My blog has undergone a malicious attack and consequently I have spent several weeks trying to salvage the contents. Thank you for your patience as I work through the repair process.

As the Career Coach to the Wall Street Elite, I take a unique approach to coaching them to identify their own greatness factor so they can become even more successful. Carving Out a Niche I do NOT believe people have strengths or weaknesses (See Principle #2 in 8 Ways to Great). Instead, I believe we all have characteristics and personality traits – the combination of which makes each of us unique, like a personality fingerprint. Employers/companies are not looking for “Perfect” people; they are looking for people that can add value now and adapt and change as the company/world changes. I believe if you change your attitude about traditional strengths and weaknesses and position yourself more as the person who understand how your personality traits both help and hurt you in your role, then you have automatically differentiated yourself from your co-workers and being just “another employee.” By taking this unique approach, it shows you have highly desirable skills like: Critical thinking Creative engagement Problem solving Self-awareness Resilience and ability to adapt to changing environments All of these are excellent characteristics to be able to showcase as your assets in the current environment. How to show it while you are on the job? How to let management know you are working on the skills? Ask to work on a special project so you can showcase your skills…..set yourself up for success by offering to do a project you are passionate about and know you will be fully engaged in, even if it means putting in time outside of work Another strategy is to ask for regular “check-ins” with your manager or boss. This will give you a chance to showcase the progress you are making while getting corrective feedback from the manager as well. VERY IMPORTANT: these check-ins should be short (few minutes…every week to two if possible). The point is to let him or her see how you are learning, making mistakes, dealing with setbacks, , adapting, growing and knocking stuff out along the way. Important…keep these check-ins very brief. If he or she wants to ask you questions then stick around longer but let that be their choice. Dangers Moving yourself to the next level and becoming great is hard. Not just because of the sacrifice and effort but because of the social pressures you will be faced with along the way. Beware, your co-workers may get jealous and think you are kissing butt to get ahead. Do not let this peer pressure deter your efforts. That is their problem, not yours. Are you working to make friends or to be the best you can be in your role? If you want to be different and get ahead of the crowd, then you have to work smarter and know that they are going to want to bring you down. Keep your focus on yourself and know that you are doing this to add value to the business, improve YOUR life and the life for your FAMILY. That is the most important thing there is. As a Peak Performance Coach, Dr. Doug has conducted over 400 workshops at financial institutions, multi-billion dollar hedge funds and corporations across the country. Some of his most popular topics include: the eight principles of excellence, managing teams in crises, the psychology of taking risk, goal setting, motivation and leadership development. He is internationally recognized as an industry thought leader, as evidenced by his books, publications and numerous television appearances. Learn more about Dr. Doug by clicking here.

