March 2024 Edition #4

Not quite March, but it soon will be

Cars: How much do we need them?

At the beginning of the week, I asked how much you depend on cars. There certainly are a lot of us, plus everything else.

Would you consider alternative forms of transport?

I had a comment reminding me that if you live in a countryside location, alternative transport isn't always an option. But is it any different in towns?

It's 8 miles between my town and the next. On a good day, it takes 20 minutes. At commuter times, it can take 90 minutes. So if I'm stuck in it, so are the buses.

What's been popular for a while is to leave your car at transport hubs and then take a bus, a train or even a plane.

Do you or would you do more of this to avoid most of the queues?

Take a look at the post and have your say! Cars Post

Rescue You

Who’s going to rescue you?

?If your ship is at the bottom of the ocean?

?These days, people shouldn’t be struggling

?In calm seas

?It’s rough weather you need to be wary of

?And yet the winds are so light

?There is no wind for our sails

?To find the people we are looking for

?The ones we yearn for so dearly

?Can we want something too much?

?When the solution

?It is what we need instead of what we want.

?In times like these, being open to change

?Is your strength

?You are the change

?That can set a new course in your life and business

Loving Sandy

In Internet folklore

?'I Love Sandy' was one of the first online apps

?Designed to assist busy lives

?25 years ago. I can’t believe I’m writing about it.

?But it was perhaps a precursor

?To the virtual assistant age

?That is so prolific today

?

So, here are my top tips for hiring a VA

1.??? Do you need a VA? The obvious question. What are you truly looking to solve?

2.??? Define as close as reasonably possible what you’d like to achieve

3.??? Create a description

4.??? Set a budget you can afford

5.??? Look at the marketplace. (EG Fivvr and Upwork). You’ll see that the offerings vary quite considerably

6.??? Can you afford the market?

7.??? Still here? Look at profile ratings and reviews. These can be informative.

8.??? Place an AD. Look at applications. If they don’t match your description, you need to write a tighter, more specific version.

9.??? Shortlist a number you are comfortable with. EG 5-10

10. Ask a couple of specific questions about how they would manage some tasks.

11. Make your decision. Don’t be afraid to bin it and start again if you don’t like the replies. It’s your money, your time, your tasks, right?

12. Enjoy the process

13. The baker’s dozen option. Google your local area for VAs. You might be surprised how many there are. Some might even be willing to take a call or be open to a meeting. Looking people in the eye may be old-fashioned, but it still works.

?Good luck!

My next Webinar: How to find travel clients in 90 days

It is on the 6th of March

Click here to register

England My England

I love living in the west country of England

I flew over it on a trip from Belfast to Exeter

Looking out the window, the beautiful rivers of North Devon

spread out before me, taking their time

It never gets old.