Entrepreneur’s Mindset

December 3, 2009

Rita2Working for someone else and working for yourself is as different as day and night.  I suddenly realized this having worked in the corporate world for over 25 years compared to now being an entrepreneur.

It is quite an adjustment to become accustomed to not having to answer to anyone or feeling inferior to a superior.  I call this conditioning yourself into a mindset of an entrepreneur.  It is not an easy transition, but well worth the transformation.

Your client is not your boss, but your equal.  This type of relationship fosters a mutual respect for each other to the point where you can even brainstorm on certain topics or issues.  Sure your boss in the workforce may have attempted to show you mutual respect, but there was always that element of inequality that existed.

Having an entrepreneur’s mindset gives you the freedom to express your ideas or creativity without being worried about being stifled or causing confusion in the office or the boardroom.  An entrepreneur’s mindset gives you more confidence in yourself and your capabilities.  It can also build your self-esteem, especially for female entrepreneurs.  Women in the workforce have come a long way, but there is work yet to be done.

In today’s economy, being an entrepreneur is rapidly becoming the norm.  According to Entrepreneur Magazine, self-employment rates have been growing at an average of 4.5 percent annually. With all the layoffs, especially among baby boomers, that percentage will increase.  Age discrimination still exists; therefore, it will be difficult for them to find employment, forcing them into becoming entrepreneurs.

Overall, thinking like an entrepreneur rather than an employee is a process, which takes time.  As I mentioned before, it is a conditioning that takes place.  It is not easy, especially for baby boomers after so many years in the workforce; however, it can be done.  Enjoy the ride!

From the mindset of an entrepreneur,

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By RitaJo | Posted in Baby Boomers, Client, Clients, Entrepreneur, RJ's Word Processing Services, Rita Cartwright, Rita J. Cartwright, Single-Person Business, Single-Person Business Owner, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Solopreneur, home-based business | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (8)

Virtual Book Tour – Presented by CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal

November 18, 2009

Cordina BusIn just two days, Cordina Charvis will begin her worldwide virtual book tour.  She will make her first stop here on Friday, November 20th at 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. PST.  I will be interviewing her about her newly released eBook, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide.  Cordina’s eBook includes tips for starting a virtual paralegal business, as well as pitfalls she suffered when she first started her business and how to avoid them.

Cordina will also be giving away a fr^ee copy of eBook, valued at $18.99, to a randomly selected visitor.  All you need to do to qualify is post a comment or question for Cordina on Friday, November 20th, to be entered into the grand drawing.

So come on by on Friday to learn more about Cordina, as well as ask her any questions you may have about operating and starting a virtual paralegal business.  You can also be the lucky winner of her informative eBook, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide.  See you on Friday!

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By RitaJo | Posted in Business, Cordina Charvis, E-book, Entrepreneur, Online Business, Outsourcing, Paralegal, RJ's Word Processing Services, Rita Cartwright, Rita J. Cartwright, Single-Person Business, Single-Person Business Owner, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Solo Attorney, Solopreneur, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Assistant Services, Virtual Assistants, Virtual Book Tour, Virtual E-book Tour | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Guest Post: CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal Virtual Book Tour

November 17, 2009

Cordina BusCordina Charvis, CEO of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal, recently wrote an eBook and will be going on a virtual book tour beginning this week to promote it.  Her first stop will be here at my blog on Friday, November 20th.  Cordina has agreed to write a guest post giving us an overview of her book.   Be sure to come back on Friday for my interview with Cordina about her eBook, as well as a chance to win a fr^ee copy of her eBook.  More details later this week.  Following is her post:

I started my virtual paralegal business because I wanted to settle down and have a family. I have always wanted to own my own business but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Friends and family have always asked me for paralegal help and I figured I had the skills and I am already helping others maybe I should research the independent paralegal business. That’s when I came across the virtual paralegal industry. I realized that I could create a business offering my paralegal skills virtually to attorneys.

With more than 12 years working as a paralegal and almost five years as the CEO of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal I believe I have enough insight in the business to share some of my struggles and successes that may help others who are trying to break into the business or for those who have started their virtual assistant or virtual paralegal business but are looking for ways to grow.

The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide - eBook CoverIn the eBook, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide, I discussed the following among other things:

  • How I lost my first 10 clients while starting and operating my virtual paralegal business.
  • What is the most difficult part of starting a virtual paralegal or virtual assistant business?
  • What are some of the obstacles I faced when starting my virtual paralegal business?
  • What is the one thing I wish I knew before starting my virtual paralegal business? and
  • Common business mistakes virtual paralegals and virtual assistants should avoid.