It took me a while to get here, I think my caboose was running out of steam, but I finally landed on the right path here at Olinda Services. Lisa, I understand you’ve a bunch of questions – I hope they aren’t too “tech savvy”. Explain a little more about “niche”. I feel that my niche is executive assistance. What is the best way for a VA to discover their niche? First, let’s understand what a niche is. Technically, it is a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it, and focuses on a narrowly defined group of potential clients or service offerings. In other words, it’s providing a service you are passionate about and your potential clients are willing to pay for. To determine your niche you should first evaluate the following: Your training Passions Interests Personal experiences The problems your clients are willing and able to pay to resolve Do everything you can to build your perceived expertise in an area that fulfills your client’s needs and provides you with a unique competitive advantage. You want people to know, without a doubt, that you are the “go to” person for your chosen area. To accomplish this you should first: Identify your skills and interests. Create a list of up to 10 possible ideas and then narrow your focus. Identify your core themes and overriding purpose in running your business Identify the target markets that are most likely to be willing and able to pay you what you are worth. Test your ideas and get feedback from your target clientele – in other words, conduct research. If you are truly passionate about your final choices, and people are willing to pay you what you are worth, then you are on the right road to identifying your niche. Clients What are the top three questions a client should ask their prospective VA? Hum, the answers to this question vary, depending upon the industry and the client’s needs. Of course, the client should inquire about the VA’s experience, especially related to required tasks and assignments. Next, I would ask about their ability to communicate, availability and flexibility. Communication includes being comfortable with sharing information, asking questions, and in many instances leading the client to the correct decision. Availability relates to established hours of operation and being available during the stated date/time. Flexible refers to the ability to change course or direction, based on the VAs level of responsibility and involvement in the decision-making process. By possessing these assets, and being able to express and employ each, the client will understand that the VA can be committed to their business growth. Third, I would inquire about their level of professional integrity. This goes to the core of a person’s business and their ability to work along side a client in a professional manner, with integrity. VAs should remember that most clients are initially uncomfortable with providing intimate business and personal details (credit cards numbers, bank account information, intellectual property, etc.). The VA should be able to allay any concerns by providing strict, enforceable confidentiality clauses in their contracts as well as verbally describing their best practices and security provisions. If a VA isn’t aware of these important elements, in my opinion, the potential client should continue the selection process. Social Media What is the best social media tool that a VA should use? Ah, another question based on opinion. There are s-o-o-o-o many social media tools available, and more coming on the scene every day, that I could only express an opinion as to what’s out there today – as the newest, greatest, hottest, tools are on the horizon. And, we must consider that the best tools are different for different industries. Today’s hottest social media tool, by far, is video! However, the future belongs to Mobile technology (smart phones and apps). Of course, still in the running (this year) are Twitter, FaceBook, Linked In, MySpace, Digg and other social media tools/venues. Now if you are inquiring about social media applications, the list is so long I couldn’t begin to break it down, so I will just list a few of the most popular: Blogging Microblogging Social Bookmarking Social Networking Video Platforms Mobile Technology And this is just the “short list”. As you can see, it’s a wide open arena – definitely one that VAs should delve into – for clients and themselves. Online International Virtual Assistant Convention So many times I sign up for a webinar or seminar and feel like I have “been there, done that”. What fresh, new information is going to be offered for the tech-savvy VA? Great question! This year we are hosting a technology track – and offering seminars on a wide variety of technology-related topics, given by experts who use and even train others. As one expert said, “There is always something you didn’t know”, and it will likely to covered during these sessions. Below is the list of the technology-related topics, many of which are the newest tools clients are expecting VAs to be knowledgeable of and proficient in using: Landing Business Success with a Facebook Fan Page (FBML) Shopping Carts for VAs 1Shopping Cart Mastery: Marketable Skills to Make You a Star Digital Security Salad How to Incorporate Camtasia Screencasts into Your VA Practice Creating a Membership Site to Use with Your Clients Incorporating Video into Your VA Marketing How to Add Website SEO Services to Your VA Practice Basic PC Maintenance – Tools to Keep Your PC Functioning Turbocharge Your Wordpress Blog How to Get Out of Second Gear and Get Your Wordpress Site Moving How to Develop Residual Income Programs Let me just comment that we also have 20+ business/marketing related topics on the agenda, as well as tons of other informative, networking, and enriching activities. We’ve scheduled activities for the newbie, emerging and seasoned VA – and while you may be a “tech savvy” VA, you should also stay abreast of best business and marketing practices. Some of the unconventional activities we are hosting this year include: 2-Hot Seats VA Panel – where we can digest and make recommendations on issues submitted by a volunteer VAs, offering solutions and new approaches to help put the business back on track or move it to its next stage of development. VA Trainers Panel – We’re putting VA trainers, coaches, etc. on the hot seat, and asking why should an individual enroll in their program? What makes their offerings unique! Successful VAs Panel – Listen to VAs that have “been there, done that” as they describe how their business has evolved and prospered, offering tips to new VAs How to be a Sought After VA Subcontractor – Interested in working with other VAs. This session will describe the pros and cons of becoming a VA’s VA. Intro to the VA Industry – session for individuals thinking about becoming a VA, and looking for answers from practicing virtual professionals. And so much more! Well, gotta skedaddle over to the next stop. Actually, tomorrow is Administrative Professionals Day, and it puts me in mind of our own Virtual Assistant holiday – International Virtual Assistants Day (Friday, May 21st). So, don’t forget to come celebrate OUR day, enjoy an inspirational presentation from our keynote speaker, and commiserate with VAs from around the globe. Yesterday, I visited Janet Barclay and the Golden Horseshoe Virtual Assistants Group. Tomorrow I stop by my long time seat buddy, Andrea Cannivana at Legal Typist. Andrea is our digital techi, so I’d better be ready because I don’t know what to expect. Sharon Williams is President of The 24 Hour Secretary and chair of the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention. Don’t forget to stop by OIVAC and checkout our lineup of savvy business owners. Visit the schedule and register for the Technology or Business/Marketing Tracks to propel your business to its next plateau.

