by WP-Dev | Sep 13, 2018 | Entrepreneur, Virtual Assistant
5 Best YouTube channels to improve your life today!
I recently became a YouTube junky, so much so that I had to add it to my Stay Focused app so I don’t spend too much time on it during the day! Sometimes it’s easy to go down the rabbit hole when you start looking for motivational and productivity channels. Below I’ll share some with you that I have found helpful in quite a few aspects of my life.
- Amy Landino: Amy was one of the first people I’ve discovered when starting on my YouTube journey. She’s all about ‘going after the life that you want’ and her productivity and life hacks are awesome. I especially love her calendar blocking method, it really does make a lot of sense and it’s easy to implement in your own life.
- muchelleb: I only recently discovered Muchelle. Her productivity and motivational videos leans a bit more to your personal life than work. What I love about her is that she is a minimalist in training. So using the Konmari way she organises and declutters her life one cupboard at a time! If you need some minimalism in your life, I can surely recommend her free program Konmari Journey – Life changing Magic of Tidying up .
- Jordan Paige, FunCheapOrFree: I love this channel. If you’re a parent then you’ll love it too. Jordan has 5 kids and one on the way. She’s a successful entrepreneur and homemaker. She shares anything from budgeting tips to how she prepares her kids’ lunchboxes. She touches on some productivity and tips for running a successful business but that’s not her main focus. She has a great energy and she really gets you up and going with enthusiasm.
- Evan Carmichael: Evan is all about motivation and success. Sometimes I wish I could remember and apply everything in my life. I love how he uses public figures and how they achieved success in their lives.
- Tony Robbins: Last but not least the dad of all motivational and self improvement programs. You can’t help but get motivated and energized when listening to Tony covering everything from relationships to business advice. His life story is truly inspirational and his advice has helped thousands if not millions of people throughout their own lives.
Some of the other channels I’m following is Abbey Ashley from The Virtual Savvy, she shares tips and tricks specific to VA’s and Project Life Mastery which is very specific to business and how to make money online. Something else you can find on my channel list are Liezel Jayne Strydom for some healthy meal tips and The Domestic Geek for some quick and healthy meal ideas when you don’t know what to cook.
You can find a video or a YouTuber on ANY topic that might interest you. Find what you enjoy listening to most subscribe, load it onto your phone or iPod and next time you go for jog put something on and who knows, you might learn something new!
by WP-Dev | Sep 10, 2018 | Entrepreneur, Virtual Assistant
Continual Learning is a Part of My Life as a Virtual Assistant. Here is why!
Learning Never Stops
Did you know that the brain never stops developing? Well, it doesn’t!
People have long believed that the development of the brain matures when we hit teenagerhood and that nothing much else happens, but scientists have since proven that new connections are made daily within our brain.
Cells die off and new ones are formed.
So, it would be obvious then that as the brain development continues throughout our lives so too does the opportunity to learn new things.
Learning is a Part of My Virtual Assistant Life
As a virtual assistant I generally assist more than one client and you can believe that no one client is the same. This diversity allows me to, firstly, never get bored, and secondly learn something new each day.
Since becoming a virtual assistant I have stepped out of my comfort zone more times than I can think of right now (do we have that many comfort zones?).
I have overcome challenges by constantly learning how to do things, finding out how to do things. I think my biggest strength is that I am not afraid to ask, because if you do not ask you will not know. That coupled with the fact that I soak up things like a sponge – because I want to, because I love to, because I love to learn – has expanded my knowledge base beyond what I could have imagined.
No, I am Not Just an Admin Assistant!
I think there is a big misconception about what a virtual assistant does. I think when someone hears the word, ‘assistant’ they immediately think data capturing, filing and fetching coffee – well no, this is not what a virtual assistant is. Yes, a lot of the work is admin related, but the admin is not limited to just copying and pasting some info into an Excel spreadsheet, no not at all.
In fact, in my own experience I have done hardly any of that, most of my time is spent curating content for social media, creating graphics, sourcing keywords for websites and SEO work (search engine optimization). These take some serious skills, especially when you are doing social media management for more than one client, all needing different types of content and images, each needing to have their own ‘voice’ be portrayed in the content I choose and so forth.
This requires a lot of learning, believe me, a lot!
