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workbright

Upgrading HR Teams with Workbright and MyOutDesk

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You don’t automate to get rid of the human; you automate to empower the human. And that’s essentially the name of the game for Workbright; a set of HR tools built for small and medium businesses. We’ve chosen to highlight this particular product in our monthly tech blog because it’s one of the most commonly used services by our clients in the HR industry. Not to mention it’s the kind of software that pairs perfectly with virtual assistants, for several reasons which we’ll cover below. So if you’re in the Human Resources business and exploring ways to increase efficiency, team morale, and revenue… then read on and see why virtual assistants paired with Workbright is such a potent combination.

What exactly is Workbright?

Workbright is a professional toolset built to handle the repetitive and time-consuming tasks that slow down the hiring process. Just like our virtual assistants! The entire platform is online and has an emphasis on being mobile-friendly. With busy professionals being on the go so often, plus the leaning towards working remotely as of late, having an expansive platform like Workbright accessible from virtual anywhere is immensely useful. Just like how our virtual assistants work remotely, and thus are accessible to their teams and leaders from virtually anywhere as well. Starting to see the parallels? Workbright has all of the features and flexibility necessary to help HR teams do their jobs as efficiently as possible. As well as to allow new hires to get through the onboarding process in the same manner. This software guides both HR teams and new hires through an efficient and intuitive process, that gets everyone to work faster. What’s not to like about that? 

Here are some of the things that Workbright has in common with our own virtual assistant professionals.

workbright

What can Workbright do?

As we mentioned above, the entire platform is useable 100% remotely. Being able to work from anywhere is a hot topic in the professional world, and Workbright was ahead of the curve with this toolset. Using technology to automate not just mundane tasks but important time-consuming tasks are imperative these days. Most job hunters are doing so from a tablet or their phone, or even just a laptop in a coffee shop. They need software that will fit itself to the device they’re using, in an easy and effective way. Workbright does exactly that with its highly intuitive and customizable interface. Everything can be tailored to fit different business needs, adapting it to fit your established processes. Workbright doesn’t need to take over your entire HR department, it just needs to empower them to do what they already do, only better. 

Safe and Secure

With all this talk of technology and ease of use, what about accountability and accuracy? Workbright thought of that too, by enabling granular control of all forms, fields, reports, and admin permissions across the platform. Not to mention an extensive reminder and alert system. Automated event reminders and notifications can be customized and enabled for both the HR professional and new hires. Ask for digital signatures, send secure documents, report and export data, make adjustments in mass, and even check for tax credits automatically. The entire hiring process can be monitored remotely, with pinpoint accuracy and up-to-date information. Imagine handing over software this robust to an experienced virtual professional. It’d be like having an entire HR team in one person! 

Forms and Compliance

One of the most important aspects of HR is keeping everything safe and legal for the company and the employee’s sake. With Workbright you have access to a robust forms feature as well as a safeguard for compliance concerns. Convert existing hiring packets into a library of smart forms, and send for digital signatures. Even Form I-9 can be done 100% remotely and instantly submitted for E-Verify cases. No more manual entry with more opportunities for human error. Everything is audit ready because all of that data is auto-stamped with time, date, and the IP address of whoever worked on it. Never worry about an audit again! An HR virtual assistant can manage and review all documents and packets for an HR manager, ensuring everything is where it needs to be when it needs to be there, and with everything, it needs to have. Workbright even comes with guarantees that can result in a refund if any promises are not kept or expectations are not met. 

Human Automation

As you can see, automation technology isn’t about removing people from jobs and letting some artificial intelligence take over. It’s about simplifying, streamlining, and overall improving the processes that humans must do, by integrating technology into those processes. Workbright aims to do just that, by giving HR professionals the tools they need to make the entire hiring and onboarding process a breeze for everyone involved. When you combine a platform like this with a virtual assistant like ours, you get a recipe for a strong and effective HR team with half the calories so to speak. “Empowering people to get to work” is the motto of Workbright, and it might as well be ours too. Because that’s exactly what we do, just with remote working professionals rather than software. So mixing the two creates a professional powerhouse. And if today’s professional climate is any indicator, HR teams could really use a helping hand.

MyOutDesk + Workbright = Future Proof

The world of HR is tumultuous, to say the least right now. Recruiters are desperately trying to attract the right talent, while the talent is extra cautious about where they devote their time and energy. The average time to hire someone new in the US is 43 days. Do you have over a month to spare, just to hire someone whom you don’t even know will stick around? If you’re a growing business, then you probably don’t, and shouldn’t be anyways. Time is money, stop wasting both. You can hire an assistant for your HR team, from us, in just one week. Then pair them up with your local HR leader and software like Workbright, and watch your HR woes melt away. Don’t believe us? Have some questions? Hit the link below to request a Q&A session with one of our experts. They’ll answer all of your questions, and determine if our service is right for you.

