way to Organizationville!!

THE SECRET THE BIG BOYS USE!

Small businesses can benefit from flocking together.  Learn the secret that the Big Boys already know!!  (Photo courtesy of The Beak)

In case some of you wondered --- I took a couple of days off --- not intentionally --- it was one of those things I wrote about the other night.  I let it slip one night because it was just too late and I was too tired.  And then the next night came and went, and then we were on the weekend and I decided to take the weekend off.  Uh-huh!  Smart.  What was that I said about maintaining the habit? See --- you are not alone in your search for Organizationville!

Let's take a different approach today since I've had several discussions with people lately on this subject.  Organization is built on many aspects and phases.  What you are trying to organize will determine your approach as well as the methods you use to accomplish the project.  This is a difficult lesson for many solopreneurs, who are often "control freaks."

Getting a business organized means letting go and letting someone else do some of the labor-intensive projects.  In my experience, delegating work is an art form itself.  Why?  Because the way a project is handed off directly determines its ultimate success.  Frankly, I have found in large companies the hand-off is easier and generally more successful then it is in small businesses.  It took me a number of years to figure out why it works that way.  But the reality of that truth turned things around for me in my own personal business and I hope it will for you too.

In a large company, even if you delegate, you keep the job "in-house" and you see the person working on the project on a regular basis.  But more then that, there is already a frame of reference in place for what is to be done by virtue of the standard operating procedures of that organization.  In a small business, you are more likely to hand a project off to an outside vendor and that frame of reference is lacking.  This is where experience and familiarity come into play.

I am a firm believer in small businesses working with other small businesses?  Why?  Because there is a work ethic there that helps form a common bond.  And one's personal success is directly related to the success of the client --- add to that the fact that word-of-mouth is the best marketing available and you have a win/win situation for small businesses working together.

Having said that, it is important to pick your working partners carefully.  In my opinion every solopreneur or consultant should be working with a Virtual Assistant ("VA").  A good virtual assistant will not only give you more bang for your buck financially, but she will also take time to learn details about your business that will increase the value of her output.   If you are running your own business, do some research on virtual assistants who do the kind of work your business needs.  Take time to read their information carefully.  Ask for work samples or references.  Meet with them --- either in person or by telephone.  I find telephone conversations work well in getting to know my clients.  We set aside time for several different conversations, which gives us time to digest prior discussions and come up with new questions. 

Once you find someone you feel comfortable with, start with one project and take time to follow that work through carefully.  Write out your initial instructions in an email.  Discuss your time-line, how much of your VA's time you are willing to pay for, and what you expect the results to be.  This is important because you have no prior experience in working together.  And without some parameters set out in writing, neither of you knows what to expect. 

Generally a flurry of emails will ensue as the project nears completion --- questions nobody thought about, issues that were not dealt with initially, etc.  Many think this is a waste of time and say, "I could have saved time by doing it myself."  Wrong!  First of all, in the time your VA was working on this project, you were accomplishing other things.  Second, the two of you are investing in each other's businesses by taking time to get to know each other through this work process.  You will not need to cover this ground again with your VA.  And in the future you will have a better grip on the types of things you need to spell out more clearly to someone who is not working down the hall from you.  As a final note, depending on your profession, you likely make much more per hour than you will pay a VA.  Working on new projects or finding new clients during the time your VA is accomplishing the other project will be far more profitable for you in the long-run.

In short, by consistently delegating projects to the same VA, you will develop a frame of reference together work-wise.  Over time, this relationship will become invaluable.  It is, in the end, the secret to getting things done in a professional world.  By developing ongoing relationships with people who are skilled and professional in their own fields, you will have the resources you need to get projects done on time and accurately while you move on to something else.  It is the secret that millionaires use in their personal and professional life.  Unfortunately, most of us dismiss the idea of paying skilled outsiders as something only "the big boys" do.  If you take a good look at your business and what you are trying to accomplish, you will realize that building these supportive relationships is far more important to the sole practitioner than it is to the large corporations of the world!