The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide gives step by step guidelines for starting a virtual assistant or virtual paralegal business. It includes links to resources in the virtual legal business and more than 25 low-cost ways for advertising a virtual paralegal or virtual assistant business.

To network with other virtual paralegals and virtual assistants join the Virtual Outsource Paralegals group on LinkedIn.

Cordina Charvis
CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal
http://www.cdcvop.com

By RitaJo | Posted in Attorney, Author, Cordina Charvis, E-book, Entrepreneur, Outsourcing, Paralegal, Small Business Owners, Solo Attorney, Solopreneur, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Assistant Services, Virtual Assistants, Virtual Book Tour, Virtual E-book Tour, home-based business | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Outsource it To Your Virtual Assistant

October 29, 2009

ritajoblack1For those of you who are entrepreneurs and small business owners and are in need of a new website, consider creating it with WordPress software.

The software is free. The only costs to you are domain and hosting fees. There is no need for you to purchase website development software. The self-hosting version of WordPress allows you to create an entire website, manipulate the codes for customization, and has a lot of available plugins. Plugins are snippets of computer programming that can be added to WordPress, which gives it the ability to do almost anything you can think of. Click here for more information on the most popular plugins available and their capabilities.

You can also make edits, changes, and updates quickly and easily. However, it is very time-consuming to set up your site and there is a learning curve. There are business professionals who can teach you how to set up your site. However, if you are limited on time, this serves you no purpose. On the other hand, there are virtual assistants who have the skills and experience to create your site for you.

So, if you are limited on time or don’t want to be bothered with it, outsource this task to your Virtual Assistant. S/he can set up and maintain your site, which will save you time, as well as allow you to focus on your products and/or services.

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By RitaJo | Posted in Entrepreneur, Outsourcing, RJ's Word Processing Services, Rita Cartwright, Rita J. Cartwright, Single-Person Business, Single-Person Business Owner, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Solopreneur, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Assistant Services, Virtual Assistants, WordPress.org, home-based business | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (9)

RJ’s Word Processing Services Blog New Name

October 27, 2009

ritajoblack1Sometimes change is good, and this is one of those times. Out with the old, in with the new. So, I have decided to change the name of my blog to reflect the method of delivery of the content I provide to my readers. The new name is RJ’s Word of Mouth Weblog. Let me know what you think. I look forward to reading your comments.

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By RitaJo | Posted in Blog, Business, Entrepreneur, RJ's Word Processing Services, Rita J. Cartwright, Services, Single-Person Business, Single-Person Business Owner, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Solopreneur, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Assistant Services, Virtual Assistants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Virtual Book Tour

September 29, 2009

ritajoblack1Announcing this Thursday, October 1, 2009, I will be hosting one of Sue Canfield’s virtual book tour stops.  I will be interviewing Sue on her newly released book, The Commonsense Virtual Assistant – Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee. This book is a guidebook for newer and aspiring virtual assistants on what it takes to run a successful virtual assistant business.

Sue has agreed to offer her book for the low cost of $10.00, shipping included, to a random winner.  That is a 50% discount!  To qualify for the drawing, all you need to do is post a comment or question.  The drawing will be held Friday, October 2, 2009, and you will be notified by e-mail.  Also, I will announce the winner here on my blog.CVA_book_128x188

Stop by on Thursday, October 1, 2009 to see what Sue is saying about her new, informative book, The Commonsense Virtual Assistant – Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee. See you Thursday!

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By RitaJo | Posted in Entrepreneur, Outsourcing, RJ's Word Processing Services, Rita Cartwright, Rita J. Cartwright, Single-Person Business, Single-Person Business Owner, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Solopreneur, Sue Canfield, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Assistant Services, Virtual Assistants, home-based business | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (5)

When Home-Based Business Was a Dirty Word

September 7, 2009

ritajoblack1I remember when I first began my business in 2002, home-based business was a dirty word.  In fact, networking experts at that time recommended when at networking meetings, introduce yourself as a small business owner as opposed to an owner of a home-based business.

According to a 2008 SBA (Small Business Administration) report, small businesses make up 99.7 percent of all employer firms.  Fifty-two percent are home-based.  Today, being a home-based business owner is all the “buzz.”  If you are part of this 52%, as I am, your timing is perfect.

The economy also plays a major role in the increased number of home-based businesses.  So, the term home-based business will be even more popular.  As a Professional Administrative Expert providing virtual assistant services, my timing is once again perfect, because these new home-based business owners will need administrative support.

