When a Startup Benefits from a Virtual Assistant

The typical startup must conserve financial resources. In other words, an entrepreneur launching a new business venture does not usually have money to recklessly toss about. This means you have to use your time wisely!

At times, the need to spend money prudently seems to conflict with the necessity of building a team of competent people necessary to launch or get a startup to a new operational level. One alternative available to a startup is engaging the services of a virtual assistant to help with an array of activities and tasks. Indeed, there are a variety of benefits realized by a startup that utilizes the professional services of a virtual assistant.

Financial Challenges

Engaging a virtual assistant can provide financial benefits to a startup in a number of different ways. One big one is, cost savings. Accessing a virtual assistant is cheaper than employing a part time assistant, whether as an employee or an onsite independent contractor.

Another financial benefit arises from freeing up more time of the principals of a startup. I know that it can be hard to delegate work and many founders love to do it all themselves, however I promise that will only hurt you. Through utilizing a personal assistant, the principals of a startup are able to spend less time on essential but clerical and similar tasks. The principals are freed up to focus on activities that improve the bottom line.

Inability to Complete Key Tasks

The principals of a startup frequently find themselves unable to complete key strategic tasks that are essential to the direction and progress of the startup. This will dilute your efforts and throw your plans off course. As noted a moment ago, the principals spend inordinate amounts of time dealing with mundane tasks such as researching blogs, prepping social posts or even designing a website. You get the idea. Through the engagement of a virtual assistant, the principals of a startup can keep their focus on the key strategic tasks and activities that are integral to launching a startup or getting the enterprise to whole new level.

More Time Spent Organizing than Executing

On a related note, typically the principals of a startup spend a great deal of time organizing and not enough time executing plans to achieve objectives. One of the key benefits of a virtual assistant is the minimization of the time spent on organizing tasks and activities. Anyone who has started a business knows about this. There is a ton of organization required such as creating content calendar templates. Organization is essential to a strong foundation but a lot can be delegated so you can focus on strategy and big picture.

Outstanding and Overdue Tasks

A common complaint of principals of a startup is that they always seem to be behind in regard to important tasks and assignments. Outstanding and overdue tasks cause the development of a startup to lag. Through the use of a virtual assistant, a startup is better able to reduce the incidence of lag as well as outstanding and overdue tasks.

I think you get the idea. Outline what has to be done and then prioritize your time. From there, you know what you need to focus on and what needs to be delegated for support. Virtual Assistants can do a lot of various tasks. Everything from tech to writing. Maybe you need someone to manage your blog?

There are many services available. For example, here is a popular one you can check out–Virtual Assist USA

Or, you can check out the 2016 Virtual Assistants Review here.

7 Simple Qualities of Great Leaders

Leadership is the ability to influence and motivate human minds to achieve the desired objectives. In order to lead, it is imperative that one have certain leadership qualities. Leaders walk the talk and lead by example.

Are all people born with leadership qualities? It’s often argued that leaders are born, they are not made. Although some people more than other may be natural born leaders, no one will disagree that these born leaders also learn many leadership qualities.

Some important leadership qualities include:

Strong communication

It’s very important for them to have good communication skills. A heart-to-heart relationship with the people is a must for any leader. People should feel comfortable in expressing themselves in front of the leader.

“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Vision

Leaders tend to be visionaries that understand the future so they can make decisions smart decisions. Dhirubhai Ambani was a visionary who made certain decisions which were initially termed crazy but later changed the face of the Indian industries.

Take smart calculated risks

It’s said that the greater the risk, the greater the reward. A leader should not confine themselves to a comfort zone where they are happy with how things are already.

Constant Innovation

A leader constantly innovates to stay in sync with the modern time so they face new challenges more effectively.

Honesty

An honest leader is trustworthy. People show tremendous faith in such leaders. It is said that it is easy to preach but difficult to practice. So a leader should always preach by his action.

Mahatma Gandhi did what he preached; he never compromised with his integrity. This is why even British respected him. A leader has to show consistency in their words and deeds. They should not change their stance too often as it confuses the masses and hurts their credibility.

Criticism

It’s important to not allow decisions to be influenced by such criticism. Leaders have the ability to withstand criticism and not get carried away by it. He or she should always work for the benefit of the people and should not try to please everyone. If you try to please everyone you will fail because you’ll likely please nobody.

Motivate

Leaders motivate others and create a healthy positive environment around themselves.

5 Reasons It’s Important to Take Risks

Risk is a word that a lot of people fear. Uncertainty is not something that people generally enjoy. We want to know what we can look forward to, and we would like to make sure that the future is going to be okay.

Unfortunately, to become successful you must take risks. It’s the only way to success. But the key is to take, calculated risks. Don’t be sloppy, do you research. The difference between being a “risk taker” and a “calculated risk taker” could be the difference between success and failure.

If you do not wish to live a life of mediocrity, you have to put yourself out there and be courageous, unshaken after making mistakes. There is no way around it.

So, why is this important?

ONE

Big unforeseen opportunities can come from taking a risk.

We tend to see risk as a bad thing, it’s scary and dangerous. However, on the flip side, while not every risk you take will pay off, some do, and if you’re not willing to take a risk you can guarantee failure.

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk” Mark Zuckerberg

As long as you calculate the risk that you can take, you may be able to find something more valuable if you simply choose to move forward even with doubts in your mind.

TWO

Risk-taking actually makes you stand out from the crowd.

If you are working in the corporate world or at a startup, you will notice that leaders take risks. This demonstrates confidence in their team. Of course, they will be held responsible for their actions if ever something goes wrong. However, this is what leadership is all about after all. Only those who can make the hard decisions are worthy to be named leaders. Not taking a risk means always being safe, and never standing out from the crowd. You will always be just a follower.

THREE

You won’t become successful simply because you wish or pray for it.

You have to grab it and pursue it. Success is not something that anyone waits for, it does not happen to you, you make it happen.

The number of opportunities that will be given to you in this life will come and go and may be limited. You have to acknowledge them and take your chances, otherwise, those opportunities will just pass you by.

Wise people will always tell you that you often regret the things that you did not do, rather than the things that you did. Don’t end up wondering what if, do what you can right now.

FOUR

Taking a risk every now and then will help you get rid of the fear of failure.

Many of us are afraid to fail. While to some extent this may actually be a good thing, it can be quite paralyzing and may lead you to become an overly critical person when analyzing things.

In your lifetime, you will be expected to make decisions. Taking risks, failing and realizing it’s OK and you can try again, will help you overcome the fear of failure.

FIVE

Mistakes are the greatest teacher.

If you don’t take the risk, you won’t make mistakes. However, that also means that you will learn nothing.

The reason why people who don’t make mistakes aren’t successful is that they haven’t learned enough from their experiences. You can only grow mature intellectually and emotionally once you start creating mistakes, and you learn how to handle and move on from these failures.

Risk may be scary, but it is something that will lead you to master your craft.

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