One Bad Apple

One bad client is like a rotten apple in your fruit bowl. Last year at this time I had one bad apple in my bowl of clients. Her negative energy was spreading through me and in to my clients.

I was so stressed working with this one demanding and unappreciative client that it was affecting my whole business, to the point where I almost let the wrong clients go.

Pulling that one bad apple out of my business and cleaning up the rest has made such a huge difference in my business and my life.

I now love all my clients and love the work I do with them.

Also, removing the rotten apple made room for a big beautiful pineapple in my client bowl.

Lately, I've been focused on clearing out the clutter in my closets, in my email, etc. Sometimes it's good to look at the clients in your business and decide if you have any clutter (or bad apples) to clear out.

Every time I have let a client go a new one has arrived and my business has blossomed.

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” - Alexander Graham Bell

It is not that Simple!

The word assistant sometimes has a stigma associated with it. Some people think assistant means you are less intelligent, not motivated or not successful. Actually, I'm not really sure what they think but somehow they think assistant means cheap labor. When I first became a Virtual Assistant back in 2002 I resisted the word assistant like it was the plague. I said, I am never going to be called an assistant again! I felt this way about the word assistant because of the way I allowed myself to be treated as an assistant when I was an employee. As a Virtual Assistant I was no longer an employee, I was a business owner. I started calling myself a Virtual Business Manager to avoid that icky word. But then I began networking online with Virtual Assistants and realized they were a great group of successful, powerful business owners. I learned it's not what you call yourself it is the respect you command. Yes, having a name like assistant rather than CEO stuck to your name does require more effort to command respect but it is possible.

I think of a Virtual Assistant as a partner to business owners. We partner with you to bring you success. We assist in your success.

I got a call today from a potential client. In the first 2 minutes of the call I could already tell she had a preconceived notion of what an assistant was. To her the work an assistant did was of less value than the work she did. She said something like, "Frankly, I cannot believe you are charging so much for such simple work. I've never paid an assistant that much and really think it is too high for the kind of work you do." First of all, this woman does not know the kind of work I do. She has never worked with me. She does not know me or any of my clients. She found me on google. How can she decide what my work is worth?

There is a reason I list my rates on my Website and that is to avoid talking to people who think it is okay to tell me I am not worth what I charge. I mean isn't it kind of rude to call someone and tell them they are not worth their fee? If you don't want to pay their fee don't call them.

I told this woman I only do high end, high quality work and I don't lower my rates. I suggested she contact a local college to find a student who might be willing to do the "simple work" for the lower pay.

I totally understand that small business owners and entrepreneurs are on a budget and that investing in a Virtual Assistant is a big deal. That is why I don't lock my clients in to a set minimum amount of hours. But I also know you get what you pay for. Do these people tell their doctors they don't think the 2 minute exam was worth $95? Do they tell their lawyers the 1 hour consultation is not worth $350?

What Virtual Assistants do is not simple work. If it were simple wouldn't everyone just do it themselves? Yes, probably you could do it yourself but then you wouldn't have time do what you love. What Virtual Assistants do is important work that needs to be done!

How to Create a Facebook Fan Page

I set up and manage quite a few of Facebook® Fan Pages for my clients. The reason I do this is because creating and updating a Fan Page on Facebook® is not an obvious thing to do. It's a bit clunky actually and not everyone has the time or patience to figure it out. However, Mari Smith has made a video that walks you through step by step how to create a Fan Page. For those of you that want to do it yourself, this is a great video!



Adding an event to a Fan Page with the new Facebook® design is a whole new challenge. I had to spend some time researching how to add a new event to the Fan Pages I have been managing. I found this blog very helpful.

Calling all Virtual Assistants!

It is time to start networking!

Are you a lone wolf or do you hang out with other Virtual Assistants? If you are a lone wolf I suggest you try networking with other Virtual Assistants. I have learned so much from my VA colleagues. Virtual Assistants are a special breed, we like to share, we like to learn from each other, we like to challenge each other and we like to see each other succeed.

I don't know if any studies have been done but my unofficial research says that networking with other Virtual Assistants will bring your business to a higher level of success.

Here area few great places to hang out if you are a VA:
VAnetworking
IVAA
VirtualAssistantforums

Oh and if you are a Virtual Assistant on Facebook please join the IVAA fan page. I am the new admin for the IVAA Facebook fan page. (So please become a fan to make me look good as the new admin) *wink*

If you are new to online networking here is must have ebook written by Angela Smith!!!