I have sent my questions to Sharon Williams to answer tomorrow, April 20th here at Olinda Services. Check back for answers to these VA industry questions. Niche Explain a little more about “niche”. I feel that my niche is executive assistance. What is the best way for a VA to discover their niche? Clients What are the top three questions a client should ask their prospective VA? Social Media What is the best social media tool that a VA should use? Online International Virtual Assistant Convention So many times I sign up for a webinar or seminar and feel like I have “been there, done that”. What fresh, new information is going to be offered for the tech-savvy VA? Olinda Services is proud to participate in this event. Join us on April 20 to get answers to questions about Virtual Assistance and the upcoming OIVAC Convention. I encourage you to leave questions for Sharon in the comment section below. She will do her best to answer them for you. Registration for the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention ends on May 18 at midnight EST. For more information visit the OIVAC (http://oivac.com) and register today.

We’ve heard or read about tours designed to promote all kinds of causes or industries. But you’ve never read about something like this before! Sharon Williams, also known as the Podcast and Blog Hopping Virtual Assistant, will embark on a 30 Day Virtual Tour (April 15, 2010 – May 16, 2010) designed to promote the Virtual Assistant Industry and its upcoming convention.. As part of the journey, she will leave clues that when unscrambled will form a mystery phrase at each stop, as well as provide a link to the previous stop. Readers visit stops to gain clues and an opportunity to win prizes donated by Virtual Assistants and Entrepreneurs that support the VA industry. Prize winners will be announced during the International Virtual Assistants Day Celebration scheduled Friday, May 21, 2010, 5:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. EDT (New York) in the online convention meeting room. (Download Clue Puzzle Board here.) Olinda Services is proud to participate in this event. Join us on April 20 to get answers to questions about Virtual Assistance and the upcoming OIVAC Convention. I encourage you to leave questions for Sharon in the comment section below. She will do her best to answer them for you. Registration for the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention ends on May 18 at midnight EST. For more information visit the OIVAC (http://oivac.com) and register today.

Jennifer Niebergall-Norene of Generous Marketing asks the question “What percentage of large corporations are investing in Social Media…?”. As an executive virtual assistant this question drew my interest. I work with several clients doing social media work but they are mostly academics not corporate. Here is the result of my research. According to the PR firm Burson-Marsteller Blog Fortune 100 companies are using social media. During 2009, Twitter surpassed blogging as the social media platform of choice – at least among the Fortune 100.  A recent analysis compiled by Burson-Marsteller and Proof Digital Media found that the largest 100 companies in terms of revenue as compiled by Fortune Magazine’s annual Fortune 500 were active on three key social media: Twitter, Facebook and Blogs.  Reuters Media File Blog posted about the study. The study found that 54% of the Fortune 100 were using Twitter to reach out directly to stakeholders, while 32% were using a blogs and 29% were actively using a Facebook Fan Page to engage.  Despite the perception that Twitter is the newest kid on the block among the three platforms, 76% of Fortune 100 companies that were using just one social media channel were using Twitter over Facebook and Blogs. Here’s a copy of the full report and an accompanying power point presentation by Burson-Marsteller. In February, 2010 Jordan McCollum reported in the Marketing Pilgrim that the Fortune 100 are less willing to adopt social media. Twitter seems have to have an edge over the other social media platforms. Here are the stats… 65% have active accounts on Twitter 54% have a Facebook fan page 50% have a YouTube channel 33% have corporate blogs 20% (inclusive) use all four platforms This appears to be both good news and bad news. While it’s clear that even very large companies see the usefulness of social media, many companies are trying only one thing, or only one thing at a time Flowtown published this visual story of how Fortune 100 companies are leveraging social media. I believe the higher use of Twitter is because corporations want to appeal to a more professional audience. I believe Facebook is seen corporately as a fun tool but not to be taken seriously. Although LinkedIn did not appear much in my research I would hope that Fortune 100 companies would take seriously the wealth of talent available through LinkedIn. Matt Warburton reported in September of 2009 that 40% of Fortune 100 companies use LinkedIn corporate recruiting solutions. I believe that it is more difficult for Fortune 100 companies to effectively use social media. An important aspect of social media is the authenticity of the experience. Twitter and Facebook fans want a person behind the corporate image. BusinessWeek reported in June of 2009 that only 2 of the Fortune 100 CEOs had Twitter accounts and none wrote blogs. As of this writing one of CEOs is @W_Buffett and he had 30,202 followers and 1 entry back in February, 2009. The other CEO is @AlanLafley of Proctor & Gamble and he has 157 followers but no posts. Do you have a question you would love for me to answer? Please post it on my Facebook Fan Page or in the comments sections below.