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free Double Your Business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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labor market

The Recruiters Guide to The Labor Market in 2022

The Great Resignation is basically over. Welcome now, to the Great Stagnation. According to recent Labor Statistics data, there were about 11 billion job openings as recently as February, and two jobs for every person looking for one. The workers have left, they’ve gone home. Now businesses are sitting with gaps in their teams, searching for reliable professionals to fill them. Some blame it on the inability of many recruiters to adapt to the new world we live in. Others blame it on Americans simply not wanting to work or having new standards set unrealistically high. No matter the cause, what we’re experiencing now is a kind of stalemate. A game of chicken so to speak, between employers and professionals. Companies need professional talent and they are getting desperate to recruit it. While Americans are waiting for employers to catch up to the new norms of the professional world.

So what does this all mean to you and what’s next? That’s what we’re going to explain in this article. So that you can better understand how your business fits into this equation, as well as what some of your next steps should be. MyOutDesk is the longest-running virtual assistant provider in the world. We have 15+ years of experience matching virtual assistants to professional roles across industries, at companies big and small. We know a thing or two about the labor market and how to stay several steps ahead of it. So take our hand, and let’s get to stepping.

What’s going on?

The pandemic changed our world in unprecedented ways, and we’re still in the wake of those changes. Many professionals lost their jobs, and many just transitioned to some form of work-from-home arrangement. As conditions began to settle and return to this “new normal”, professionals found themselves accustomed to their new flexibility at work. And the ones not working at all found themselves wanting more incentive to even return to the workforce. With rumors of a flourishing job market, many professionals left their positions, setting their eyes on greener pastures at that other company. This has left recruiters and HR professionals in a very weird position, as they scramble to understand it and respond effectively.

unemployment

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99 Million Americans are not looking for work

According to the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate is going down(3.8% as of the start of March). Even still, the number of people not actively seeking work remains high; at about 99 million people according to the Census Household Pulse Survey. Of that number, nearly half were retired. After retirees, the next-largest group of “unemployed and uninterested” was the 18 million who gave “other” as their reason, and 7 million who gave no reason at all. In that same month of February which had 11 million open positions, the monthly quit rate(a government measure of worker resignations) reached 2.9%. With the pandemic in our rearview and inflation making the dollar worth less and less, why aren’t more people really trying to get a job? 

Money isn’t everything. Until it is.

In the old days, it seemed like simply offering money for someone to do a job for you was all it took. Offer a bit more money and you get even more interest. Nowadays it’s not all about the money, it’s also about workplace environments, benefits, flexibility, and work-life balance. US professionals have come to expect more from their employers, and not just from their paycheck. They want the flexibility to work from home(or something hybrid), they want competitive benefits for their families, and more PTO to enjoy life. But that isn’t stopping recruiters from leaning into the temptation of money to attract talent. In fact, 19% of HR professionals surveyed said they need to increase benefits and compensation for current and new talent. Transparency around wages in job listings is growing, even becoming required in some states like Colorado and soon New York. It’s predicted that, as inflation continues and more Americans burn through their savings and credit cards, the dollar sign metric will soon be a top priority once again.

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Nearly ⅓ of people who quit one job for another said they felt surprise or regret, according to a survey of 2,500 US adults conducted by The Muse, a job-search and career-coaching company.

You catch more bees…

Recruiters are using money to entice professionals, with bloated salaries, enhanced benefits packages, and big hiring bonuses. According to a July 2021 Robert Half survey of almost 3,000 senior managers, 48% are offering signing bonuses and 43% are giving more PTO.  Someone not even looking for work reported being offered 3x their previous salary by a prospective employer. It’s a blunt force method of getting what you want, but it has proven effective. Especially now that(plot twist!) a lot of those professionals who left their positions willingly, are actually coming back. Millions left their jobs during the pandemic, many to see if the grass really was greener. But many faced a realization that no matter where you go, things will never be perfect. Some companies over-promised on autonomy or the flexibility to work from home, or simply didn’t have the kind of culture they were accustomed to. So as the dust settles and the picture becomes more clear, many are looking back at their old jobs through rose-tinted glasses. Which is turning the job market into a revolving door as of late.

The SHRM State of the Workplace Study

Let’s look at some cold hard statistics, shall we? The SHRM State of the Workplace Study for 2021-2022 is a survey of 1,737 HR professionals and 642 US workers. They reported back some eye-opening data that really give you a preview into the year ahead. For example, resignation rates are continuing to climb; 26% of small companies reported climbing resignation rates, and 53% of large companies reported the same. It is interesting to note that remote working organizations are faring a bit better. For example, the labor shortage is a top challenge facing 74% of remote companies, and 87% of in-person companies. Furthermore, another problem facing 67% of remote businesses and 80% of in-person was legal and compliance concerns. While we’re on the topic, here are the top four challenges facing businesses of all sizes…

  1. Labor shortage
  2. Legal and compliance concerns
  3. Health and safety
  4. Inflation concerns

We already mentioned the labor shortage and legal concerns, but what about health and inflation? It makes sense that those two don’t really come up for remote workers because they’re more detached from those hurdles. When you work from home you’re not as likely to catch a cold or worse from a coworker or bring it to work for others. And with inflation on the rise, it pays to stay home and save on gas money, daycare, less need for PTO, not eating out as much, etc. Same for employers who don’t have to worry so much about office overhead, on-site insurance, amenities, etc. Simply put, the more remote working professionals you have, the less you have to worry about. The same goes for finding, maintaining, and retaining talent. Remote organizations were rated 2.5x more effective in those areas than in-person offices. 

