Some Fighting Going On In Heaven Today

This post is dedicated to the memory of

Frank Lopopolo

Husband - Father - Grandfather-

Great Grandfather

August 3rd 1926 ~ March 5th, 2009

It’s sobering to think that the loss of a life is what it takes for us to sit up and take notice of our own lives. Today, I lost my grandfather; now I am sitting up.

I went back to my first blog post and there it was. The first rule of thumb; you can't just sit around wishing, you got to really do the work. You must really walk the walk.

My grandfather, Frank Lopopolo, walked the walk. He was truly an amazing man. My kids will tell you he made the most amazing meatballs. He was the only real male role model I had growing up. I learned to swim in his back yard, and learned to make home made chicken soup in his kitchen. Fourth of July and Christmas Eve are memories that that I hold near and dear to my heart. He was my sounding board and my hero. I know he was very proud of me, and I deeply loved him. It may not have been obvious, but he instilled in me the resolve and fortitude of "I can," and helped me to reach for the things I wanted.

He was a stubborn Italian man. Hmm, wonder where I get my stubbornness from. He was a strict father and ruled with an iron fist. We heard all the stories. He was passionate about politics and baseball. We had many political debates as I grew into a young adult and became a parent myself. We danced at my wedding and I remember it as though it were yesterday.I cherish the moments that I got to spend with him in the last few years, and I am so happy that he got to spend time with my children. I am relieved that he will no longer be in pain, and that he will have peace. It comforts me to know that he will be reunited with many who have gone before him, especially my mother, his daughter. I wish I could be a fly on the wall in to watch the look on his face when he sees my mom in all her beauty. Although I have to tell you, there may be some fighting going on in heaven today between two of the most stubborn people I have ever known. But I know in the end, there will only be be hugs and tears, as they watch down upon the loved ones they have left behind.

It has been nearly a month since I have posted on my blog. All good intentions slip away, but today it hit me, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Life is too short to fold your underwear. Life is not waiting for me, and life doesn’t care that once again I have put too many things on my plate. The one thing I set out to do this year was to simplify my life…not complicate my life.

Today, a dear friend sent one of those email chains. Send to 10 friends and blah blah blah. I usually delete and don’t forward. Today, I was drawn to read it. Everything happens for a reason., hence the reason for this post. Today I will get back on the path that I strayed from. If you have found yourself not following the path that you want to be on then perhaps this list will help you too.

• Slow Down
• Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe
• Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule
• Delegate tasks to capable others
• Recognize that less is more.
• If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it!
• Laugh, and then laugh some more!
• Talk less, listen more.

One last thought. “Life is like a tea cup. There’s only so much “stuff” that will fit. If you fill your cup with the wrong things, and the wrong people, you won’t have time for the right things and the right people.” Unknown author.

Starting a New Business- Where Do I Go? What Should I Do? Part II of II

Last week, I wrote about building a foundation for your business, and how important it is to have that foundation in place prior to your start-up. Once you have your foundation in place, you can move on to the next steps.

There are literally thousands of resources available to help you start a business. I am a big fan of the checklist. My kids will roll their eyes if you ask them about the checklists I have created for them! When it comes to getting things done there is no better way than to get it out of your head, and into a format. Speaking of checklists, here is a great article that walks you through both building your foundation and every thing else you need to consider when starting your business.

Through on-line research you can find checklists and other great tools to help you get your ducks in a row. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce or the Small Business Adminsitration. These are great starting points, and are valuable resources for your search. Although my primary resource is being part of, and having access to the prestigious AssistU network, I have also come across interesting and incredibly business savvy VA’s who have created amazing start-up tutorials, blogs, and e-books. Lisa Taglia’s e-book, “ The five key steps to your Virtual Assistance business,” is a great tool for those who are looking to become a VA. This handy package included a VA start up checklist, a business plan workbook, an hourly rate calculation, and marketing plan workbook.

In my opinion, a good rule of thumb is to find two or three really great resources and try to stick to any guidelines that they have outlined. Too many resources make for a hodge-podge of information and goes back to that information overload thing.

After a year of focusing on my checklist and securing my foundation, I am proud to announce that my ducks are all in a row, and in a few short days, my website will be up and running! Giving yourself enough time, not rushing, and carefully weighing your options are great strategies that will ensure your reserves are abundant and your resolve is strong.

If you are starting your own business and don’t know where to turn or what to do first, just be sure to find at least one or two leaders in the industry who can guide you through building your foundation first.

Are you starting your own business right now? Would you like to share your thoughts, your fears, or insight? Please do!

Starting a New Business- Where Do I Go? What Should I Do? Part I of II

If you are thinking about starting your own business- or if you have already started one and are feeling overwhelmed…you are not alone.

It is utterly amazing the amount of information readily available for entrepreneurs and new business owners. Google the word "entrepreneur," and you will quickly understand that statement. There are so many great resources, however, it all can be pretty overwhelming. Understanding what information is necessary and what you can put on the back burner is the key to avoiding the overload.