In January I participated in a blog challenge at the Virtual Assistant Forums. The question for the blog challenge was “Who would you like to meet…past, present or future?”.  I was overwhelmed with all of the possibilities. I asked my kids and my youngest son replied without hesitation, “Mom…she is the best cook!” You have to love that answer. After many hours of deliberating I finally made my choice. I would choose someone from my present. My “anyone” has inspired me as an online professional, a mother and a Christian. She lives across the globe from me but probably has been the biggest influencer in my life over the past two years. Kathie M. Thomas, founder of A Clayton’s Secretary, entered my virtual world back in 2007. She probably does not realize what a profound effect she has made in my life. She challenged me with the idea that I could work from home, take care of my family and try to live the life of the Proverbs 31 woman. So if today I could go to the airport and take a flight across the globe I would travel to Australia and meet her. She continues to grow, learn and inspire others. She recently shifted to another location and has taken up photography. You can see some of her beautiful photos at http://kathiesphotos.com/. She recently challenged fellow virtual assistants to make a difference in someone’s life. I wonder if she realizes the difference she has made in mine? Thank you Kathie for being willing to pioneer a new field and encourage other women to be the best we can be!

I always like to give a good report of a business that excels and goes above and beyond the call of duty. Today I was contacted by an associate who was just thrilled that Logitech provided them will excellent customer service. My associate dropped a book on his keyboard which broke the hinge on the back of the keyboard. You know that piece that if broken makes your keyboard wobble back and forth every time you type on it. Logitech customer support assured him they would replace the keyboard at no cost and that he didn’t need to pack up the old one and return it. Woot Woot! Talk about building up a loyal customer base. I will now be looking for a Logitech keyboard when I replace my existing one. Thank you Logitech for making someone’s day!

I am so excited that Skype Mobile for Verizon Wireless has been released. For more information click here. I installed the Skype mobile on my Android this morning and the installation went smoothly. You can call and use IM. As a virtual executive assistant, Skype is an integral part of my business. I especially use it for calling overseas. International clients love it. I also have a Skype to go account which I can use with my business line when making overseas calls. I am using Skype mobile with Verizon Wireless and an Android. It is also available for the Blackberry device. Right now it does not use a Wi-Fi connection but your data plan. Give it a try and let me know how you like it?

I recently posted a question on my Facebook fan page about preferred Windows email clients. I quickly heard about Outlook 2003 and 2007. A person here and there mentioned Thunderbird. The overwhelming amount of responses was for more information. I currently use Outlook and am testing Outlook 2010. I manage multiple client email accounts and my own. I daily access 2 Microsoft Exchange accounts, an IMAP account and a slew of POP3 accounts. Outlook 2007 will not handle multiple exchange accounts and you cannot run multiple copies of Outlook 2007. This lead me on an adventure to find another email client that would meet my needs. I will list here five free email clients that will work for most users. Thunderbird 3 Thunderbird is a free, open source, email client that integrates tabs, search features, message archives and smart folders to name a few. They have integrated a number of security features and has automatic updates of your software. To read more about Thunderbird 3 features click here. Windows Mail Windows Mail is a free program provided by Microsoft. It allows you to access multiple accounts. Windows Mail will access Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) servers, Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) servers and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) servers. For more information on setting up accounts in Windows Mail click here. Pegasus Mail Pegasus Mail is a free, standards-based electronic mail client suitable for use by single or multiple users on single computers or on local area networks. A proven product, it has served millions of users since it was released in 1990. It is extremely feature-rich and powerful, yet remains small and fast. It supports SMTP, POP3, IMAP4, LDAP & PH. For more information on the features in Pegasus Mail click here. IncrediMail IncrediMail is an email program that works by adding thousands of email backgrounds, emoticons, ecards, etcetera into your emails. If you are looking to put the fun back into email this may be the program for you. From the opening webpage through the installation program it will make you smile. I definitely would not recommend this as a productivity tool since I could not find in any documentation what type of accounts it supports.  CNET reports that it does provide Exchange server support. IMAP support is via a POP3 emulator. For more information about CNET’s review of IncrediMail click here. Mulberry Mulberry is an en open source email client with calendar and contact support. Mulberry is designed for use with email servers that support the Post Office Protocol (POP3) and the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). Mulberry supports several other Internet standard protocols, including the Internet Message Support Protocol (IMSP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Application Configuration Access Protocol (ACAP) and the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). For more information click here. Disclaimer: Please be sure to backup your computer before installing any software. Not all software will play nice on your computer. Let me know what you think of these programs and teach me about others that have met your needs!