Looking Ahead

Of the many HR professionals surveyed, there were four target areas of improvement for 2022. While most of them reported satisfaction with how their organization handled the pandemic, continuing to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic continues to be a priority. Here are the top four efforts being prioritized by HR professionals in 2022…

2022 challenges

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It’s no question that fewer brick-and-mortar facilities can equal more cost savings and fewer headaches for business owners. There’s even evidence that remote working can increase productivity for those not in the office. Not to mention the cost-saving benefits for the employees themselves. Focusing on more flexibility with remote work options, coupled with competitive wages to keep up with inflation, seems to be the recipe for attracting talent. 

It’s time to think outside the b̶o̶x̶ building 

These are unprecedented times we’re in, facing new yet familiar obstacles in the professional world. So why not respond with new but familiar ideas? Take for example the blended(or hybrid) work model. It has been around for ages but recently has gained traction in the face of increased work-from-home flexibility. With a hybrid work model, organizations can hit all of those 2022 checkboxes with relative ease. By outsourcing roles that can be done remotely to virtual assistants in another country, business owners are realizing they get the same benefits as a local hire. Plus the added benefit of massive cost savings, which can then be re-allocated to their local experts. Improve what little office space you need, and offer better compensation and benefits for the few employees who are local. That’s how you attract and keep the talent you want.

MyOutDesk > other virtual assistant services

We’ve already made it clear that the labor market struggles we face today likely aren’t going anywhere all year long. Efforts to attract and retain top talent need to be amplified by any business hoping to stay ahead of the curve and set itself up for massive success in 2023. Now it’s time to make clear why MyOutDesk specifically has been and continues to be the secret weapon for missions like that. Outsourcing busy work to virtual assistants in another country isn’t new. In fact, it’s often discussed by business owners off the record and in whispers, due to archaic stigmas surrounding the industry. We’re here to dispel those concerns with facts and evidence.

For a more in-depth analysis of the benefits of virtual assistants, LEARN MORE HERE when you’re done with this article.

Our virtual assistants are based in the Philippines. Did you know they have a 95% literacy rate wherein the medium of instruction is mainly English? And they’re ranked 27/100 countries globally on the English proficiency index, and ranked #2 in Asia. So we aren’t giving companies language barriers to work with, we’re connecting them with fluent English-speaking professionals. On top of that, we have a very thorough interview process for our hires, ensuring they have the experience and/or education preferred. As well as reliable equipment and internet, coupled with a rigorous background check. In other words, assurances for you. The kind of assurances you simply don’t get with a random local hire or someone of a contract service like Fivver. And if there is one thing that is like gold to recruiters and HR teams right now, it’s assurances.

Your labor market friend in 2022

With our history and expertise in the remote working professional world, coupled with the struggles of our current labor market, it really is MyOutDesk’s time to shine. And we invite any business trying to grow while staying ahead of these obstacles to shine with us. We hope this write-up was informative and interested enough to have kept you this far down. We are in a prime position to support growing businesses of any shape or size right now with our proven and reliable virtual assistants. Your success is quite literally our success, so let’s be successful together. Use the link below to request a talk with one of our experts, where they’ll go over any questions or concerns you have. Zero obligation or pressure, just a friendly and educational conversation, as long or as short as you need. We’d love to hear from you!

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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paperwork assistant

Leader or Assistant – You Can’t Be Both

Not too long ago we shared a particular quote that we found motivating. It was a graphic image with a very blunt quote, shared on our social media channels. We expected that some folks would agree and of course, some would disagree. Everyone’s entitled to have their own opinion, especially when it comes to bold claims like the one quoted. What we didn’t expect was just how passionate(and misleading) some of the responses were! As of writing, that post has 4,000+ reactions, 340+ comments, and 550+ shares. So we felt it only appropriate to not only address some of the responses we saw repeating but explain a bit more about the message behind the quote. 

The Quote

paperwork assistant

Let’s talk about the quote itself, first. What does that even mean? Where did we come up with it and why do we support it? The idea here is that by taking on all of the responsibilities of a particular job, you become multiple employees yourself. Just because a particular task like processing paperwork is part of the business you lead, doesn’t mean you need to be doing it. It’s really no different than if you stopped and went down the hall to clean the employee bathrooms. If you’re a manager and you’re doing that, then you’re also the janitor. Regardless of the extra tasks you take on, the point is that you shouldn’t have to. You have higher-level, dollar-producing tasks that adhere to your expertise. Those tasks can’t play second fiddle to busy work, or your business will never grow to its full potential. 

