Nail that Productivity Game: 5 Fun Hacks to Get Stuff Done When You’re Just Not Feeling It!

Nail that Productivity Game: 5 Fun Hacks to Get Stuff Done When You’re Just Not Feeling It!

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  • Hear
  • Feel
  • Smell
Productivity hack to get stuff done: you're not a tree, get up and move!

Music is an excellent therapy to help maintain focus and stay productive. Choose music that enables you to focus on the task at hand.

Simplilearn
Set a timer or alarm to trick your brain into being more productive.
Increase your productivity by planning big rewards!
5 Ways to Tame the Social Media Content Creation Beast

5 Ways to Tame the Social Media Content Creation Beast

Social Media Content Creators help define your brand and are your biggest cheerleader!
5 Tips to tame the social media content creation beast.
  1. Content Creation on Autopilot.

2. Unlocking the Engagement Enigma.

3. Data-Driven Decisions, Not Guesswork.

4. Freeing Up Your Precious Time.

5. A Collaborative Dream Team.

Tame the social media chaos with a Content Creator.
7 Tips for Focusing on Achieving Your Business Goals This Year

7 Tips for Focusing on Achieving Your Business Goals This Year

Working from the beach. Oh yeah!
Clear your workspace to help you focus on achieving your business goals!
Embrace the challenges and changes to get you to achieving your goals.

7 Essential Steps to Prepare for an Amazing New Year

7 Essential Steps to Prepare for an Amazing New Year

We are closing in on the end of 2023.

Now is the time to start preparing yourself and your business for the new year.

Yes, I said it.

The.

New.

Year.

In her email last month, Cindy Bidar talked about how NOW is the time to start looking towards 2024.

Why now?

Because, as Cindy says, the holidays are coming up and we tend to get ourselves wrapped up in preparation and celebrating and before you know it, BAM…it is the new year.

Cindy talks about how she is starting to plan out her 2024 now, and that is a good reminder for all of us to start preparing now.

Here are some tips to get you moving toward 2024.

1. Reflect on the Past Year

Take some time to look back on the past year and reflect on your accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned.

Consider what worked well and what could have been improved.

It really is only by understanding where you’ve been that you can better determine where you want to go.

2. Identify Areas of Growth and Improvement

We are all constantly improving and growing.

As a business owner, it is important to identify the areas where we can continue to grow and improve, whether personally or professionally.

Professional Development

Assess your skills and knowledge in your field.

Seek opportunities for growth and improvement, such as courses, workshops, or conferences.

For example, last month I attended Tawnya Sutherland’s VAVS Summit and gained valuable tips, tricks and information from the spectacular line-up of speakers Tawnya always puts together.

Look for these opportunities in your field and invest in your own education!

Personal Growth

Reflect on your personal life and relationships.

Identify areas where you can grow, whether it’s improving communication skills or fostering better self-care habits.

Health and Well-being

Evaluate your physical and mental health.

Take steps to improve your well-being, such as adopting healthier habits or seeking support from professionals.

3. Set SMART Goals for the New Year

SMART is an acronym for how best to set your goals.

Specific

Set clear and specific goals that define what you want to achieve.

Avoid vague or general statements.

Measurable

Create goals that can be measured and tracked, so you can monitor your progress and make adjustments if needed.

Achievable

Ensure your goals are realistic and attainable, considering your resources, time, and capabilities.

Relevant

Make sure your goals align with your values, priorities, and aspirations.

They should be meaningful to you.

Time-bound

Set deadlines or timeframes for your goals to create a sense of urgency and help you stay focused.

If you follow this formula, you will find that your goals will be very clear and concise, making it easier for you to actually achieve them.

4. Create an Action Plan

It may sound simple, but how can you get where you are going without a plan?

I always think about taking a trip when setting my goals.

Can I get from home to where I want to go and back again without a defined route?

Yes.

However, if I have a plan, I find that it just makes it easier to find my way there and back.

Here are some steps to help you create your plan of action.

Follow these 3 steps to create your action plan for the new year!

Step 1: Define Your Objectives

Clearly state what you want to achieve with each goal.

Be specific and break them down into smaller tasks.

If I want to drive from the East coast to the West, I obviously am not just going to drive that in one shot.

I am going to have to make stops along the way.

Stops along the route=smaller tasks.

Step 2: Identify Actions and Resources

List the specific actions you need to take to reach your objectives.

Identify the resources you’ll need along the way.

I might determine where the best places are to stop between East and West coasts.

Rest stops, gasoline, etc.

And some type of guidance, whether an old-fashioned map or my GPS.

Step 3: Set Priorities and Deadlines

Arrange your tasks in order of importance and establish deadlines for each one.

This will help you stay organized and focused.

Unless you have unlimited time on your hands to travel from East to West, you will need to establish how long you will be gone.

Then determine when you need to be at each location as well as your destination before starting the return journey.

These 3 steps will help you, regardless of the goal, get you to where you want to end up.

5. Establish Accountability Measures

“Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result.”

– Bob Proctor

It is easy enough to set a goal.

It is not always so easy to hold yourself accountable, so you will want to find ways to track your progress and stay motivated.

Consider involving a trusted friend, mentor, or coach who can provide support, guidance, and hold you accountable to your goals.

6. Practice Self-Care

Make your well-being a priority.

Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health.