But it is so worth it, and so rewarding when you have gone and figured out things for yourself and when you complete the task you get an email that says, “Wow, this is amazing work”, or when you have done so much research into things you find other things that could be beneficial to the client and you share it with them and get an email like, “That is a brilliant idea, I definitely think we should look into that.”
So, What Are You Learning Right Now?
What have you learnt from my blog post? Anything? Nothing?
Whatever it is that you may take away from this post, know that it’s never too late to learn a new skill, hey my mom learnt to WhatsApp at over 60, so you can always start right where you are at.
You have the world at your fingertips, literally! The internet has an array of resources for you to learn new things, from Alison courses to just a simple YouTube video on how to create a graphic on Canva (yes, I have used those before), you can find anything that you need.
And what I think may be the most important one, never be afraid to ask! When you ask you will find out, there is always someone who knows something you don’t and who is willing to share their knowledge with you.
So that is why continual learning is a part of my life as a virtual assistant, not only because it is generally a requirement of clients for me to know stuff, but because I love to learn, and I know that there is so much out there to learn and that when I gain knowledge it is not only beneficial to me but also to those around me.
Happy Learning!
by WP-Dev | Aug 30, 2018 | Entrepreneur, Virtual Assistant
A Truly Inspirational Woman That I Admire
There are so many amazing and inspiring Woman across the globe, who I respect and look up to as Mentors and Leaders – making this month’s blog a bit more challenging!
I suppose everyone has a different set of ‘values’ and that determines, possibly, who you follow. By follow, I mean, whose teaching you sit under, whose advice you apply and Leadership you model after. I must say that I look at the Whole of the person’s life, not just their professional life but more so their personal lives. I firmly believe that you get to truly know a person, when you see how those closet to them (e.g. Spouse and Children) relate and interact with them. We good at professional lives, because we’ve been trained to fit a certain model – do or die. But it’s in the intimacy of personal relationship that the real you comes out and especially more so, when one’s personal life can also be a bit challenging – but hey – that’s only what I believe.
Another thought I had as I was thinking about these amazing Woman, and who I could blog about, was there leadership style. You want a Leader whose life will cause you to want to follow them.
Woman in Leadership
Many Woman in Leadership positions today, sadly to say, are power hungry and lead in a dictator type of way.
It was by pure accident that I came across the Woman, I am about to mention below. I was driving in my car one morning on my way to work and this Lady came on the radio and started speaking. Well she was loud and confident but everything she said, resonated truth within me. When I got to the office, I immediately made a note (not much google then), to look up. You say, it was love at first hearing and below is an insert on a bio write up on her, sadly the name of the author was missing.
If you have ever watched ‘Enjoying Everyday Life’, a Joyce Meyer Ministries programme, you would have gotten to see and hear the ever so direct and confident Joyce Meyer. Her teachings are mind changing and heart searching. She just makes so much sense when she speaks, it’s as if she’s living your life, every day. You would think she’s perfect – but she quite assuredly tells you that she’s flawed but she’s living life to the fullest in an overcoming way. You can marvel at that when you know her past.
A charismatic speaker and author
One would have often wondered how a victim of sexual and emotional abuse can talk so assuredly. Well She tells you, its all about God’s grace, His plans and His love. Joyce Meyer is definitely ‘blessed’. A charismatic Christian speaker and author, Meyer went through a great deal of turmoil in her early life but rose to build one of the world’s largest Christian ministries in the world. Her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration in Jesus Christ and her programme commits at redeeming the words of Jesus Christ by helping people inculcate them in their life. She claims that it was God’s words that helped upturn her doomed life.
She serves as a practical teacher, sharing her experiences and testimony and her life-changing message. Because her life had changed – she longs to see that same change in others and she continues in her effort to help others redeem their life.
- Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, she teaches on a number of topics focussing on mind, mood, mouth and attitude. What has made her Show irresistible, is the fact that she candidly communicates about her experiences and her learning and inspires viewers to learn from them and apply the same in their life. Her practical approach to Bible is quite unique and ground-breaking.
- Over the years, she has authored nearly 100 books, which have been translated in more than 100 languages and have catered to about 12 million readers. The extensive demand of the books and super successful response from readers and critics has led her to become one of the New York Times bestselling authors.