She shares lots of great tips and tricks for networking online.

Online Networking for the Newbie



This just added! I told Angela I was featuring her book and she offered my readers a discount!!! Thanks Angela - you rock!

Virtual Simplicity blog readers get $5.00 off the price of Angela’s e-book, "Online Networking for the Newbie." With this discount, you can pick up a copy of the e-book for only $9.95 or the VA Combo Pack (which includes the e-book and the Virtual Toolkit) for only $12.95. Just enter the following coupon code at checkout: SIMPLICITY.

Authentic Tweeps

If you follow me on Twitter you may have noticed I don't have a lot of patience for AutoDMs. They annoy me. I feel they are not authentic. And I especially do not like the AutoDMs trying to sell me something. To me, Twitter is about building relationships, getting to know people and sharing information.

Example of annoying Auto DM: Thanks for the follow! Would You Like to Know How to Get 16,000 Followers in 90 Days. (Um, NO!)

Today I got an authentic DM from someone and I was so impressed I decided to tweet about it and let others know.

With the flood of new users and celebrities to Twitter I propose we try to remind people to stay authentic, be real, be yourself and don't just try to sell something.

In talking to @relocatedyank who also received an authentic DM today I came up with the hashtag #AuthenticTweeps. Let's spread the word about #AuthenticTweeps and teach these new users what Twitter is all about.

Okay, I'm getting off my soap box now.

Thanks for listening.

Clean Business

Dusty Warren, owner of The Bath Nook runs a clean business. And by clean, I mean handmade beauty products. Since Dusty's soap is my favorite soap of all time I asked her if she would participate in an interview about entrepreneurs. She agreed! Learn more about Dusty and her fabulous soap products here.


Company Name: The Bath Nook™

Type of Company: Handmade Beauty Products

How long have you been in business? I’ve been in business for 7 months.

Why/How did you get in to this business? While I was a Virtual Assistant I found the Indie Business Forum. After spending some time reading through the posts I decided to target independent beauty manufacturers. The more time I spent reading through the posts, the more I got involved. I started a newsletter for independent manufacturers and joined IBN, but that wasn't enough for me. I was not satisfied on the inside.

The more I learned about making handmade beauty products the more I wanted to make a batch of soap. On September 30, 2008, I made my first batch of soap. The following month I had to make a decision to either target independent beauty manufacturers or make soap, but I couldn't do both. I didn't think it would be fair to other Indies if I made beauty products and also served as Virtual Assistant, so I decided to make soap.


I'm very happy with the decision I made, and I'm more satisfied than ever.

Do you have fun running your business? Yes. I absolutely love it! I love interacting with my customers and potential customers. I enjoy making all of my products and at the end knowing they’re beneficial to each customer.

What do you sell? I sell face & body soap, bath salts and gift boxes. Soaps and bath salts come in 4 fragrances: Oatmeal, Lavender, English Rose, and Sandalwood. Also I offer unscented soap and bath salt to customers that are sensitive to fragrances. Gift boxes are available in your choice of fragrance. Each Gift box includes: 1 full size bar soap, 1 guest size soap, 1 complexion brush, 1 loofah disc, and 2 oz. bath salt.


What is your favorite product that you sell? All of products are my favorite. However, I love selling the oatmeal soap because it’s my #1 seller. Not only do the women love it, but I have numerous men that purchase the oatmeal soap.

Anything else you would like to share about your business? A large percentage of products that you put on your skin are absorbed in the body. My products are geared toward people that want a bath and body product that is free of harsh chemicals, and also people with sensitive skin types that prefer a dye-free product.

All products are dye-free with 98% natural ingredients.

Any advice for new entrepreneurs, someone just getting started? If you are just getting started in the beauty industry I highly recommend that you do your homework. Not only should you research ingredients and then start making soap or any handmade beauty product, but study the laws that come along with the industry.

Where can people find your product? People can find my products online at www.thebathnook.com, and locally at International Barber & Style College (in store only).

What is the best way to contact you or to order your product online? Orders can be placed at www.thebathnook.com, or by email. The best way to contact me is by email at info@thebathnook.com.

Anything else you would like to add? Just for Virtual Simplicity blog readers – Receive 10% off your first order when you enter the discount code: VSB1546 (discount cannot be combined with any other discount).

