This week I came up with a plan to try and support small businesses through the difficult period we find ourselves in thanks to the Covid19 Pandemic...

I have worked from home for 4 years now, but this is a new way of working for lots of people at the moment given the current Coronavirus Pandemic. Working from home with children added to the mix is a whole different kettle of fish, so I've put together some tips which will hopefully be helpful.

You've set up a new business, you're full of enthusiasm but you've not got any clients...

Recently I seem to have had an increasing number of new VA’s getting in touch with me to ask if I can meet up with them to have a chat about how I became a VA and set my business up. Although I don’t mind sharing my experiences, the very fact that I have built up, what I would class as a successful business, since starting out two years ago, means that I have limited free time available to catch up for coffee with people.

Moving from one computer monitor screen to two was a massive changing point in my business. I remember wondering why anyone would ever need to have more than one screen and how could such a simple change make any difference whatsoever to my productivity?

How are you?

"Busy"

Do you go it alone when it comes to running your own business?

How delegating can improve your work-life balance

I have a fantastic guest blog for you written by the extremely talented Laura Pearman of Laura Pearman Photography. Laura is very kindly sharing some expert advice and tips on how you can tackle that feeling of not being ready yet for a Pro Headshot.

A second installment from Kate Jones of Inspired Lives - this time talking about the importance of retreating to move forward. 

Another fantastic guest blog, this time from the extremely talented Hollie Ellis who is going to keep us right on all things branding. 

The next in a series of guest blogs, this time from the inspirational Kate Jones of Inspired Lives. 

A short story about my time as a calendar girl... 

I am delighted to be able to share the first of many guest blogs. This week I have a great blog from Scott Kerr of Tarn Wealth Management, thank you to Scott for taking the time to put this together for me, I am sure you will find it useful.

One of the main aims I had when I set my business up last year was to provide an all-round service for my clients. I didn’t really want to just sit at my desk and type letters up or produce power point presentations day in, day out.

Last week I spent two whole days at the Macdonald Linden Hall Hotel & Golf Club. Alright for some you may think! 

On our farm we have a bio-mass boiler which is fuelled by pellets. We buy our pellets in bags of maybe 10 – 20kgs which come on a pallet weighing 1,000 kgs. Why is she telling us this you may be wondering?

Exactly a year ago I became Self Employed. Anyone who has taken the jump from employee to self-employment will know that is a massive step to take.

Sometimes the best option for a client is for you to turn them away. This is an alien concept to lots of us, especially when you are just starting out in business and you have the worry that if you turn a client away, you don’t know where or when the next potential client could come from. One of the hardest lessons in business is to learn to say NO.

This week my little boy Harry, who is 3 1/2, is doing about Mothers Day at preschool. They are talking about the differences that other children have in their home lives and are going to be asked what their Mummy does, do they have a job?

Networking can be a daunting thought. When I set my business up I had previously attended networking meetings but to be honest, they always filled me with dread. The thought of going in to a room full of people I didn’t know and having to tell them what I did would send shivers down my spine. As always the reality of the situation was never that bad, but taking the first step to book a place for an event was huge.

Yesterday I spent the day working alongside a Silversmith, a Freelance Writer, a Digital Designer, a Freelance Photographer and a French Patisserie Chef. All of these lovely business owners joined me for my first (of hopefully many) co-working days in Hexham.

So it’s nearly the end of October now, that can only mean one thing – Christmas will be hear before we know it!

Some of you may know, but most of you will not, that as well as having Puzzle PA Services we as a family also have a sheep and beef farm and two holiday cottages. This makes us sound very busy and entrepreneurial, but in reality, the cottages were a necessary diversification of the long-standing farm business, making use of derelict farm buildings which could no longer be used for their original purpose.

My top 97 tasks to delegate to your VA