Tag Archives: online

Australian VA Conference 2013 Wrap Up

by on 29 Mar 2013 in Virtual Assistant

AVAC 2013 Wrap Up. Australian Virtual Assistants Association, Australian Virtual Assistants Conference, AVAA, AVAC, businesswomen, community, industry, network, online, productivity, professional development

Photo credit: Kathie M. Thomas

I was privileged to attend my first Australian Virtual Assistants Conference recently. Now in its fourth year, this was the first time that the two-day event had been held in Sydney. About 50 delegates gathered in the luxurious surrounds of the Star Room in Darling Harbour to learn, network, share, connect, teach, meet, laugh and catch-up.

14 speakers came together to inform us on everything from marketing to health, from the business mindset to best practices, and even self-defence. We were generously showered with information, gifts, advice, support and prizes. Both days I left energised, informed, valued and inspired.

A huge thank you must go out to Kathie M. Thomas and Anita Kilkenny of the Australian Virtual Assistants Association, as well as all of those involved in the organisation and running of this successful event. They certainly managed to exceed my expectations, fill my head full of ideas and my body full of energy.

I’ve come away from the conference feeling completely motivated and just a tiny bit daunted about the tasks that lay ahead. I’m ready to be more productive, work my tail off and to take my business to the next level over the coming year.

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time. ~Abraham Lincoln

But more than that, I feel immensely proud to be a part of the Australian Virtual Assistant community. It is full of strong, inspiring businesswomen (and a few men) who are selfless in their support of others in the industry. We clearly all have the common goal of making the Australian Virtual Assistant community a well-recognised and respected force, both in the online and offline business worlds.

Bring on AVAC 2014 in Brisbane!

 

the working holiday

by on 09 May 2012 in VA Diary

Can you really mix business with pleasure?

the Working Holiday. business, freelancer, online, plug in, public holiday, recharged, theadminassistant, Virtual Assistant, Wi-Fi, working holiday

Photo by AwnisAlan

I recently wrote about whether, as a freelancer, I was eligible to take public holidays. (Can I have a Public Holiday too (or Three)?) After getting various feedback and opinions on the article, I came to the conclusion that it was more or less up to me how and when I took my holidays. So when the opportunity arose last weekend to have a three-day break, I decided to throw caution to the wind and set off for an island beach resort.

Now although it was a very relaxing break, I did spend a lot of time worrying about the baby I had left at home. Not an actual baby of course, but just as needy all the same; my business. So the night before the big trip I could be found burning the midnight oil to finish off a project and make sure that everything was in place.

Unfortunately we weren’t staying in same far off remote hut that was completely cut off from the world. That would have been much easier. No, no. This little island was hooked up, and I spent much of the weekend resisting the urge to plug in and jump online.

Day and night, mobile phones and iPads jumped out at me from every corner, trying to break my resolve and possibly my relationship too. Though I’m pleased to report that even when my partner offered me some Wi-Fi time, I declined. And I was even more surprised than he was.

But even after such a lovely weekend of sun, sport and swimming, I can’t deny that I wasn’t champing at the bit to get home and log on. And what did I discover when I got back? Not only was theadminassistant still standing, but I was also fully recharged and raring to go for the short week ahead.

And that, my friends, is how a holiday works.

sunday thrills & monday ills

by on 21 Mar 2012 in VA Diary

No, I haven’t had big weekend – quite the contrary.

Sunday Thrills and Monday Ills. BlackBerry, boundaries, email, flexibility, glamorous, home office, marketing, online, theadminassistant, time management, unproductive, Virtual Assistant, work

Photo by TriciaWang

I was recently a little ill. Having managed to pick up a head cold in one of the hottest countries in the world, my week looked like this:

Monday:             wander back and forth between the computer and the couch
being entirely unproductive (and make yourself feel worse by not resting up)
Tuesday:            spend most of the day in bed, feeling sorry for oneself (and constantly
check BlackBerry to make sure world has not suddenly disappeared)
Wednesday:     repeat Tuesday
Thursday:         repeat Monday

By Friday I was almost back on track, but the week was over. And because I felt so guilty for being sick all week, I spent the following weekend working.

You see, working from a home office is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand you have the flexibility to attend to everyday tasks (such as attending appointments or running errands). It almost sounds glamorous to be able to pop out for a coffee or go to the gym in the middle of the day.

On the other hand it means that you never leave work. Ever. There is always something to be done. It is so tempting to just jump online and check your email or do a quick bit of marketing, even when you are ill.

The worst part is that I have double standards on the whole issue. Heaven forbid if my partner sits at home checking his emails or taking business calls. I’m straight onto him about shutting off from work and relaxing when he’s not there. But of course I don’t apply the same rules to myself.

So here’s what I’ve learnt about working from home – time management is essential and boundaries must be set, because flexibility can sometimes lead to overstretching.