The Arguments

“Or you are capable of doing your own work. Nothing wrong with that.”

This comment was one of the most popular responses under this post, with 70+ reactions and 20 replies! At first glance, this statement makes sense and sounds agreeable. Unfortunately, it misses the entire point of the post. The quote isn’t referring to whether or not you are capable of doing paperwork, it’s about why you shouldn’t be in the first place. An entrepreneur who is trying to grow their business really shouldn’t be dividing their time among menial tasks. It’s not about being capable, it’s about focusing on the right things and delegating the rest to someone else just as capable. Processing paperwork, data entry, reviewing for signatures, filing, etc are not complex tasks that require a specific skillset. Those are the kind of tasks that just about anyone can learn with a bit of training. Need more proof that time is of the essence when you’re growing a business? Check out this informative piece when you’re done here.

“I’d rather be my assistant and know that it’s done right, and finish the job I started with my clients…”

Here’s another response that got some decent attention, with 15 reactions and a few replies. Luckily, someone replied to this comment and demonstrated their own understanding of the quote when they said; “That’s a lot, I mean a lot of work for a growing business. Imagine if every business owner said they don’t want help…yikes”. This guy gets it! But let’s dive deeper into what the initial response is saying; they don’t trust someone else to get the job done right. That sounds like a personal problem rather than the strategy of someone successfully scaling their business. When you take a bit of time to find the right people and train them well, you solve your own problems. For an organized, efficient team, the paperwork should not be so complex that an experienced assistant can’t learn it and do it for you. Freeing you up to devote more time and effort to the higher-value tasks you deserve to be focusing on. And guess what? It also frees you up to spend more time with those clients they mentioned, since you’re not juggling paperwork when you could be adding value to your customer experience. 

“If we are doing our paperwork, we are smart and know what to do to get things done when we can’t afford a staff.”

This comment references the concern about “getting it done right” again but also mentions the cost. Since we already covered the issue of thinking you’re the only person in the world who can do paperwork, let’s talk about the price point. It’s totally fair to be concerned about the cost of hiring additional hands. For a lot of entrepreneurs, the early goal is to simply increase revenue. And they think they’re cutting into that by adding more employees that need to get paid, but they couldn’t be more wrong. It’s called an investment! The time you waste doing your own paperwork, taking time away from higher-value tasks, and facetime with your customers, will equal slower gains and even loss of income over time. By investing in one or more virtual assistants, you pay a little in the short term but increase productivity and thus the potential for more revenue in the long term. When you outsource to a virtual assistant you save up to 70% off the average cost to hire a local assistant, but you get the same quality of reliable work. So in this scenario, you kind of can’t afford to not hire an assistant. 

“And if you own your own business you’re also the window cleaner, security, janitor, etc. All of that is ok.”

This is a perplexing comment because it continues on, even more, to really take offense to the original quote. This sentiment was echoed a few times, which showed us that message here really was missed by many. When you’re just getting started, sure it makes sense that the owner will be handling a lot of things themselves. That’s just how it goes, no argument there. But as you grow, you will need helping hands. That’s a fact. As far as business owners go, you’re not special. It’s simply not professionally intelligent or business savvy to think it’s ok for the owner or other executives to also have to process stacks of paperwork, let alone clean windows or be security. That’s just silly. Maybe if you have a “mom and pop” book store or pastry shop that might make sense for your model, but for most growing companies it simply doesn’t make sense to not delegate busy work to trusted assistants. You started your business for a reason; you have a vision, and the skills and talent to execute that vision. Not just anyone can do that! Once you’ve hit the ground running you should be focusing on those skills and talents, not doing paperwork. That’s something anyone can do. 

The Ones Who Get It

“In order to purchase time for yourself, even though you can do some things yourself, pay a professional to free up time for other things you want to do.”

Now there’s someone who really gets it! Like we said above, this idea of not doing your own paperwork isn’t about being capable or not. It’s about dividing your time appropriately and efficiently. And in the case of MyOutDesk, doing so cost-effectively as well. By hiring a helping hand for busy work like paperwork, you free yourself up to focus on what made you excited about this job in the first place. We’re sure doing paperwork isn’t why you wanted to be a business owner. So why force yourself to do it? Time is money. By insisting on doing everything yourself, you’re wasting both.

“Doing everything myself makes me an employee of my business, not a business owner. I’m working to free myself of the work an assistant can do.”

Bingo. Business owners often start their businesses because they didn’t want to work for someone else anymore. Some could argue that by doing their own paperwork they’re just working for themselves, which was technically their goal. But just because you are your own boss doesn’t mean you’re a good boss! Imagine if you were an experienced expert in the field of HR, but your boss made you set aside time every day to process a stack of recruiting paperwork. This starts eating at your available facetime with the employees you’re there to serve, for example. Eventually, you’ll resent your boss for not investing in an assistant to help streamline your processes so you can focus on what they hired you for. Well, don’t resent yourself someday for not asking for a little help because you thought it was impressive or admirable to always be grinding. It’s not.