Today's Assignment: Take a look at all your projects and determine at least 2 that you could delegate to a good VA.  Research virtual assistants who meet your needs and find one to handle at least 1 of those projects for you.  Make a list of what you expect, your timeline, how much money you can afford to spend, and make sure to discuss these and other pertinent project issues with your VA.  The secret is in doing it --- not just thinking about it.  After you successfully complete the first project, others will flow like water.  And I will see you soon in Organizationville!

WHAT IS CARDINAL POINT VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS?

 

Every year large numbers of bright, intelligent people leave the corporate offices of this country to launch their own businesses. These people are used to having the support of personnel departments, office administrators, executive assistants, accountants, and IT departments. Suddenly they are on their own and their life becomes 3-ring circus which they are trying to juggle 24/7.

When you are starting a business there is no time for organization, administrative work or all the other things which make an office environment run smoothly. Every month is a race to see if you can bring in enough work to pay the bills --- while trying to find new clients. It IS exhilarating, but it is also lonely, frustrating, and most of all --- exhausting!

Cardinal Point Virtual Assistants was organized to span the distance between what you know HOW to do and can do well, and what is left that still needs to be done.  My job is to make your life easy. I do this by helping you get organized and by handling all the details that you have no experience or time for. Whether it's travel arrangements, setting up and marketing a seminar, balancing your AMEX account, collecting on overdue invoices, or transcribing dictation and sending out letters --- I get it all done easily and quickly from my own home office.

Some clients require on-site work. Office organization is often where we start. Then, if necessary, I visit once or twice a month to catch them up on filing or help them maintain that organization. Each client's needs are different and my job is to figure out what those needs are and fill the gap.

You don't pay for my sick days, my vacation days, or equipment that will only used a few times a month. In short, you only pay for what you really DO need. And therein lies the sweet spot for you. Whenever you need me, I'm just a phone call or an email away. In general, after so many years in the corporate world, I know how to get things done the first time. And I will make sure things are done in a way which makes you comfortable.

There is one thing you should know about me --- I LOVE my job!  It has now been a year since I left the full time corporate environment.  I miss the people --- I do NOT miss the rat race.  I love helping people do what they do best --- most sole practitioners/small businesses were formed because their owners had a desire to provide a service they felt they did well.  By helping these folks get organized and giving them the support they need administratively, their images become more professional and their businesses start to grow.  That gives me great satisfaction.

WHO IS KARALYN ECKERLE?

After more than 35 years in the legal field as a legal assistant/paralegal, I decided it was time for a change. To be honest, I was tired of the rat race --- the 1 hour commute twice a day; leaving for work in the dark and returning home in the dark; the filing deadlines; the last minute projects that invariably were missing some important element; breakdowns in communication, etc., etc., etc. (to paraphrase Yul Bryner in The King & I).

In addition to working in the legal field, for several years I ran a nonprofit agency which resettled refugees. More recently I founded Southern California Giant Schnauzer Rescue, which resettles Giants. I am owned by 2 Giant Schnauzers, a Parrolet and an Indian Ringneck. As a published freelance photojournalist, I have traveled extensively and always enjoy meeting new people and exploring new cultures. I am a Mother and proud new grandmother of a beautiful granddaughter.  She has wavy red tresses and laughing eyes.  What a joy to see our children again in our grandchildren!

In my quiet hours I enjoy beadwork, photography, quilting and gardening. Currently I am attempting to grow everything I eat. Since discovering Earthboxes and the  'Tomato Lady' in Loma Linda, I am once again excited about gardening. What could be better than fresh, sun-warmed heirloom tomatoes and the crunch of home-grown lettuce, cucumbers and hot peppers. Yum. 

I am a computer geek, of sorts --- I generally view computer problems as akin to a crossword puzzle. Figuring out a new software program often provides entertainment for an evening or two. I have supervised Word Processing Departments and taught many computer-related classes. I enjoy teaching folks how to get the most out of the programs they need to use.

Got a problem spot in your life that's been bugging you for a while?  Give me a call or send me an email and let's chat.  And I hope you will grab that daily cup of tea or coffee and drop in here for a few minutes to see what's new.  I've got lots of information and ideas to share.  You will be amazed at the tools I have available and how they will improve your productivity and state of mind!

So what are you waiting for?