If you are at the crossroads of whether or not you should be a home-based business owner or a Virtual Assistant, there is no better time than now.  The bright side of  our dismal economy is these are exciting times to start your own business.

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By RitaJo | Posted in Entrepreneur, Rita J. Cartwright, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Solopreneur, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Assistant Services, home-based business | Tagged , , , , , , | Comment (1)

Do You Want a Virtual Assistant or an Employee?

August 11, 2009

ritajoblack1As I mentioned in my previous post, virtual assistants (VAs) are professional administrative experts offering a service.  Yet, there are potential clients who ask for a cover letter and resume.

In the virtual assistant industry, providing a cover letter and resume is not the standard.  Generally, this is not the standard for any service provider.  Do you ask your accountant, lawyer, plumber, television repair person, dentist, doctor or any provider of the services you may require for a cover letter or resume?  Then why would you ask a Virtual Assistant for these documents.  We are service providers too.

It is the norm to ask VAs for references; even though, you wouldn’t ask any of the aforementioned service providers for that information.   However, we are more likely to use their services if they are referred to us.

Another point I mentioned in my previous post is the business world is conditioned to think of us virtual assistants as administrative assistants; as employees.  We are not employees.  We are independent contractors.

Do you want a Virtual Assistant or an employee?  If you want an employee, than a cover letter and resume are required.

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By RitaJo | Posted in Clients, Entrepreneur, Outsourcing, Rita Cartwright, Rita J. Cartwright, Service Provider, Single-Person Business, Single-Person Business Owner, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Solopreneur, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Assistant Services, Virtual Assistants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comment (1)

What is a Virtual Assistant?

July 28, 2009

ritajoblack1As an entrepreneur and small business owner, you’ve probably heard the term “Virtual Assistant (VA)” and know what it means.  However, there are still misconceptions that exist.  I’m going to attempt to clear that up in this blog post.

“A Virtual Assistant is a professional who specializes in providing administrative support and expertise,” says Danielle Keister of Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce in her blog post.  To read more of Danielle’s post, click here.  The business community is still conditioned to think of virtual assistants as administrative assistants.  This type of thinking can devalue the true worth of a Virtual Assistant; therefore, potential clients tend to focus on the cost of the services rather than the value a VA can bring to the table.

Since VAs are professional entrepreneurs, they are quite versed in business operations, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.  As Danielle points out in her blog post, a Virtual Assistant can help you move your business forward.  This is a very valuable skill to any entrepreneur and small business owner.

The qualifications and skills that virtual assistants possess as a professional enable them to be experts in their fields, as well as in their profession as an entrepreneur. You receive more than administrative support, you have someone you can consult with, bounce ideas off of, brainstorm with, as well as utilize some of their business practices.   If it works for your VA, it may work for you in your business.

These are just a few examples of the value your Virtual Assistant can bring to your business.  The benefits you reap as an entrepreneur from this type of business relationship outweighs any fees that you may perceive as being expensive.

If you choose to work with offshore virtual assistants to save a few bucks, you will not receive this type of  value-added service, mainly due to cultural differences.

I hope this helps clear up the misconceived notions that yet exist.  Feel free to post your thoughts and comments.

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By RitaJo | Posted in Clients, Entrepreneur, Marketing, Offshore, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Rita Cartwright, Rita J. Cartwright, Single-Person Business, Single-Person Business Owner, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Solopreneur, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Assistant Services, Virtual Assistants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

What's Next for Your Business?

July 20, 2009

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If you’re an entrepreneur or service professional, you may be wondering “what’s next” for your business.

I want to introduce you to Maria Simone, an amazing woman who over the years has launched several businesses and has helped countless others do the same.

She’s appeared in the media in publications like Success Magazine, Business Week and many others.

Thanks to the help of her husband Michael Murdock, a 30-year technology veteran, Maria has also become an internet marketing and social media marketing expert over the past few years.

Starting July 30th, Maria will be offering a FR^EE 4-part Passionate Business teleclass.

Click here for more details:

During the series, you’ll learn:

*Instant revenue and funding strategies.
*Zero to low-cost marketing techniques that will help attract customers 24/7.
*How to create a solid online presence.
*Abundance strategies including creating multiple revenue streams.

…and so much more. Just follow the link for details and to register.

By RitaJo | Posted in Entrepreneur, Online Business, Online Marketing, Rita Cartwright, Rita J. Cartwright, Single-Person Business, Single-Person Business Owner, Small Business, Small Business Owners, Social Networking, Solopreneur | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)