Words of Encouragement

  • “Yep and you’re right, been there done that… whew!”
  • “Right! I needed to get an assistant. She’s great!”
  • “Ooh I felt attacked, that’s great marketing!”
  • “Truth, I agree because I do need assistance. Don’t want to be boss and secretary too.”

We felt like adding a few more positive blurbs from the comments to highlight that it wasn’t all protest! It was a controversial post because the response was fairly divided. While a lot of folks did seem to miss the point a bit, quite a few understood the message and could relate. Perhaps it has to do with their own experience being business owners? We did notice that a lot of the protests came from people who didn’t appear to be business owners, anyways. And the folks who are might be speaking from their experience with much smaller businesses. The kind that doesn’t necessarily have much need for scaling up as an expanding business does. So while the message behind this quote may have been controversial for some, we understand it’s also relative. But for most growing businesses, you’re either a leader or an assistant, not both.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

When you hire a virtual assistant, you’re investing in your own business. Ask yourself: what is truly stopping you from embracing the timeless business practice of hiring an assistant? If it’s the cost, the uncertainty, or some false sense of pride about “doing it yourself” then you’re looking at this all wrong. Any business that has any kind of goal around scaling up, growing, and expanding so as to increase revenue, will certainly find a need for assistance. If your business is small enough or has a narrow enough focus, then this message simply isn’t for you. In fact, power to you for being a hustler in your world! We agree it can feel good to do it all yourself and have that peace of mind and satisfaction at the end of the day. But that life isn’t sustainable for every person or every business model. Most enter the business ownership world because they eventually want their business to work for them, not the other way around.

So, are you still firmly against the idea of an assistant? Or are you undecided now? If so, is it the cost or the fear of reliability? Because at MyOutDesk we got you covered on both. Our virtual assistants grant all of the same benefits as a local assistant, but at a fraction of the cost. They also come with years of experience, natural talent, education, and drive. We verify all of our virtual assistants before adding them to our pool of available professionals. We also provide certain assurances, support, and benefits to smooth the transition for any business new to the concept. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by exploring your options with a virtual assistant. So use the link below to request a consultation. Our expert will go over everything with you and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Like we said before, time is money. And we’re not in the business of wasting either of yours.

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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biotech

Biotech Hiring Managers – Stop Hiring Until You Read This!

The biotech industry is constantly evolving due to the rapid changes in science. Fortunately, increased interest during the pandemic has driven capital into the sector and fueled record-high financing and IPOs. According to top investors and CNBC, the S&P 500 has also jumped by about 47% over the past few years. Now that the market is strong, the challenge is staffing for your projects in the most impactful way. Good thing hiring options for virtual assistants from MyOutDesk is also at an all-time high.

Steve Manobianco from PSG Life Sciences shared that with his virtual assistant’s help, his company has grown 50% + this year and continues to do so. With post-pandemic hiring difficulty fueled by increased demand for talent acquisition, the only regret Steve said he had was that he didn’t hire his virtual assistant sooner.

We Went Through a Handful of US-Based People

With a more robust economic recovery in 2022, employees have multiple job choices, which leads to a rise in turnover. Employers need to be more creative than ever in the hiring process to scale their businesses. MyOutDesk is one of the longest-running virtual assistant companies, with over 15 years of experience. They take the legwork out of the hiring process and provide you with a top tiered choice of candidates eager to work. 

“We went through a handful of US-based people, and it was very challenging to attract, retain and keep them executing. That’s when we made the decision to hire Jill from MyOutDesk. She hit it out of the park and has been with us ever since”, said Steve.  

How a Biotech Consultant Uses a Virtual Assistant:

The world is opening up little by little each day, and the good news is in-person conferences are also returning to the biotech industry. A virtual assistant can excel in this area, allowing you to do what you love and enjoy in your job. Let us share other ways with you how we can help as it relates to biotech and so many different industries:

  • Act as a conference point person
  • Coordinate research
  • List the attendees
  • List the speakers
  • Retrieve emails
  • Manage calls and email traffic
  • Coordinate and calendar meetings
  • Coordinate travel arrangements
  • Prepare commercially oriented files 

Pleasantly Surprised by How Great a Virtual Assistant Works

Let MyOutDesk take the headache out of hiring the best fit for your position. Nothing has changed more in the past two years than how we operate through our workday. Handling our day-to-day operations virtually from home has proven to be successful, if not more successful for some, than working inside the office. 

When MyOutDesk asks “What has surprised you in this process of bringing on a virtual assistant”? The response is always remarkably the same, “I was surprised how great it works”! Now that so many of us have experienced working remotely, this is an excellent time for you to allow MyOutDesk to serve you. 