One of the most important points that I learned through my VTP training at AssistU (the premier training program for virtual assistants!) was that building the foundation of your business is the key first step. You must be able to have a foundation in place that includes key advisers, and plenty of resources before you just open up shop. Years ago when I was young and naive, (And I am still young!) I attempted to start a party planning business. Let’s just say-I did not have my ducks in a row, and it was painfully obvious at the end of the first year that I had made some costly mistakes. The biggest being that I dove in head first, but did not know how to swim. Ahh.. this goes back to "everything happens for a reason."

It really is imperative that you hire advisers who are necessary for your business type before you put the open sign in the window. The four types of advisers that I have for my home based business are:

• Accountant

• Attorney/Pre-paid legal service

• IT

• Insurance

You want to start out on the right foot by keeping your business financial records separate from your personal ones. If you don’t already have an accountant, now is the time for you to consider hiring one. Even if it is just to help set up your books.

For most new business owners, having an attorney on retainer, or through a pre-paid legal service to review contracts and for any other legal questions that arise, is a wise business decision.

For those who work from home, a reputable and dependable IT guy or IT company is crucial to ensure that your systems are always running at top speed, and you are protecting yourself from viruses, etc.

Additionally, all new business owners must think about business insurance. You want to be able to safeguard your equipment, and your reputation, and you would be remiss if you overlook this critical foundation piece.

This foundation of your key people is by far the most important first step when putting your company together, regardless of whether you are starting a home-based business, mom and pop shop or bigger type business or franchise. My goal is to help you to simplify these choices so that they are not as overwhelming as they may seem. I know for me, I spent a little too much time looking elsewhere for advisers when I should have started in my own backyard. Often these advisers are already part of your personal financial team. No need to look elsewhere if you have been happy with the service they have provided for personal matters.

Next week I will touch on the many other things that have to be decided on when you venture out to become a successful entrepreneur.

Attaining a Work-Life Balance- Handling Distractions When Working From Home Part II of II

Are distractions driving you crazy?

Owing your own business is both rewarding and challenging. There is no doubt that getting real work done at home requires oodles of initiative, desire, and discipline. Preparation and just a few basic rules are the keys to avoiding those distractions and getting things done.

The first step is to develop and keep a routine. This week I incorporated a routine into my daily work hours and it is amazing how much I have accomplished. There is a strong sense of accomplishment when you are soaring through the day productively and on schedule.

Organizing your at home work day is even more important because you don’t have anyone to keep you in line. If you are meeting deadlines at 4am, or still in your pajamas at 3pm it may be time to implement a schedule that prioritzies your workload and creates some balance.

Create lists. Ok, Ok, I admit- I am a bit list crazy. Growing up I watched my mom at the kitchen table, drinking her coffee and writing never-ending lists. Those of you reading this blog post who know me well- are laughing out loud!

Here is a list of ideas to help keep distractions at bay.

• Have two phone lines—one for work and one for home—and don’t answer the home line while you’re working. (Guilty!-Friends stop calling!)
• Keep the door to your office closed while you’re at work, and even when you’re not. Getting boundaries in place right away will go a long way towards future success.
• Use one calendar combining home and office so everything is in one place. (I use Outlook, and can look at all my calendars in overlay mode or side-by-side.)
• Set a weekly schedule and do your best to stick to it. Make a list of everything you want to accomplish for a week, and then schedule it like an appointment.
• Set reminders or use flags for important items such as conference calls, and other meetings that don’t usually ocurr on a daily basis. This will prevent you from missing the call. (Guilty!)
• Check your e-mail three (ok…maybe four) set times a day. Turn OFF the e-mail alerts, otherwise you will be tempted to check more often.
• If you are participating and belong to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN, use a service like ping.fm to write status updates to all networks.
• Turn off the TV. You can Tivo and watch later. (Guilty.)
• Be sure to incorporate exercise into your day. Take breaks, or even take a mid-day walk to get refreshed and revitalized. I like to work out late morning; Helps me to refresh and re-focus.

If your business is growing, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do it all. You may want to consider hiring a Virtual Assistant. (Like me!) Check out Erin Blaskie’s 30 days of delegation.

Starting a business or growing a business? Do you get distracted? Are you overwhelmed with all the things you have to do in a day? Do you have a routine? How do you organize your work day? Please share your thoughts!

Attaining a Work-Life Balance- Handling Distractions When Working From Home Part I of II

So it goes- all the good intentions of new years resolutions can fall to pieces when you lose focus or become distracted. We start out with high expectations. However, when working from home you typically don't plan for distractions; hence the unraveling begins.

Distractions are a part of our every day lives. You often say to yourself “where did the day go?” Or perhaps “where did the month go?” How can you handle those “little tiny”…or “VERY BIG” distractions and not let them interfere with the task at hand? You have a couple of great days; distraction crushes the momentum and it is hard to get back on the horse. How you handle “distractions” is what will determine your ability to achieve success and live your entrepreneurial dream.

I was focused and adhering to the intense- “take back my life- and get everything I want out of the new year” plan, when one little pop-up- “you have mail” changed the entire momentum. An e-mail from Josh’s teacher regarding a very serious matter; talk about distractions-that’s a BIG ONE!

