Change Downtime into Up-Time
Is business slow?
Are you waiting for times to change and get better?
 Don't despair during downtime - use these slow times to create maksimum benefit for your
business.
It happens that we sometimes find ourselves not having much to do because work has slowed down -
that's life.
But, what do you do during this downtime? Do you sit and wait to see what is going to happen
next or do you DO some "work" in order to change your situation?
Unfortunately, so many people spend their lives waiting for something to happen.
It rarely does.
It is
only when you are doing something to change the situation that things will happen.
Koos Olivier, a well renowned Real Estate Trainer in South Africa, said:
"What we teach you, will not work, unless YOU work it.
The purpose of education is ACTION
not knowledge."
The fact of the matter is that in order for you to turn "downtime" into "uptime", action
is necessary.
The following 6 actions can help you turn your downtime into uptime.
1. KNOW YOUR PURPOSE
Do you know why you've become a Virtual Assistant?
No matter how vital important it is to know
how to do something, the why always come first. If you do not know why you want to do
something, you may end up waiting for times to change.
Tip: Re-evaluate your goals today. If you have not already set your goals, take the time and do it
before the end of the day.
Goals are your dreams with deadlines. Goals are your direction in
life. Goals tell you the why and it spells out the purpose why you
are a Virtual Assistant.
It is your roadmap to success.
Purpose = Passion.
If you know why you are doing something, you will work with passion to
achieve it.
2. VIRTUAL ASSISTANT OR A SECRET ASSISTANT
How many people know what you are doing?
Only the handful of clients you're delivering a
service to?
Only your closest family members?
Only a couple of friends?
Make a list of who
you think know what you are doing and see for yourself. If your list is less than at least a
hundred but preferably two hundred you fall in the category of a "secret assistant". If people
do not know what you are doing, how on earth are you going to grow your business and income?
Act during downtime and start telling everyone about what you are doing and about the
industry.
The other
day I was standing in a queue when a lady in front asked me: "Have you
heard about ...."
What an excellent way to spread the word.
If you
can even put a business card in their hand much better - you will sooner or later reap the
rewards.
Make a point of it to tell at least two to three people per day what you are doing. You can do
this by "Word of Mouth", phone calls or a mailing list. Commit yourself during downtime and spread
the word.
3. BEWARE OF THE DISEASE TO PLEASE
Are you complaining about something that does not work but you keep on doing it?
Are you saying
yes when you actually know you should have said no?
Do not do something just to please yourself or other people. Sometimes we are doing something
just because most people do it.
Take flyers for instance. We all create flyers with great
enthusiasm (everyone does it) but do we distribute them effectively?
We all create a mailing
list (because this is what we have to do), but are we working it effectively?
Do not try to be a pleaser by doing everything. Instead of trying to do every marketing method
there is, evaluate what works for you and what not.
If you don't know what works for you, decide
on a method or two and act upon it.
In order to bring the work in, use your downtime to
concentrate on the marketing method
that works for YOU.
4. ASK FOR WORK
Most people do not receive, because they do not ask and most people do not ask because they fear
rejection.
Have you ever decided to call somebody to ask for work, but for the best of it, could not get
yourself to pick up the phone?
Why didn't you make the call?
Because you feared they might say no?
Tip: Prepare yourself before you make the call. By asking the right questions and listening to the
response, you might be able to get the work even before you ask.
Act during downtime, prepare and practise your telephone conversations.
Remember closing a deal is all
about asking the right questions, not telling the client the solutions. Let your clients solve
their own problems by asking the right questions.
Use phrases like: "Is there something I can
assist you with" instead of "Do you have some work for me".
5. DEVELOP CONFIDENCE
To get the work, you have to develop confidence in yourself.
The bad part is that
nobody can do
it for you ... confidence comes from within you.
But you can train yourself - a well
trained person is a competent and confident person.
Use your downtime to "train" your confidence level.
6. SW, SW, SW - NEXT
This stands for:
Some will give you work.
Some won't give you work.
So what?
Who's next If you know your purpose and you have a passion to fulfil your dreams and goals you won't
mind
the no's because every NO brings you closer to a YES!
downtime
Thus, the Key to getting more work during downtime is:
To know your purpose;
To tell everyone what you are doing;
To beware of the disease to Please;
To ask for work; and
To develop confidence.
For more information read
Virtual Assistant Marketing
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