I launched my initial website to offer VA services two years ago in April. So, each April I think on how the last year has gone and what I can do differently this year.

This year I feel I need to start specializing in a particular aspect of Virtual Assisting. The thing I truly enjoy doing is Event Planning and Managing and to a lesser degree, but still a lot of fun, Social Media Management. I am still exploring all the in's and out's of completely changing the way my site looks and what it says, but I think it is the right thing to do.

I really enjoy organizing things and putting together fun activities for people. I hope this is the change for this year that really pushes me forward and into the earning bracket I would like to be in.

So, I was perusing LinkedIn the other day and I noticed I had a message to check. I checked that message which was from a gentleman I know, he wrote "I was looking at your profile the other day and saw this, '...As a trained Stage Manger I am well versed...' just thought you might want to change that." It took me three reads to figure out what he was talking about. I am certain, you my lovely readers picked out the problem right away and this just proves the point. Hire someone else to proof your writing. I have that phrase in several locations, so now I have to go find them all and fix the problem. I appreciate the nice man who pointed the problem out. Never proofread your own stuff! Have a great day.

#30postsin30days was a bit much I guess as I only got 17 posts out of it, but that was probably 14 more than I would have posted, so in that respect there was some success. I am more comfortable putting my thoughts into a doc and posting it now, so that was helpful. Though I have been told "this is a business page so there should be business blog posts only", I will be trying to conform to that in the future. Maybe I will give myself a new challenge and post once a week for 2 months. Making sure they are business related posts, of course.

There it is, my new challenge to myself-Post one business related post on this blog once each week on Thursdays for the next 1.5 months (until 1 June). Thank you for helping me figure that one out.

I am getting to the point where I am at a loss. I am wondering whether to continue in this line of work as I am no closer to any goals I set two years ago. I have gone through 2 tax cycles with disappointing result, and I am losing hope that anything will change; add to that pressure from outside sources to increase my earnings, and I am not feeling good.

I like being able to work from home as it fits into my lifestyle perfectly, but the need to bring in more revenue and not being able to find it is disconcerting and causing me to question my abilities. I know I could really rock this job if I could find that one client that needs me regularly.

Organising events makes me so very happy! I really love it. I think it is my favourite thing to do when I am not performing. If I had my way and no other concerns I would find a way to perform and plan events as my job. Right now that is looking more and more like a dream that will not come true.

So, it looks like I am improving in the flexibility and pain reduction portion of my life, awesome! I am pleased that I can do more now and feel better about it.

I am making slow strides in getting the business in a better place. I looked up networking gatherings in my area, and there are a fair few, but many of them are membership based, so they cost to attend as a member plus membership dues. That isn't going to work for me just now. There is one possibility in a women's group that you can attend as a non-member, then decide if you want to be a member. I like that, so I might go check them out and see if I can fit in there. It is a big deal for me as I am nervous one-on-one.

My classes are pretty fun, the Behavioural Genetics is really interesting and the Communications was much better than I expected. Some of the material in the Behavioural Genetics is over my head and a little daunting, but it is presented in a way that makes it understandable and extremely interesting.

Absolutely terrifying! That is what I feel about networking, but I love public speaking, sigh how can that be? 

I am more uncomfortable speaking to people one-on-one than in a large group. I think not knowing what to say in the "small talk" arena contributes to this discomfort. I have lately been working on my "elevator pitch" and it is daunting. I never knew it would be so hard to distill the "what do you do" portion of my life into a small compact and easy to spill speech. I think the biggest difficulty is quantifying my work. I am in a new business that I have not been in, in this form before, so I am not sure how to quantify what I do and make it into a value statement. I know in my heart that I am useful and can really contribute to anthers mental well-being, but I am not sure how to put that across in dollars and cents.

Suggestions welcome...

Wow, this has been a busy fantastic weekend. We had  great time yesterday with friends at a game day, I learned how to play some fun games and I got to visit with folks I haven't seen for quite some time. Today was full of baking for tomorrow and colouring eggs as well as a really fun Easter hunt and lunch at the church for L, they had a bunch of crafts and fun for the kids, it was cool. I am looking forward to spending time with the family and dong Easter baskets and egg hunt with L tomorrow.

L is very disappointed because I misunderstood when the lunar eclipse was and we missed it and so she wasn't able to see the "blood" moon. I feel bad that I got it wrong, but I thought it was Saturday night and apparently it was Friday night. Bummer. I hope there is another one some time this year so I can get it right.

I am positively amazed at how much more productive I am when I get proper rest. The last 2 days my DH has been seeing L off to school in the morning allowing me to sleep until I awake. I have not slept in until noon or anything, usually until 0800 or there about, but I feel more refreshed, happier, and much more productive.

I am sure this shows with my family as I am so much happier, I am much easier to be around. I feel like I can think more clearly and organize more efficiently, just by having a proper nights sleep. What an amazing tool for success, and it doesn't cost anything!

I am so thankful that my DH decided to help me out like that, it has really meant a great deal to me to know that I am not just "sleepy" all the time because I have a problem. I am "sleepy" because I am not getting appropriate rest. Fantastic!