It’s been just over 30 days since we launched “Hosted MS Exchange” at Back To Business and I’m quite happy with things to date.
If you remember from my post “Technology To Grow Beyond The One Person Office” I was on a quest to make sure we had an effective method for sharing calendars, contacts and tasks. [...]
GetOutOfTheOffice.com
Adventures In Real Estate Virtual Assistance
Sharing Calendars, Contacts & Tasks For Small Business
Before You Hit Send: Ads Placed by Real Estate Assistants Looking For Work.
When I was writing the article “Classified Ads” I couldn’t help but notice some of the ads placed by Assistants (Licensed and Un-Licensed) looking for work.
And it made me shake my head.
When you are job hunting, you tend to look at the ads that have some real information to them, so you have an idea [...]
Overcoming The Fear Of Speaking At Your First Networking Meeting
Is the fear of public speaking keeping you from going to BNI or other networking meetings? This is probably the biggest stopping block I hear from people who admit they think that they could benefit from networking meetings but say “I HATE PUBLIC SPEAKING”.
If you have talked to anyone about networking meetings you will find [...]
Technology To Grow Beyond The One Person Office
Are you thinking about expanding your business beyond the one person company model? As I write this I am coming up on two months since I took the leap and started to expand my business. To say there has been a lot of learning in these past 8 weeks would be an understatement. I’m going [...]
Top Tips For Staying Focused When Working From Home
In my first months of working from home “all alone” I was struck by the silence. I had the radio on and I spoke with clients and contacts throughout the day but I was used to working in an office with over twenty people and a company with an overall staff of seventy. In that [...]
Video Conferencing - Skype vs. Oovoo
As I have indicated in some previous posts Rachel and I have video conference meetings every morning in order to get things started for the day. If you have a Real Estate team where some members work from remote offices or home you may want to look at video conferencing as a way to improve [...]
One Page Planning
A book I read recently is Jim Horan’s “One Page Business Plan” (if you’re not in business don’t worry the concept he proposes has applications in all area’s so read on).
Horan’s book (endorsed by Tom Peters by the way) proposes a one page plan that incorporates a Vision Statement, Mission Statement, Objectives, Strategies and Plans.
The beauty [...]
Before You Hit Send: Ads Placed by Real Estate Assistants Looking For Work.
When I was writing the article “Classified Ads” I couldn’t help but notice some of the ads placed by Assistants (Licensed and Un-Licensed) looking for work.
And it made me shake my head.
When you are job hunting, you tend to look at the ads that have some real information to them, so you have an idea of what you are applying for and what additions and changes you should make to your Cover Letter and Resume to get attention, right?
And if you are the one placing the Ad, wouldn’t you want to “Sell Yourself” in the best light possible, without giving away your whole Resume upfront?
The Worst Ads provided very little information. They came across as unsure as to what they wanted.
“I am new real estate licensee and want to be asistant of a busy realtor. Thanks! “ Bad spelling and grammar won’t help you.
One important point in the Real Estate world is it is a very decisive business. You have to be on your toes and make firm and sure decisions, quickly.
Read more »
Video Conferencing - Skype vs. Oovoo
As I have indicated in some previous posts Rachel and I have video conference meetings every morning in order to get things started for the day. If you have a Real Estate team where some members work from remote offices or home you may want to look at video conferencing as a way to improve communications. In addition video conferencing is a viable way for you to reduce impact on the environment and reduce costs (considering the price of gas these days). There are a number of free programs that allow you to accomplish this as long as you have a webcam and internet connection.
WE HAVE BEEN USING SKYPE BUT . . .