Wow thanks for offering the discount Dusty! This would be a great *Mother's Day gift! - Sally

If you would like to be a featured business on the Virtual Simplicity blog please send me a DM on Twitter or email me at sallyk @ virtualsimplicity.net

*Update: All orders for Mother's Day must be placed by 4/30/09. Order now! http://thebathnook.com/

Time to Take Care of You

As a busy entrepreneur that works from home, I sometimes forget to take care of myself. I take care of my clients and their clients, I take care of running my business, I take care of my family, I take care of my dog, I take care of coordinating schedules, making dinner, well let's just say I take care of a lot of things.

In taking care of all these people, beings and things I sometimes forget to take care of myself. If I don't take care of myself, I'm not going to be able to take care of everyone else.

In an effort to take better care of myself I have made a few changes to my routine. I now go for a hike with my dog (and neighbor) every morning before I start work. We hike for at least 1 hour everyday. I am thankful that I live where I live. My house is located right next to the trailhead leading in to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.


I am also giving myself special treats. For instance, I'm now only using high quality soap that smells amazing. No more grocery store soap for me. I get my soap from The Bath Nook. The Oatmeal soap is my favorite! I'm telling you this is the best soap ever! My family loves it too.


One more thing I am doing to take care of myself is to have organic fruit and vegetables delivered to my home. Planet Organics delivers a $32 box of fresh organic fruits and vegetables to my house every other week. Yummy!

What are you doing to take care of yourself?

Women and Money and the Power of Social Networking

Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am slightly obsessed with Twitter and Facebook. Most of those people think I'm strange too. But I digress. The point of this blog post is to share some exiting news! I am the featured fan at the Women and Money group on Facebook this week! One of the reasons I am the featured fan is because of the power of online social networking. I met Cathy Curtis (the owner of Curtis Financial Planning and the founder of the Women and Money group) through Twitter and then Facebook! Networking online can be a very powerful tool in building your business.

And the winner is...

Drumroll...

Instead of bothering Heather with picking a winner. I used www.random.com and the winner is...

Baba from Baba's Farm Life!

Congratulations!

Baba - I will be contacting you so I can send you the book!

5MininuesForMom Thanks for the party!!!

Please Hire Me!

Lately, I've been noticing a lot of new Virtual Assistants looking for work. Virtual Assistant's have been emailing their resumes asking to work for me. They've also been posting on the forums saying things like "Hi, I'm new and I want a job. Please hire me."

The amount of new Virtual Assistants on the scene has been growing like crazy over the last year. I'm guessing this is because of the way the economy is. People are losing their jobs and saying, "hey I could be a virtual assistant". What some people don't understand is that being a virtual assistant means you are a business owner and not an employee.

Like Candy of OffAssist, I've been getting a lot of requests from new Virtual Assistants wanting work or information and I feel I haven't been responding to them as much as I could be. I am thankful for Candy's new vlog: 2 Minutes With a VA. I now direct people here who contact me for information.

2 Minutes With a VA is filled with some great resources for new VAs.

The request I get most often from new VA's is: How can I become a subcontractor? A great way to get started as a VA is to be a subcontractor. However, to be a subcontractor you first need to find a VA willing to try you out. Lanel Taylor has a great answer to the question: How does a Virtual Assistant become a subcontractor? You can listen to the answer here:
http://2minuteswithava.com/2009/03/how-does-a-virtual-assistant-become-a-subcontractor/

Control Your Privacy Settings On Facebook

Thanks to Corine who commented on my last post with this video link and thanks to HappySlip for creating this fun video.

A few weeks ago, I posted this under my notes* in Facebook®.

Facebook is weird!

It's the one place where your past & present collide. Your personal and professional life overlap (well at least mine does). Your friends from middle school suddenly appear and post a ton of pictures of you from when you were 12. Your ex-boyfriends start appearing one at a time and now they are all in one place together. Your clients, employers, co-workers, ex-friends, new friends, kids, kid's friends, ex-husbands, lovers, acquaintances and strangers all together commenting on what you are doing at the moment. Friends from high school, people you don't remember from high school, people that remember too much from high school, your family, your neighbors... They are all there (here) together. People in your life that would never interact now have the opportunity to interact. It's just weird. Normally when you go for a job interview or are negotiating a project with a new client you don't show them your pictures from middle school, talk about your exes, or tell them what you are doing every minute of the day. I'm just wondering what this all means in the big picture of life? It's kind of strange and cool at the same time.