A MyOutDesk virtual assistant can expand your workforce in the most positive way, costing you 70% less than if you hired an in-office employee. A virtual assistant can take control of administrative tasks, be a positive force on your team, and allow your company to grow beyond your expectations. If you really want to check us out follow the link below! You can request a consultation with one of our experts, and discuss all of your questions and concerns. 

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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law firms

30 Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Do For A Law Firm

Going from an Attorney to the CEO role of your own Law Firm is not an easy feat. MyOutDesk clients Bill Hulsey and Brandon Burg give insight into the transition and share how to best use a virtual assistant to scale from a Lawyer’s standpoint. If you are an attorney and you’re dead set on Scaling your Law Firm, both Lawyers agree that starting your virtual assistant off in an administrative role is best. Soon enough, they will be thriving with more complex tasks.

“We started Ivy out as a receptionist, and over a period of time she has proven herself to be capable of so much more- she’s beyond a receptionist,” said Bill Hulsey.

If you have ever considered a Virtual Assistant for your Law Firm but aren’t entirely clear on what responsibilities to delegate, let us help you. Below are 30 tasks an attorney improves productivity and scales their Law Firm with a virtual assistant.

Administrative Tasks and Busywork

  • Manage tasks and deadlines
  • Manage calls
  • Manage emails
  • Deliver messages

Document Organization and File Management (utilizing case data software, such as Clio)

  • Manage client case
  • Create documents
  • File documents
  • Organize documents

Data Collection, Review, and Entry

  • Taking Statement
  • Setting up the files
  • Retrieve deeds
  • Review account statements
  • Prepare letters
  • Obtain addresses
  • Retrieving pertinent information from the property appraiser’s website
  • Set up the file for final review.

Managing in-person Responsibilities

  • Schedule hearings
  • Schedule meetings
  • Schedule court depositions

Help with Research

  • Conduct simple legal research, using primary legal sources like Fastcase or Casetext within Clio

Manage Your Court Dates

  • Confirm court dates
  • Communicate confirmation with the attorneys, paralegals, and assistants

Coordinating and Booking Travel

  • Search and book flights
  • Search and book hotels
  • Search and book transportation

Your Bookkeeping Needs

  • Handle client invoicing
  • Accept payments
  • Keep track of recurring invoices
  • Handle association dues

A Virtual Assistant will help ensure projects run efficiently and smoothly to enable Lawyers to focus on the clients’ needs. Burg explains, “Our virtual assistants are 100% of our team- they are on our calls, they have the same expectations of performance as our US-based employees. We have team rocks that they are a part of as we all work together. There is zero distinction between our Virtual Assistants and my Assistant or Receptionist, or any of my other Attorneys regarding performance expectations.”

attorney tasks

Blended Model System

Burg Wynn, PA is successfully running on a blended model system. Their US team handles the license and strategic projects, requiring many years of experience and expertise. Then all additional tasks are supported with a virtual assistant; 80% of the doing can be done by a virtual professional. Not only are you going to drop typically 5 to 10% to your bottom line as a company because you are saving money, but your US team is going to feel supported. It’s a fantastic model that works. Choose MyOutDesk to complement your in-house team today with a qualified virtual assistant.

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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stress

How You Can Eliminate Stress as an Entrepreneur

Stress plays a significant factor in every entrepreneur’s path as you scale your business. The ultimate goal is to reach a point where you can eliminate excess stress, allowing you to follow your passion and enjoy the fulfillment of creating your dream job. Launching a new business venture takes many sacrifices, but now is the time to take back your life by removing a portion of your workload with a virtual assistant.

Work-Related Stress When You’re the Boss

Most new entrepreneurs can attest that working 10-12 hours a day, 6 to 7 days a week, is an integral part of what it takes to get a business off the ground and running. They can also agree that keeping up with that work routine won’t last long before absolute burnout occurs. According to a recent survey:

  • 83% of US workers suffer from work-related stress, with 25% saying their job is the number one stressor in their lives.
  • 76% of US workers report that workplace stress affects their personal relationships.
  • The main causes of workplace stress are workload (39% of workers), interpersonal issues (31%), juggling work and personal life (19%), and job security (6%).

Managing Your Stress as a Small to Medium Size Business Owner

Creating your own business can be one of the most rewarding personal achievements, but it will most likely be one of the most stressful undertakings in your life. As the owner and founder of your company, all responsibilities, big and small, fall onto your plate. Managing your stress level will require a conscious effort, but you can take a few easy steps to begin.

  1. Schedule a consultation with MyOutDesk- Hiring a virtual assistant will cost 70% less than an in-house employee. And you will be amazed how quickly you will see results- your daily to-do list will be complete allowing you to focus on your health, well-being, and growing your business. 
  2. Create a scheduled workout routine- If you plan your workout for the same time every day, it becomes routine, and you are less likely to skip it.
  3. Choose Healthier Snacks- Snacking is a great way to fuel your body, but make sure you choose the correct snacks. Raw Nuts are an excellent source of protein for energy paired with string cheese. Almond butter with apple slices is another excellent option when you are looking for a sweet boost. 
  4. Water- Avoid caffeine overload by keeping water at your desk. You will be amazed how much water you end up drinking throughout the day. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women
  5. Sleep- Getting plenty of rest is imperative to good health. National Sleep Foundation guidelines advise that healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night.