We have used Skype for some time now but things haven’t been going well lately. We are getting intermittent video and audio problems and program crashes about 30% of the time. We have tried re-downloading, using different computers etc. but nothing seems to work. I’m not sure if Skype is a victim of their own success. This sometimes happens with companies and products that get popular quickly but there have been enough problems that we decided to start looking at other solutions. Also Skype only allows for two person video-conferencing at this time and I wanted a video solution that will work with us as we grow, be it adding staff or having client/staff meetings by video. I did some Googling and checked various reviews and our first stop is Oovoo. We did try Oovoo briefly some time ago before we went with Skype but my understanding is that they have since released an updated version with significant improvements.
Why Does Someone Quit?
“Hmmm, where is my Assistant…?”
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THE ASSISTANT HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!
Everyone has quit a job (or five) in his or her working career. I remember hearing a statistics a few years ago that today’s 20-30 year olds are expected to go through an average (minimal) of 11 jobs and then 3 different career changes in their working lifetime. Personally, I’ve done A LOT more than that.
(Either I’m an over-achiever, bored or I just like to stress myself out, not sure which yet).
There’s an old saying: People quit their bosses, not their jobs. I’m 50-50 on that deal. Sometimes you just can’t work with someone anymore, it time to move on and up or it’s a combination of things.
Below are some ideas of why someone would quit. This is a simplified version of ten questions to give you a quick idea based on a points system.
If you are a boss, you can use this to rate yourself and the work environment you are providing.
If you are an Assistant, this could put some areas into perspective.
Yes = 1 point if you agree this is a good, positive aspect of the job.
No = -1 point if you think this is a bad, negative aspect of the job.
The Boss
Demanding, overbearing, too critical, unreasonable requests are just some of the complaints employees have about their bosses.
Yes = 1 point No= -1 point
Read more »
Overcoming The Fear Of Speaking At Your First Networking Meeting
Is the fear of public speaking keeping you from going to BNI or other networking meetings? This is probably the biggest stopping block I hear from people who admit they think that they could benefit from networking meetings but say “I HATE PUBLIC SPEAKING”.
If you have talked to anyone about networking meetings you will find that at most of them you stand and introduce yourself (usually just from where you are sitting, you don’t have to go to the front of the room) but if you hate public speaking the thought of doing this probably makes you break a sweat right away. I think a good part of the fear comes from thinking you might look foolish in front of the group. And why would you look foolish? Because you’re nervous and hate public speaking.
If you can identify with this I have a tip that has helped others get past this. What is suggest is DO NOT - I repeat - DO NOT prepare a speech or introduction. This may sound backwards but here’s an example of why I say this.
Action Words for Your Resume
I was recently asked what were some of the other words on my list of Action Words if I had any more and could I provide a longer list of “Action” words and skills that one can use in their Cover Letter and Resumes.
(Just to note, I had this in a FAB-u-lous table layout, all nice and neat and easy to read, but Wordpress would not let me import it that way).
Communication and People Skills
Addressed, Contacted, Edited, Advertised, Conveyed, Enlisted, Arranged, Convinced, Explained, Articulated, Corresponded, Expressed, Authored, Debated, Formulated, Clarified, Defined, Incorporated, Collaborated, Developed, Influenced, Composed, Directed, Interacted, Conferred, Discussed, Interpreted, Consulted, Drafted, Interviewed, Involved, Outlined, Reported, Joined, Participated, Resolved, Judged, Persuaded, Responded, Lectured, Presented, Solicited, Listened, Promoted, Specified, Marketed, Publicized, Spoke, Mediated, Reconciled, Suggested, Moderated, Recruited, Summarized, Negotiated, Referred, Translated, Observed, Reinforced, Wrote.
- Technology To Grow Beyond The One Person Office
- One Page Planning
- Have You Ever Googled Yourself?
- Social Networking Sites Do’s and Don’ts.
- Video Conferencing - Skype vs. Oovoo
- Your Real Estate Office Assistant Resume ~ What To Put In It?
- Kicking Your Client’s Butt For Fun & Profit!
- Should I Work In A Brokerage?
- The Classifieds: Actual Job Descriptions
- How Do You Treat Your Assistant?