I'm not sure how I feel about having you all here together... so far it's a fun ride.

Would love to hear your thoughts about this big social experiment we are all involved in.

*notes in Facebook® is similar to a blog.

This got me thinking... I update my Facebook® page quite frequently and maybe I don't want every single Facebook® "friend" of mine to always be in-the-know of exactly what I am doing.

Did you know you can change your privacy settings so your "friends" don't get updated every time you comment on a picture, write on someone's wall or update your status? You can even specify certain "friends" to get limited updates from you. (You know those friends who it caused less drama to accept their friend request than to ignore it. If you have friends like that.) *wink*

To change your privacy settings in Facebook®

• Sign in to your account
• Click on the link Settings (located at the top right of your screen, next to your name)
• Click the word manage (next to Privacy)
• Click on the word Profile
• Click on Edit Custom Settings under Status Updates
• Where it says Except These People add in any of those special friends you may not want seeing your every move.

Please post your Facebook® questions here. If I know the answer, I will blog about it in future posts.

Become a fan of Virtual Simplicity on Facebook®!

If you are new to Facebook®, want to set up a Facebook® profile or page for yourself or your business and just don’t have the time or the patience to do it yourself… Virtual Simplicity can help you!

Facebook Facebook Facebook

It seems like Facebook® is the subject of most of my conversations these days.

Hi, my name is Sally and I am a Facebook-aholic user. I’ve been talking Facebook® with my friends, neighbors, clients, strangers, my mom, my kids, people on Twitter & Skype, basically anyone who will listen. It seems like everybody and their mother is on Facebook® these days.

Last night @CandieB and I even moderated a chat about Facebook® during the VAnetworking VAjot Chat.

Are you on Facebook®? If you are an entrepreneur and you are not on Facebook®, I believe you are missing out on some great networking opportunities.

For many (including myself), Facebook® is not intuitive and not very user friendly. I’ve learned a few basic steps that have helped me navigate my way through Facebook® and wanted to share them with you.

1. Notifications – Did you know that when you sign in to Facebook® there is a quick way to see what's new in relationship to you? Just click on the little white sign icon at the bottom right of your screen. If there is a red box with a number in it that means you have a new notification. This is the fastest way to see what has happened since the last time you signed on. It will tell you if someone has tagged you in a photo, if someone has written on your wall, etc
   
2. Fan Pages & Groups – Fan Pages are very popular on Facebook® right now. Most business have one or plan to get one soon. Does your business have one? You may already be a Fan of a number of pages but do you know how to find those pages again? The fastest way is to type the name in to the Search Box located at the top right of your screen. (This also works for finding friends quickly).
3. Ignore – Facebook® can be overwhelming. My advice is to use the ignore button frequently. If someone throws a sheep at you, sends you a drink, invites you to take a quiz or download a new application just hit the ignore key. Don’t feel obligated to accept everything that is thrown your way.
   
   
4. Etiquette - If you are going to throw something or invite people to play games, join various applications please hand pick who you are going to throw things at. If you must throw things at people please do so only to people that you know will enjoy it. Please don’t send/throw things to your entire list especially if you are using Facebook to network, you wouldn’t want to annoy a potential client.

If you are new to Facebook®, want to set up a Facebook® profile or page for yourself or your business and just don’t have the time or the patience to do it yourself… Virtual Simplicity can help you!

I Got Things Done Today!

Seems Jaime Lee Mann and I woke up with the same feeling today... the feeling of being overwhelmed by the amount of emails in our in box.

Before turning on the computer today I pulled out the book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen to re-read. It's a great system that I usually follow. Somewhere along the line I dropped the ball and things started piling up. Maybe it was when I was sick in December, maybe it was my vacation in January, maybe it was I've been so super busy I forgot to take my own advice and plan my day. Whatever it was... my email in box and my actual in box on my desk were overflowing.

After turning my computer on today, the first thing I did was open my in box and blast through it. Just like Jaime, I sorted by who the emails were from and was able to quickly get through them. For the most part everything that was left in my in box was something that could have been taken care of in 2 minutes or less.