- In addition to hosting a television ministry and writing books, Joyce conducts several domestic and international conferences every year that motivate people to start enjoying their everyday life. Her annual women conference has been quite a big hit, amassing more than 200,000 women from across the globe per year.
- Joyce claims that it is through her teachings that she aims at meeting the needs of the suffering and make people reach out to the Gospel in a practical way. For the same she commenced Hand of Hope, a foundation that serves as the mission arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. It runs several programs, providing food, medical care and disaster relief supplies.
- In 2000, she co-founded the St Louis Dream Center along with her husband, Dave (you want to hear his story of how he decided to marry Joyce – unique!). The Center aims at serving the inner city through hands-on program that are targeted at treating the needy, lost and hurt through the love of Christ.
Inspirational Joyce quotes
Some of Joyce’s quotes that have really inspired me over the years:
“You can suffer the pain of change or suffer remaining the way you are.”
“Character is doing what you don’t want to do but know you should do.”
“Happiness is not a feeling, it is a choice. To be happy, one must choose to be happy, not respond to a circumstance that now controls your happiness.”
“Courage is fear that has said its prayers and decided to go forward anyway.”
by VA Connect | Aug 30, 2018 | Entrepreneurs, Virtual Assistant
Being a woman is a superpower. Let’s celebrate this!
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fall. Failure is another stepping stone to GREATNESS – Oprah Winfrey.”
To all the queens in my life, and to the queens of this world! Do you know why we are celebrating women’s month? I didn’t….
So we “have” Women’s Month as a tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched the Union Building on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.”
I know the Women’s in my life weren’t part of that, probably not yours either. However, Women needs to be honoured, we need to celebrate womanhood!
“Being a woman is a superpower”
To my granny – being selfless, and giving up what she wanted.
My Grandmother would have turned 95 a few days ago, can you imagine what their lives have been like? In her young days? What has she gone through? She had 5 other siblings, she was very young when her mother passed. She had to eventually start working when she was 13 years old to help care for the family. She mostly did needlework for the wealthy peoples’ towels, blankets and clothes with her initials. I have yet not met someone else, who is so kind and selfless. She always gave and never wanted anything in return.
“The world needs strong women. Women who will lift & build others. Who will love & be loved. Women who live lavely, both tender a fierce. Women of indomitable will.”
To my mom,
To the woman who loves me unconditionally, who always puts us before herself. To my mother who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take. She is patient, she is selfless.
She is the strongest woman I know, having to put our wants and needs before herself. Having courage when we were scared, even if she was scared she never showed. Teaching us that even if we don’t know what is next, to step forward with grit anchored in grace. My mom is my superhero, being able to juggle life, a job, a husband, three children, a household. Not too long ago, she had to start doing all of these alone, and here she stands still strong and fierce.
To all the other woman in my life, my sisters, my mother in law’s, my work colleagues and clients. For being strong, for fighting for what you want in life, for fighting your rights as a woman. To never being afraid.
This month, I will be celebrating all the woman in my life. For us still facing the hurdles of being a woman and being under-appreciated. Celebrating the strength and courage our ancestors passed on to us. We are forged through all the challenges in life, however, we move through these challenges with our heads held high. We are mom’s, we are wives, we have careers, we are cooks, we are maids, we are sisters, daughters. With these multitudes of roles we have in life, we are independent, strong, confident, loving and kind.
“When life gives us a challenge we wink at it and say bring it on.”
This month, we celebrate “womanhood”. In any age, a woman is to be loved, to be admired, to be loved and honoured for all we are and all we do.
by VA Connect | Aug 28, 2018 | Entrepreneur, Virtual Assistant
This Female Entrepreneur inspired me the most. This is why.
I have this friend that’s not the “norm”. She comes from an agricultural family, learned quickly from experiences and people, and eventually started her own PRO company. She has entrepreneur written all over her. It must be something that she got from her parents who were always changing, learning and developing different infrastructure in the agricultural sector.
Today her PRO company (www.yolandidewetpr.co.za) consults for many clients. When you ask her what she does, she says she works with her client in building and loving their brand as much as they do, but also gets the media and public to take notice.
When I think of her I think wizz-kid, beautifully explained as” a young person who is outstandingly skillful or successful at something”.