More Free Time Equals Less Stress

MyOutDesk can offer you more time by eliminating some daily workloads that cause stress. Working towards the cycle of work-life balance isn’t always easy, but once you make the change and create the routine, you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Let MyOutDesk enable you to create your desired work-life balance while reaching your career goals.

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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inflation

The True Cost of Inflation (And How Virtual Assistants Give You a Discount)

“This is my letter of resignation.” Those are tough words for any leader to see come across their desk under any circumstance. Let alone with everything that’s going on in the world today! We’ve talked here about the so-called “great resignation” several times already. However, that’s kind of a vague oversimplification of a very real problem. What we’re talking about here today, is a very clear and present danger to the professional world. It doesn’t have a cute name that makes for a clever article title, it’s just called inflation. And it’s costing you valuable employees, whether you realize it yet or not.

MyOutDesk realizes it. In fact, we’ve been helping businesses scale up in ways that specifically counter inflation since 2008. There are three specific pain points that many businesses encounter, even more so during times of inflation, which lead them to services like ours. We’re proud to be able to provide a quality of service that empowers companies to scale up in such a way that it practically makes them inflation-proof. Even when pricetags get as high as they are today. So let’s talk about how virtual assistants from MyOutDesk can give you a big discount on the real cost of inflation. Here are three of the most common pain points growing businesses face, along with our proven solutions to each.

Pain Point 1: Local Employees Want Better Compensation

According to a recent LendingClub report, 64% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Even those earning six-figure incomes are feeling the pressure of inflation! As 48% of those households also claim to be living paycheck to paycheck right now. It’s easy to see that as the cost of living rises, so too does the stress of keeping up with it. Wanting better pay is the leading cause of resignations. No one wants to devote their loyalty and hustle to a company that doesn’t make them feel valued and important. Of course, it’s not as easy as it sounds, to just snap your fingers and give everyone on your team a raise or a big bonus. But what if it was?

Solution:

Hiring a virtual assistant from MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% of the cost of a traditional local hire. So you get the same quality of employee; experienced, educated, passionate and reliable, and English-speaking. But at less than half the cost of the same professional locally. Not to mention when you’re hiring a remote working assistant who is in another country, you get more flexibility with hours. You could have two assistants doing the same job it’d take 3 or 4 people to manage in your own timezone. That’s a lot of money saved! This means more money to reallocate where you deem most valuable; like your local team. Imagine saving so much while still growing your productivity, that you can give your local team a competitive raise and a little thank you bonus. That’s how you keep people happy. 

“Virtual Assistants are key. Without VAs, it limits us and we have more responsibilities in-house. A VA is significantly more affordable to the business pattern. We get more value for the price.” – Charles Pulliam and Olivia Cooley of the Olivia Cooley Group, at Keller Williams Realty. 

Paint Point 2: Local Team Feels Overwhelmed and Burned Out

American workers across the board saw increased rates of burnout in 2021, according to APA’s 2021 Work and Well Being Survey. About 26% of the employees surveyed reported negative impacts of work-related stress, like motivation or energy. While 32% reported being emotionally exhausted, and a shocking 44% reported physical fatigue. If a job is wearing you out, and it’s not paying you enough anyway, why keep putting up with it? Most aren’t, and they are leaving their positions in record numbers to find something better or start their own business. While that’s commendable for the individual, it’s leaving managers feeling stressed and cynical. So not only are you losing the employees that make up the foundation of your business, but you’re squeezing out the leaders and specialists too. For a lot of these people, a pay bump isn’t going to cut it. For them, their mental and physical health is just as, if not more important than the cash in their pocket. Often times even being paid well is still not enough justification for the physical and mental toll a stressful job takes. 

Solution:

Adding a virtual assistant(or two, or three) to your team not only saves you money, but it helps you get more work done in more efficient ways. So many tasks at your business can fall under the term “busy work”, and can be done remotely(even some high-level responsibilities can still be outsourced). A lot of these tasks are being juggled by people you hired for more specific talents and abilities. By outsourcing that busy work to one or more virtual assistants, you lighten the load for your local experts. Free them up to focus on the specialized tasks you hired them for, while still knowing those other tasks are being perfectly handled. These can be entire departments you begin outsourcing, like administrative and customer service. Or they can be sub-tasks inside your busiest departments, like billing or marketing. Coupled with solution one above, the possibilities are staggering. Imagine telling your local staff that they have less to worry about and they’re getting a cost-of-living raise! You pull that off and they’re not going anywhere.

