Journal

COVID-19 and Working From Home

KJReed

Boy did March ever come in like a lion and with it Covid-19, closures, quarantines, and of course the great toilet paper shortage of 2020. Luckily for me, I have been accustomed to working from home, BUT I am used to working from home in solitude, my only companion our loyal, faithful Chocolate lab. Covid-19 put a stop to many things including peace and quiet at my house. My husband is working from home and I never realized how much time he is on the phone for work. My daughter is studying and doing a great job at home school FROM home, and my work, thankfully, has been busier than ever. My organizational and management skills have been put to the test. Luckily, we all seem to be getting the hang of it. I think a lot of it has to do with being willing to let things go and practicing a lot of grace with each other. I mean honestly, it is not like any of us have anywhere else to go.

How are you handling the changes? I know that although we are all in the same boat, we are all not rowing the same course. Some of us are working, biz as usual, just from home, surrounded by our loved ones, in our makeshift home office. Others are out of work, and stressing about survival details, and still others are dealing with health issues that all of us fear.

I’ve no answers for any of us, other than deep breaths, sneak away to a quiet corner and breathe, just breathe. Get outside when you can. Shower! And remember, your home is filled with your most important treasure. Your people, your tribe, that you love and adore, even when they are driving you crazy. Hang in there my friends. There is always something to be thankful for, and always a lesson to be learned.

Too Much Work, Too Little Time

KJReed

workaholic

My brother-in-law came for a visit for Easter weekend.  He is an accountant.  As you can imagine, April 1st, is a very busy time for him.  I could tell, as a small business owner, he was struggling with the balance.  Being there for his family, enjoying time with his family, while worrying about his massive to do list, and all that he had yet to accomplish, with the April 15th date looming over his head.  He handled the situation quite well, but I could see that it was weighing on him.

Can you relate?  Is there a time in your business when you are severely swamped, but you know that the workload will only last for a small period of time, and then it will be business as usual?  Knowing that the extra workload is temporary, you decide to barrel through it yourself, rather than bringing someone on board for such a limited amount of time. 

It is admirable that you are willing to get in the trenches yourself, but that time period, no matter how short it is, takes a toll on your personal life.  No matter how understanding your spouse or partner is, they have to make a sacrifice.  You sacrifice time from the kids, time from your spouse, partner, friends,  time from your hobby, time away from caring for the things in your life that mean the most.  

Your solution may be a Virtual Assistant (VA).  Analyze what that busy time looked like, how and what could you hand off to someone to help lighten the load?  Then search for the assistant that will help complete these tasks, and get you back to your life.  The advantage of a Virtual Assistant is that once the action task list has been completed, they can go on to help others in the same situation, and you can go back to your daily business routine.  As you establish a relationship with a VA that works with you and for you, you will always have the comfort of knowing that help is just a phone call, or email, away.  

If I may be of assistance, please connect with me.  I’m happy to offer support anytime, anywhere, when, and only when, you need it the most.

Where have all the humans gone?

KJReed

man-machine

It is interesting, don’t you think?  Amazon has launched their Amazon Go – store of the future, where checkout is no longer required.  Artificial Intelligence Smart Assistants such as Google Home, and Amazon Echo are entering homes on a daily basis, and it is predicted that soon, owning a smart assistant will not be a choice.  Are we truly entering the “Jetson” era, where our world and daily lives, are ran by machines?

What does this mean for the business world?  I believe everything  in moderation,  yes, even wine. 🙂   It is true that a small business trying to compete with conglomerates such as Amazon or Google, will find this new technology more than challenging.  On the other hand having a smart assistant help you manage tasks such as email, phone calls, and scheduling of appointments, might actually help lighten your load. 

There must be room for both.  Surely the pendulum will swing back towards the middle where we find value in a human face, and a personal connection.  The first impression you, and your business offers, will make the difference between treading these waters, or sinking beneath it all.  

This human is happy to help you, anyway I can.

Is It Time?

KJReed

pocket-watch-clock-o

CLICK HERE >>>  Is It Time To Hire A Virtual Assistant

I came across this article, and I couldn’t have written it better myself, so I won’t.  🙂  If you are feeling overwhelmed with the minute, daily tasks of your business, it may be time to hand them off to an assistant, but who, and how? 

As the article mentions to hire an administrative assistant you should be willing to commit to training someone, with pay, for 60 days.  If you feel that is too much of a commitment, than a Virtual Assistant (VA) may be the answer for you.  Support when you need it, and no expense when you feel you no longer need the help.  Give this article a quick read, and if a VA might be the answer for you, let’s chat.