In a corporate office setting I most likely would not be checking personal e-mail, grades online or doing the laundry! I would not be distracted by twitter fox updating to the right, e-mail dings, or that constant impulse to check facebook and linkedin. Nevertheless, I don’t work in the corporate world and frankly don’t ever want to again. My point? You have to be highly focused and disciplined to be a successful stay at home business owner. Putting systems in place to help you avoid the little distractions and handle the BIG ONES will go a long way to helping you to attain that work-life balance.

Fortunately, this little set back inspired me to work even harder, and was the inspiration for the subject of today’s two-part blog!

Today, I work from home and I am a virtual assistant. Today, I am a stay at home mom. I am defined by neither, yet I am defined by both. My kids are either going to become a hindrance to the process, or become part of the process. I choose the latter. Today, I choose empowerment over defeat. Today, I am going to put processes in place so that at the end of day, the week, and the month, progress will replace stagnation. Boundaries and keeping an eye on the prize will replace frustration. Today, I am one step closer to that attainable work-life balance goal.

How about you? Share what processes you have in place to achieve a work-life balance and what keeps you focused. Next week, in Part II of this series find out what action steps you can implement to help get work done and simplify your work and life.

Everything has a place; There's a place for everything

This is what we tell our kids with the hope that one day it will actually sink in! Maybe instead of Goodnight Moon, we should have been reading this book when they were toddlers! Someday-Alexa will automatically empty her swim bag, rinse her suit, and re-stock her bag for the next practice! Josh will hang his jacket in the handy hook in the mudroom and not leave his backpack in the middle of the kitchen floor. Ah-what a day that would be. J As a side note-for laughs, check out this blog about finding a place to put your purse in the car!I really hate when it falls on the floor!!

In this fresh new year of simplicity and bright beginnings, I find the “everything has a place” rule even more necessary to achieve that life-work –joy balance we are all trying to attain.

In this age of technology overload-there needs to be a place for all that “electronic stuff” too.

When I started the training phase of my journey in becoming a Virtual Assistant through AssistU’s Virtual training program, I found myself signing up for endless newsletters and feeds full of information on how to start your business. Additional training and webinars through VAClassroom and Business Services Etc., (just to name a few) as well as various types of collaboration tools and more continuously bang at my in-box door. As you can imagine, before long I was suffering from “in-box overload.” I was feeling pretty overwhelmed and this was causing undue stress and tension- but I did not want to miss a thing!

That’s when I realized it’s time to have a different email address for all this business stuff. (That did not stop the in-box overload although it obviously makes sense to have separate email addresses.) So there must be a way to get this information neatly tucked into a file without me having to “physically” do it? Out of sight and can follow up on later idea. Then of course just a little playing around with outlook-produced that “aha” moment. I just had to give it a rule! Now I know most of you already know about this handy tip-but there may be some of you who don’t- and you may be in need of such a solution. So here's to you getting out of in-box hell! After I upgraded to Outlook 2007 I also discovered that RSS feeds can also be directed right to your RSS feed file! Everything has a place- life is good! Now if rules could just be assigned to our kids as easily as email!

I also believe “there’s a time for everything.” Mom always said “everything happens for a reason” and she was a wise lady indeed. I truly believe that there is a time for everything, and if things do not happen precisely when we plan for them, or other things get in the way, there is a reason for that. There was a reason why it took more time than I anticipated to start this blog, and the VA practice I am just about to launch. There truly is a time for everything.

What about you? Is your timing right? Are you going in a new direction in your life? Is there place for everything in your house? Your office? Share your secrets here so others can learn from your journey too! Everyone is looking for help in January and every month to simplify their life and their work!

Starting the new year out right!

Here it is-2009! Out with the old and in with the new. My marketing plan calls for starting a blog...and although it is not listed as my top priority- who cares! I decided I wanted to take a chance and start blogging now! After all a good way to start a new year is by reaching out, and finally getting things done! Procrastination and fear of the unknown-gone! It's not perfect, and that's ok. It's a work in progress!

Ok- so what is this blog all about? Well it is about a process, and goals-one being to "simplify my life!" Hence the name...Simplify Your Life. I have learned that by becoming better organized and eliminating things in my life that are drains, I will have more space and time to propel forward- and stop standing still. My intention for this year is to work my plan, instead of just talking, and take risks instead of just dreaming. It's time to walk the walk.

So the first rule of thumb that I learned through my weekly dose of moxie; You can't just sit around wishing, you got to really do the work. I will call 2008 my wishing year. Actions will dominate in 2009.

I am looking forward to seeing some friends here along the road in this hope-filled, exciting, scary, crazy and in the words of an awesome lady; Stacy Brice "a kick-ass, moxie-filled, gonna get everything I want, New Year!" :)

So, what about you? Is it your year to get up, dust yourself off and work your plan. I hope that you will join me as I embark on this journey, and through the process- I hope all of your dreams will also come true!

Happy New Year!