Engage in activities that bring you joy, manage stress, and recharge your batteries.

Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

7. Celebrate Successes Along the Way

Take time to celebrate the milestones and successes you achieve throughout the year.

Reward yourself for your hard work and progress made.

And share your wins with others.

Invite those who have supported you on your journey to celebrate your wins together.

Their encouragement and acknowledgment will fuel your motivation!

As we head toward the holidays and the end of the year, start preparing yourself for next year.

You will find that the holidays will be much more enjoyable when you are not thinking in the back of your mind about what you need to plan for next year while you are celebrating with friends and family.

And as always, if I can be of any assistance, please just drop me a message.

I am happy to help in any way!

Should your small business hire an employee or a Freelance Admin?  

Should your small business hire an employee or a Freelance Admin?  

Most small business owners today know that they need administrative help but are not sure whether they should hire an employee or a Freelance Admin.

Welcome back to the GinAdmin blog. My name is Gina Koran, and I will be your hostess today as we talk about the differences between hiring an employee and working with a Freelance Admin.

So grab your favorite beverage and enjoy…

You know you need help for your small business, but…

Would it be faster to do it yourself versus having to train someone to do the tasks?

Where do you even start?

And really… do you even have ENOUGH work to keep someone busy?

Most small business owners eventually get to this point – they KNOW they need help, but is it really worth it?

And how do they know whether they should hire an employee or a Freelance Admin for their small business…or even if they need either?

Employee or Freelancer Admin?

You need help, but not sure if you should hire an employee or a Freelance Admin?

One of the questions I get asked a lot is “What is the difference between hiring an employee and working with a Virtual Assistant?”

Check out these differences:

A Freelancer or Virtual Assistant already has their own equipment; you must provide equipment for an employee.

Freelance Admins have their own office space; you will need to provide the space and furniture for an employee.

Freelancers provide their own insurance and retirement; you (if you are going to provide them) will need to find and (at least partially) pay for these benefits for an employee.

You only pay a Freelance Admin for tasks completed or for the time they worked to complete your tasks; with an employee, you’re going to pay them for the fixed number of hours you hire them for.

Freelancers do not waste time as they have other clients that they are supporting; employees tend to take restroom breaks, lunch breaks, checking social media, texting…all on YOUR time.

Most Freelance Admins have specialized skills and will pay for enhancing those skills themselves; with an employee, you are going to pay for those additional trainings through either actually paying for courses and/or the time it takes the employee to go through that training.

Another benefit of having a Freelancer is that they can provide extra support during your busy times, as well as while others are out of the office, on vacation, etc.

So, now that you know the difference, let’s take a look at how a Freelance Admin can help you and your small business.

Time

A Freelance Admin can work as many or as little hours as you need them to.

You can also “purchase” a block of a Freelancers time for the work you need done.

One key is that finding an admin that is already familiar with your industry means less training time.

Simply show them how YOU like things done, and voila…training done.

Where do small business owners find Freelance Admins?

Today, there are SO many sites you can go to to find your perfect match.

My friend and mentor, Tawnya Sutherland over at VA Networking has a truly kick-butt Job Board where you can post your opening(s).

Tawnya also recently started a board for her massive network of VAs to list their skills, allowing business owners to search for that perfect VA!

I encourage you to head to VA Networking and see if Tawnya’s network has your match!

What can small business owners delegate to a Freelancer?

When you consider whether or not you have enough to keep someone busy, I suggest a quick test.

Take a look at your day today.

How much time are you spending…

Answering emails that ask the same questions every day.

Keeping tabs on similar businesses to see how you stack up.

Researching your industry’s standards and what’s new.

Determine the tasks you can delegate when your small business hires a Freelance Admin.

Writing a blog post to keep your clients updated on what’s going on with your small business.

Figuring out what to post on Social Media…

Then creating the wording…

And finding the perfect image.

Track your time for ONE day. One day of admin tasks.

Then figure out how much money you lose every day by focusing on those admin tasks versus your true money-making tasks.

I have a small business owner that hired me, well for many things, but one was to schedule his business’ social media posts each week.

This task takes me approximately two hours every Friday – just to schedule the posts.

That doesn’t include the additional time each week that I spend looking at his competitor’s websites and social media,

Coming up with new ideas for him to get new customers,

And creating new, exciting, eye-catching and scroll-stopping images and posts.

The literal HOURS I’ve saved him every week have allowed him to focus on expanding his marketing.

As well as other money-making areas that require his attention.

It has also allowed him to take some much-needed down-time with his family.

All because he knows he can rely on me to take care of those tasks each week.

Still not sure which, if either, is the right path for your small business? 

Maybe you do not actually need an assistant yet? 

You may just need to adjust a few things you are already doing to make them more efficient. 

Just doing this alone may assist in saving time.   

I would love to help you make the decision…

I can help you decide IF your small business should hire an employee or a Freelance Admin!
I can help you decide IF your small business should hire an employee or a Freelance Admin!

The decision on whether you should hire an employee or a Freelance Admin.

Head over to my contact page and let’s see if a Freelance Admin is the right fit for you!

As always, thanks for taking time to read my coffee-induced words.

And as a personal P.S., I want to thank those of you who have reached out and kept in touch with me about the “Life Happens” events going on here.

I appreciate all of you more than you can possibly imagine!

Until next time, my friends, stay happy, healthy and safe!