Volume 3
Issue 4
April 2008

What's Inside?

What's The Vision?

The Vision is a bi-weekly ezine published by The Virtual Nation™. Our ezine is packed full of complimentary resources, tips and trends for the savvy Virtual Professional. Check out our past ezine editions.

The Virtual Nation™ (TVN) is an educational destination for Virtual Professionals from the world over. As an education-based community, it is important to learn about cutting edge technologies, the latest trends and ways to hold on to the passion and motivation that started you on the path of being a virtual professional in the first place.

Michelle's Musings

Dear Friend,

I am working with a client that really jazzes me (and also really stretches me in terms of business building). I see off the chart potential for his service, but you also feel his genuine gift of self. He is not afraid to give of himself. It goes back a few ezines ago where I spoke of volunteering and paying it forward. He is such a giver and I want to introduce him to you because I think you need to know about him and his upcoming event (if you haven't already heard!) He wants you to be successful and pay it forward, too.

Michael Charest, BGS President, began his private coaching practice 7 years ago. Michael has personally coached hundreds of small business owners and has served thousands through his speaking, audio programs and newsletter. Prior to coaching, he was the general manager of a prestigious country club in Los Angeles, managing 150 employees and serving 1,800 members. Michael lives in Denver, Colorado.

I will be attending this amazing conference for a mere $97! Yes, that is correct and NOT a typo. The hotel is about $87/night and flights are relatively cheap. For two days of intensive business building and help in unraveling the mysteries of building a sustainable business, this is the least expensive and probably the most information packed event you will attend anywhere.

Don't miss this out on this opportunity!

www.GrowYourBusinessGrowYourLife.com

With Gratitude,
Michelle Ulrich

Feature Article: A TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT GIVES YOU MORE TIME!

By Michael Charest,
President and Founder of Business Growth Solutions
               
To create a thriving business you must stay in action and put time, energy and attention on the things that will generate the results you desire (i.e.: more clients!).  Seems fairly obvious, right?  Well then why is it so hard to DO?!?
               
Virtually all small business owners struggle with time management.  We hear, “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” OR “There is never enough time.”
               
And for many business owners, scheduling and managing our work time is all the more difficult. 
               
In our work with hundreds of business owners, we have found that a clear and proactive weekly schedule can help you stay in action and focused on the key areas necessary to build a thriving practice.
               
This month we share an overview of our 4 Step Time Management System.  We encourage you to take our suggestions and create a customized weekly schedule that works perfectly for you. 
               
STEP 1: Identify Your “Big Rocks"
               
This concept is derived from Stephen Covey's training in time management.  He uses rocks and sand as a metaphor for the things we need and want to put in our schedule.  He demonstrates that by first filling a bucket with "big rocks," you still have room to add sand and fill in the crevices. 
               
The "big rocks" represent your most important activities (even if they are not urgent).  The sand represents less important activities, some of which may be time critical.  The concept is that if the sand is dumped into the bucket first, the more important "big rocks" will not fit.  (And he displays this very effectively in his seminars.)  When the big rocks are placed in the bucket first, you still have room for the sand, but NOT the other way around.  
               
To create an effective schedule that will support you in growing your business you need to identify and focus on your “big rocks,” and not spend too much time on smaller, administrative-type items that do not generate results and revenue.
               
We have found that for most business owners, the following areas comprise some, if not all, of their “big rocks.”

• PROVIDING YOUR SERVICE - The actual time you provide your service, prepare for calls, post-call follow-up, etc.

• NETWORKING - Going to networking events for the purpose of securing sales calls.

• EXECUTING MARKETING STRATEGIES – Such as speaking, sending out a grassroots marketing letter, making follow up calls, forming a strategic alliance, etc.

• SALES CALL - Performing your sales meeting to secure new clients.

• CONTINUING EDUCATION – Taking additional training, reading, going to seminars, etc.

• ADMINISTRATION - Answering/sending email, billing, filing, paperwork, etc.

• WRITING/CREATING – Such as newsletters, articles, working on programs, etc.

• BUSINESS PLANNING/STRATEGY - Setting goals, creating plans, brainstorming ideas, etc.

             
Using the above list as a guideline, what are your “big rocks”?  What are the areas you know you need to focus on in order to build the business you desire?
               
STEP 2: Create Your Time Allotment
               
Next, determine how many hours you have each week to dedicate to your business and assign appropriate blocks of time to each category.
               
Note: This is highly contingent upon where you are in your business and the size/scope of your practice.  
               
As a GENERAL rule, however, we suggest that if you don’t yet have a full practice, MOST of your time should be dedicated to MARKETING ACTIVITIES (including executing your strategies, networking, sales calls, etc.).  As you gain more clients and the time increases that you are actually providing your service, your marketing time may decrease proportionally.

Again, this is a general rule.  Please note however, that your time in marketing will never be zero, and will rarely fall below 20% of your total time.
                               