What about her made her so special that everyone took notice
After working for 4 years under a great mentor, she realized that she had an opportunity to go on her own, as many clients boosted her to try it out. She used her skills and abilities to start her own business and attributes her success to the following:
Being a team player and keeping an open mind
My friend knows that she will not always agree on the marketing route her client is taking, but always strive to give objective and honest feedback about new media coverage that will suite the clients products and abilities. Even if her client do not always see the value of a certain coverage, she always keeps a middle ground and do not get offended quickly. And if she does get offended and angry, in her own words: “I will cry in my pillow when no one sees”.
Always be honest
Honesty is a part of my friends being. Honesty builds trust, and trust helps any company grow. Her clients believe she will always be honest when giving feedback of the brand and getting new work in for brand building. She believes her clients will trust in the direction she steers a brand. When this trust relationship does not exist, demotivation, lack of work ethic and low performance is on the forefront.
Always ALWAYS be respectful towards your client
She believes respect is learned from an early age but can also be learned and practiced as an adult. Not only in the work place, but also your daily life these golden rules can be lived by.
A respectful person is:
- On time (let your client always know if you are going to be late)
- Use good manners and speak in a respectful language
- Have tolerance and be considerate
- Deal peacefully and open-mindedly with disagreements and anger
Learn to say no
Just like being honest and respectful, saying no is a skill that must be learned. It is tempting to always say yes when building your own business. Having too much on your plate can lead to low productivity. Time can be managed and only you know how much you are capable of doing and achieving in one day. The skill in saying no is helping your client understand that you cannot do something now, but you will be able to give a good alternative.
Inspired and motivated by my friend, pushed and helped me to start my own business. When my idea for my business formed she was the first person I phoned for advice. I knew that her advice will be valuable, so I took it to heart. Even if something in your mind does not work, does not mean someone else will see it that way. Push through the obstacles but always learn from them. And when you make a mistake, say sorry and move on. Choose your clients with an open mind and of the same values. And remember, trust your gut, YOU’VE GOT THIS.
by WP-Dev | Aug 28, 2018 | Entrepreneur, Virtual Assistant
The Woman That Inspired Me The Most
Moms, the unsung heroes
When I’m asked which woman has inspired me the most in my life, without even having to give it thought I’d immediately say, without doubt, that would be my mother.
My mother started out her working life during the Second World War, working in a large department store in Johannesburg as a model, modelling swimwear in the tea lounge. She always stood up for her rights and even led a protest with her colleagues.
After having her family, she chose to go back to being a working woman and thrived on being one. Not to say she disrespected any woman that chose to be a stay at home mom. My three older brothers and I were taken care of by a full time domestic helper whom we adored. She was like a second mother to us and took her responsibility very seriously and with great pride. She really did rule the roost as second in charge in my mother’s absence and did an excellent job at it.
Exemplary work ethic
My mother worked full day at Addington Hospital in Durban, in the Out Patient’s Department for many years and loved what she did and felt fulfilled in believing she was making a difference. Daily she would take two buses to get to work and two back home. She often chose to walk the distance back into town, buy groceries and then catch a bus home. How she managed to carry so much on her own, I would never know.
Most nights of the week she was activity involved in church activities as well as on the weekends. Somehow, she still managed to fit in a tennis game every other Saturday morning, watch rugby and keep diligent watch on many Saturday afternoons for our racing pigeons returning home.
With such a busy life you would wonder how she possibly had time for her kids, but she did. I remember struggling to grasp Afrikaans, so she went searching in town for books to help me and would spend time at night teaching me herself. My youngest brother suffered badly from Asthma and would often have attacks at night, keeping her up at his side all night.
Unlimited ambition
She always set goals for herself. Much to my father’s surprise and ours, she had been planning to buy a bigger house in a lovely, more upmarket area than we were living in at the time and had been saving for it for several years. When she told my father she wanted to go and look at a house that was for sale, he thought she was crazy to even consider it. Long story short, she bought the house and brand new furniture for it.
In my adult life she was always there for me and we’d spend hours just sitting together talking, me doing most of the talking and her listening and then she’d drop those pearls of wisdom. How I miss her so. A truly remarkable woman was my mother.