The 2-Minute Rule is one of my favorite GTD tips from David Allen. If you can do it in less than 2 minutes then just do it! Considering I had let 68 emails pile up in my in box (the kind that would have taken 2 minutes or less to deal with) I just doubled or tripled my time spent on emails because I read them when they originally arrived, decided to deal with them later, occasionally scanned them over the last few weeks, then re-read them today and finally dealt with them. Instead of the 2 minutes that I could have taken as the original emails arrived I probably spent over 3 hours dealing with those 68 emails instead of 1 hour or less if I would have just dealt with them when they arrived.

How do you manage your emails?

Like Nike says, "Just Do It!" (Like David Allen says - Do it, Delete it or Delegate it).

Ideas For Getting Out Of Debt Part II

In Part I we discussed the first few ideas to be on your way to getting out of debt.

1. schedule a time each week to pay bills
2. create a designated place to put bills as they arrive (folder or a nice box)

Next step. If you don't know already... find out how much money you owe. Enter this information in an Excel document or on this form and total your monthly expenses.

If you have done all the steps so far you should have a scheduled time to pay bills each week, a designated place to put your bills when they come in and the awareness of how much money you owe. (If the amount you owe is huge - don't panic. Remember - knowledge is power. Nothing has changed, you still owe what you owe but now you know how much.)

More ideas and steps coming soon...

Ideas For Getting Out Of Debt Part I

Do you want to get out of debt? If so, you need a plan. Debt does not go away magically. It goes away when you follow a plan to get out of debt. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be blogging about ideas and steps that might help you get out of debt.

The first step in getting out of debt is to become conscious about money. You need to know how much money you have, how much you make, how much you owe and what you spend your money on. The only way to get out of debt is to first get out of denial.


How do you normally pay your bills?

Do you have a set time to do this each week, month?

Where do you keep your bills?

If you don't have a scheduled time to pay bills then this is a great place to start. Schedule a date and time to sit down and pay all your bills each month. (Go put that date and time on your calendar right now!)

Are all your bills in one place? If not then it is time to get them all in one place. Start a folder for bills or get a box to put on your desk. Do something that works for you. Every time a bill arrives in the mail immediately put it in this new designated space.

That is all for today. More ideas coming in the next post…

BIG News at VAnetworking

I went on vacation for just one little week and come home to find out this BIG news.

My favorite co-author Yvonne Weld is going to be partnering with Tawnya Sutherland at VAnetworking! Yvonne is going to be the president of the VAinsiders! Woohoo! I'm so excited about Yvonne and Tawnya working together! Watch out world!

Here is the press release:

Today, more than ever, we are seeing growth in the Virtual Assistant industry. As people fall victim to layoffs, work reductions and business closures they are finding there are very few opportunities for employment and, in an effort to survive in today’s economic strives, many are seeking ways to utilize their skills and work from home. Those starting Virtual Assistant businesses, in today’s competitive markets, are quickly learning that it takes more than just administrative skills to grow a thriving business and are continually looking for the tools and resources they need to not only build, but also maintain, a solid business.

Following in the footsteps of industry leaders before her, Tawnya Sutherland believed in the Virtual Assistant industry and wanted to help Virtual Assistants, both aspiring and practicing, by providing them with the tools and resources they needed. In 2003, she founded VAnetworking, which quickly became a meeting place where new and seasoned Virtual Assistants began to intermingle and share resources. Sutherland has learned to adapt as the Virtual Assistant industry has grown and continues to provide new resources, including the introduction of VAinsiders in 2006. It was this ability to adapt and grow that made her realize that there is so much more that the Virtual Assistant industry needs to realize its full potential.

In 2008, at an industry conference for Virtual Assistants, Sutherland met in person fellow Virtual Assistant, Yvonne Weld, after years of corresponding virtually. They began to share their ideas for Virtual Assistants and realized they not only shared their passion for seeing the Virtual Assistant industry grow and prosper, but they also worked well as a team, brainstorming ideas. Sutherland began to realize that a partnership was the best choice to fulfill her goal of becoming the premier resource that Virtual Assistants turn to when they have questions. “We want Virtual Assistants to realize their dreams sooner, to have the resources and tools they need to build a solid business, attract clients and become the successes they know they can be,” says Sutherland. “The ideas that we are developing now would make the industry leaders before us stand up and take notice.”

Sutherland is excited to announce that, beginning February 1, 2009, Yvonne Weld will be joining the VAnetworking.com team as VAinsider President. When asked about this partnership, Weld stated, “I am so thrilled to be working with Tawnya. When we get together, it is electric the ideas that flow between us and we are already implementing a lot of the ideas into programs and resources for Virtual Assistants. 2009 will definitely be the year to be a VAinsider.”