STEP 3: Schedule Your Time
               
Next, you want to block out times in your calendar (i.e.: your Day-Timer, Palm Pilot, etc.) for each area.  We recommend you do this weekly.  This will then become your "ideal" schedule. Your goal.  Your target. 
               
Not every week will perfectly match the schedule you create, in fact most will not!  That’s okay!  But if you have a plan and do your best to stick with it you will be a lot better off than if had not created a schedule to begin with.
                               
STEP 4: Implement/Measure/Modify
               
Once you create your blueprint, it is important to commit to your schedule and strive to implement it the best you can.  During the week take note of what is working and what is not.
Make the appropriate adjustments and you will begin to feel great about your schedule.
               
Success in Time Management requires dedication and commitment.  The first step is to commit and at least get things scheduled and then dedicate yourself to getting a little better each week.

About Michael: Michael Charest (pronounced "Sherest") is a personal and business coach, speaker, and author.

Michael Charest started his career helping corporations increase their business, their profits and their employee/employer relations. His business plans, consultations, bonus and incentive programs, employee training, marketing strategies and plans to increase efficiency in all areas of business, increased sales revenues by the millions and profitability enormously. He achieved these successes while employed in various managerial positions in these companies, and later with his own consulting firm.

But he wasn’t content working with large companies. His heart was always with the small business people, the solopreneurs, the mom and pop businesses that make up the back bone of America. Although most of them knew their trades well, knew how to work at their businesses, they were struggling with the sales and marketing aspect of their businesses. And because of that, their businesses were struggling, and instead of living the American Dream, they were just getting by. Michael saw an opportunity to be of service to them.

Once he left American Golf Corporation in 1996 to found his own consulting firm, and then his company, Business Growth Solutions in 1999, he has helped hundreds of small business owners take their businesses to the pinnacle of success.

In addition to writing From Grunt to Greatness, he is the president of Business Growth Solutions, a company which has helped thousands of small business owners grow their businesses and their lives. If you are a solopreneur, please visit www.BGSLLC.com to learn about becoming a licensee and joining our incredible family!

Michael is also the founder of the very successful, Coach & Grow Rich, a company he founded and has since sold.

Michael doesn’t promise his clients an easy, pie in the sky, elevator ride to the top. He is real. Any small business owner knows it will take work. But Michael has an unusual talent to bring out the greatness in his clients, and assist them to rise to the top of their professions. Their phenomenal success rates say more about Michael Charest than any biography can.

Originally from Massachusetts, he has lived in Redondo Beach, CA for the last few years, but at press time was contemplating his next move. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado.

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Upcoming Events

The Virtual Nation Expert Teleseminar Series
Presents...

Creating Your Business Attraction Success Plan
with Special Guest Laura West,
creator of the Joyful Business Guide

Marketplace

Planet Teleclass

At www.PlanetTeleclass.com you can take a class or
list your teleclass at The Net's Largest Teleclass Community!

Would you like to have a banner ad or classified (text only) ad in our ezine? You can have up to a 50-word ad with live links. Check out our full line of advertising options

 

Advertising Disclaimer:
The Virtual Nation™ does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the paid advertisements above or the quality of any products, information, or other materials displayed, purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection with any ad. You are responsible for handling your own due diligence before purchasing any product or service.

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Resources & Tips We Use

I have been using TimeBridge with Outlook 2007 for a couple weeks now and really like it. It does have some drawbacks if you have someone else schedule your appointments for you. Some appointments require longer drive time and if you do not add that time into your calendar notice, your assistant is unable to see when you are 'truly' available.

Here's my availability to see an example: http://www.timebridge.com/mytime/michelleulrich

Overall, I still think this is an awesome plugin for Outlook and plan to continue using it. I have my assistant use www.logmein.com to login and book my appointments directly in my Outlook. It doesn't take that long and everyone gets reminders and the functionality is great.

Another Resource We Use

Are you sick and tired of fr*ee conferencing lines that go down during your calls, poor line quality or the inability to record calls when you need to? We found a really fantastic solution to this common problem.

This is a great service we have begun using to record our teleseminars via telephone or webcast. Many people are not able to call in from other countries, so we now offer live webcasts of our teleseminars. Just sign up for either one of our upcoming teleseminars to experience this for yourself.

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Virtual Volunteers

We'll announce our new volunteers during each ezine to get you motivated to help, too.

• Kimberly Grass of Virtual Workforce, LLC will be our Volunteer Manager
• Denise Aday of Aday VA Solutions will be our New Member Benefits Manager
• Denise Dukette, Amethyst Junction will be our Membership Manager
• Debbie Tremblay will be our Services Manager
• Our Resource Library Manager - TBD

Would you like to join the ranks and be part of a grass roots community of Virtual Volunteers?

Would you be interested in a Volunteer position with The Virtual Nation in exchange for a complimentary membership? 

Tell us how you can help by taking this 5-minute survey

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Thank You for Joining Me!

With Gratitude,

Michelle Ulrich

Want to share your gratitude? Mosey on over to the Gratitude Club and check it out.