From the Desk of Janet Barclay

There are many talented individuals in the virtual assistance industry, but one name that keeps popping up is Erin Blaskie. In addition to running her successful multi-VA practice, Business Services, ETC, Erin has developed several programs to support other virtual assistants, including her new Virtual Assistant Mastermind. This program includes a series of speaker events which are open to guests as well as members, and I’ve been selected as one of the guest speakers! I’ll be talking about one of my favourite topics, Organizing and Your Computer, in a teleseminar on Thursday, June 19^th, and I do hope you’ll be able to join us. Here’s what Bernadette Wong of K&M Secretarial Services said after my last presentation on this subject:

"Janet provided quick tips on managing your emails and inbox, files within your computer and how to prioritize them. These many tips of information were most helpful to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the PowerPoint presentation which guided you step by step of what to do to get you better organized.  I recommend Janet’s teleclass to any individual or group!"

The other speakers lined up so far include:

• Allison Nazarian - Get Blogging (Or Jump-Start Your Existing Blog) Today
• Viki Viertel - Time Management Survival
• Mikelann Valterra - The Four Keys to Earning Your Worth
• Alexis Martin Neely - Show the Universe You Mean Business About Your Business
• Susan Daffron - Don’t Follow the Herd: Enjoy Online Success Using Simple Tried and True Marketing Methods
• Elinor Stutz - Relationship Selling Works!
• Mari Smith - How To Strategically Grow Your Business Using Facebook & Other Social Media

These are some great topics, and I’m hoping to sign up for at least one of the sessions myself. What’s most exciting is the Platinum membership, which includes access to all the teleseminars and a ton of other benefits, including a weekend retreat in Arizona next spring!

April was a pretty busy month, between wrapping up the GHVA website and preparing for my teleseminars, not to mention my regular client work! However, I’ve still managed to post to my other blogs:

OnlineOrganizing.com - Technology as an Organizing Tool:

• Organize Your Email - Part 3
• Google Docs
• RSS Really Is Simple
• Your Very Own Personal Assistant
  

Introvert Retreat:

• Ponderings of an Introvert
• Tips from a Professional Networker
• Virtual Assistance and Introversion
• Let ‘em come to you!

I’ve also written a new article on Going Green in the Office, which you can read over at OrganizedArticles.com.

Enjoy!

This is officially Organize Your Files Week, but don’t worry if you haven’t started yet – it’s never too late to get organized!

If you’ve been holding back because you don’t know where to start, why not check out Neat & Simple Essential Paper Organizing Systems? For only $6.95, this downloadable guide will help you to create a system that’s just right for you!

Click here to view more details.

Not much of a reader? Perhaps you would prefer my upcoming Paper Management teleseminar!

I for one am very glad to see that March is over! Now spring is just a wee bit closer (the calendar says it’s here, but we know better!) and as I get ready for my upcoming series of teleseminars, I’m looking forward to opening my office window and letting in some fresh air.

Speaking of those teleseminars, the president of AORCP (the host organization) said it was OK to offer free registration to non-members to this Thursday’s session on Organizing Your Home Office, so if you’re interested in taking part, just let me know, and I’ll send you the information you’ll need to access the call.

Here’s what I’ve been blogging about elsewhere:

OnlineOrganizing.com - Technology as an Organizing Tool:

• For Girls who Love to Make Lists
• My Love-Hate Relationship with my Pocket PC
• Organize Your Email - Part 1
• Organize Your Email - Part 2

Introvert Retreat:

• Power Networking for Introverts
• Speed Networking for Introverts

I’ve also posted a new article to OrganizedArticles.com on A Website for Your Small Business.

Enjoy!

I recently attended a networking event called "Intimate Alliances" which was organized by Neworld Coaching. Since these are the same people who run the Beehive Game Online and The Beehive Game Live, I was sure it would be unlike any other event I’ve been to, and I was not disappointed. Instead of self-introductions and unstructured "mix and mingle" time, a specific amount of time was allotted to meet one-on-one with each and every other participant in order to explore the possibilities for forming joint ventures with that person.

As a result of one of those meetings, I’ve been invited to be a presenter at Small Business Marketing Make-over, a half-day workshop taking place at the Holiday Inn in Kitchener on Thursday, April 17^th. This workshop is being offered by Holibyte Online Solutions, who specialize in online marketing, and Trudezign Graphics & Marketing, who specialize in branding and print marketing, and my role is to give a short presentation on the ways a Virtual Assistant can help you to carry out your marketing strategies. Since it’s the same day as my teleclass on The Four Steps to Organization, I unfortunately won’t be able to participate, but I will be contributing helpful information to the workshop handout package.

I wish I could be there, not just for the speaking opportunity, but because I am sure Craig and Trudy’s marketing ideas will be quite valuable! If you’d like to learn how to get an advantage on your competition and achieve a stronger and more prosperous market presence on a limited budget, be sure to register soon –early bird pricing is available until March 31^st, and space is limited!