About Yvonne Weld
Yvonne Weld is the owner of Canadian-based Able Virtual Assistant Services, author of The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business and the co-author of Managing Your Thriving Business for Success. Yvonne brings knowledge from a number of resources including personal experience (8 years in her previous employment as an Office Manager), education (graduate of several courses at the Small Business Centre, London, Ontario) and her love for information through reading and internet research. Yvonne also works with new and aspiring Virtual Assistants, through coaching and mentoring, to reach their full potential. To learn more about what Able Virtual Assistant Services can do for you, stop by http://www.ableva.com

About Tawnya Sutherland
Tawnya Sutherland’s professional background as a legal secretary, and then vice president of a computer company, formed the foundation for her foray into entrepreneurship over 10 years ago when she launched Mediamage Business Solutions. Today, Sutherland is a Certified Internet Marketing Business Strategist who helps business people turn clicks into cash. To learn more about Tawnya, VAnetworking and how to get your own business on the inside track to virtual success, visit http://www.VAnetworking.com

Thoughts for Improving 2009

I got this email from a friend. I don't know who authored it but I like the thoughts. If you know the author please let me know.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose for today is: ________ '

4. Eat more foods that grow on plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a Queen, lunch like a princess and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. However good or bad a situation is -- it will change.

20. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

21. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

22. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for _____.' AND 'Today I accomplished______.'

23. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Happy Holidays from the Virtual Assistants!

In case you are wondering Virtual Assistant's are NOT the timid or shy type.

I love my VA buddies from www.vanetworking.com! Thanks for putting a smile on my face today! You guys rock! (even if you can't carry a tune...)




Happy Holidays!!!

The Money Is Still Here

I know we are in a recession, I know lots of people have lost jobs and many others are worried about losing their jobs. When I watch the nightly news I almost start to panic myself but I don't. The money is still out there in the world somewhere... we just have to find it. Finding it might mean shifting gears and shifting our attitude.

I don't know how many times this week I have heard clients and potential clients and others say things like I just want to survive this year, I just want to get through, I don't have to make a profit I just need to make enough to get by. I always stop them and say you can can make a profit. It is okay to be prosperous.

While watching the news tonight and hearing all the doom and gloom again a thought popped in to my head, "the money is still out there it's just a matter of getting it circulating again". And that thought reminded me of the book I read years ago called Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson.

I highly recommend reading the book.

Cool Client Profile & Cool Contest

I am grateful for all of my clients! In an effort to let them know how grateful I am... I am going to start doing an occasional feature on each client.

This month's feature is on Toni Tierney. Toni is a fashion designer for children's clothing. I decided to pick Toni this month because of her mission and how it relates to the current state of affairs with the American economy.

"A passion of Toni’s is to help mothers be at home with their families. She feels strongly about this and as much as possible, hires mothers who can work from their homes to be with their children while making the pieces of clothing she designs. Her mission is to help parents be at home creating so a new generation of children can see their moms (and dads) working with their hands. Her ultimate goal is to help spread this philosophy across the country so people all over the United States can get back to their roots, slow down and bring back those traditional ways of earning a living." - www.tonitierney.net

In addition to fashion design, Toni has also just released a new line of art work for children's room.

In the spirit of giving I am hosting my first official blog contest. I am going to give away one adorable brand new outfit created by Toni Tierney. The winner can choose between an infant size 6 boy outfit or an infant size 12 girl dress (see pictures below).



To enter the contest you must be a US or Canadian resident (because of shipping costs) and all you need to do is comment on my blog and let me know which outfit you want to win.

Also, it'd be much appreciated if you tell others about this contest by blogging about it but blogging about this contest is not a requirement to win.

On December 10th, 2008 I will have my daughter (who never reads my blog) pick a number and whoever has the comment that matches that number will be the winner. (For example... she picks number 7 and you are the 7th poster then you are the winner kind of thing.) I will then post the winning number and ask you to contact me to let me know which outfit you want and to get your mailing address. Winner must respond by December 12th, 2008 or we will pick a new number. The package will arrive before Christmas if you want to use it as a gift.

Toni Tierney's adorable clothing is sold in baby boutiques all over the country.

Happy Holidays!!!