Virtual assistants were able to do the job that the local people were able to do …   AND they actually raised the bar! – Mihran Berejikian, President of Belami, Inc(e-commerce)

Pain Point 3: Finding the Right People is Difficult and Time-Consuming

Researchers from LinkedIn’s Economic Graph team analyzed the profiles of 400,000 confirmed hires on their platform between June 2020 and March 2021. They were determining which jobs take the longest time to fill across 15 different industries. Technical positions in research, finance and IT take on average about 46 days to fill. The shortest time-to-hire was administrative, and that was an average of 33 days if you’re lucky. So on average, it takes at least a month+, if all goes perfectly well, to fill a job position. As you know, one business quarter is three months. So it takes about half a quarter at best to hire one person. That’s not very productive! And that’s also not to mention turn-over. Imagine spending all of that precious time bringing someone on, only to lose them shortly after and have to start the process all over again. Not only are you wasting valuable time and resources, but you’re also fueling pain point 2 above. Your recruiting and HR teams are going to burn out quickly, and then you’ll be rushing to fill their roles in addition to the roles they themselves were trying to fill. Yikes.

Solution:

The average time it takes MyOutDesk to provide a client with a perfect match for their needs is less than a month. That’s right, just a few weeks at most, and sometimes even less. This is because our ever-growing pool of professionals is already interviewed, vetted, and assessed by us before they ever reach you. We know what they’ve done before, what they can do now, and how well they can do it. You tell us the role you need to be filled and we give you 3-5 qualified candidates handpicked just for your needs. Our virtual assistants are experienced, trained, and often educated to the same level of qualifications as any US-based hire. They also speak fantastic English, and they’re all hungry for opportunities. They’ll bring their own knowledge to your team while learning your specific processes quickly and thoroughly. You can be up and running with a virtual assistant in almost half the time it would have taken with someone locally. 

“Three of the four interviews you guys provided were very hireable. Typically out of 15 candidates you’re lucky if 2 are that hireable. We were picking from the best, rather than wondering if any of them would really work out.” Brandon Burg, Founder, and Attorney at the Burg Wynn Law Firm.

inflation

Conclusion

Those three common pain points are not exclusive to times of inflation. Compensation, workload stress, and professional matchmaking will always be speedbumps on the road to success. At a time when the world is experiencing multiple hurdles, inflation being just one, these issues become amplified. A speedbump becomes a brick wall. And right now time and money are of the essence more than ever. Businesses can’t afford unnecessary speedbumps let alone brick walls in their path to sustainable, ever-growing success. A MyOutDesk virtual assistant has been the saving grace for thousands of companies for over a decade, especially during times of turmoil and uncertainty. 

If you want to more about how we solve these problems for businesses just like yours, or if you have any questions or concerns, we’d love to hear from you. You can use the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. They will hear you out first, understand your concerns and needs, and determine if we’re even the right fit for you. If so, they’ll pitch a plan involving one or more virtual assistants to get you started. No pressure, no obligations. If you want to make your business “inflation-proof”, the choice is yours. 

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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Overwhelmed by Daily Tasks? MyOutDesk Has a Perfect-Match Guarantee for Virtual Assistants

Before March 2020 many of us thought there was no way we could do our job in our home office. Maybe because for some of us that home office is our dining room table or a small closet off of the hallway. But mostly because of our need to communicate with our co-workers. Not only did we need to get creative with our space, but we also needed to wrap our minds around the technology that was available to us to work virtually. We are coming up to the 3-year mark of the pandemic and for countless people, our work environment remains in a virtual setting. Hence you are either a virtual professional or the manager of a virtual professional. With 15 years of experience in the virtual assistance realm, MyOutDesk has ironed out all the wrinkles. We can help you save money and time by bringing on a virtual assistant of your own today.

Playing Matchmaker is for the Pros 

You know it’s time for a virtual assistant when you or your office manager spend a large portion of the day staying late to finish the to-do list. The time is now to get help. But you know recruiters are a fortune, recruiting apps are time-consuming, and adding another person to your payroll is almost unmanageable as you try to build your business. Furthermore, you haven’t even mentally touched the idea of the vetting and interviewing process. This activity will be yet another hurdle causing you to pump the brakes on the tasks required to grow your business while finding talent that meets your professional needs.

A True Story

Daniel Ramsey, CEO & Founder of MyOutDesk had the opportunity to interview one of our favorite clients, Laurel Starks, CEO & Founder of Ilumni Institute, and www.getdivorceredcertified.com. We asked Laurel what her thoughts were pre-hiring her first of four virtual assistants, in addition to what she credits to her success. Like so many of us, she had “virtual” concerns. Laurel said “I just couldn’t conceptualize how having an offshore person in another country, in another timezone, speaking another language could be integrated into our company. Now, I literally mean our business couldn’t survive without our virtual assistant team, and I don’t say that lightly.” Laurel also genuinely appreciated the MyOutDesk vetting process! She went on to say, “Having a virtual assistant company who is really good at recruiting their talent, but then also connecting them to the right person and company- being that right matchmaker, that’s very pivotal”.  

MyOutDesk takes pride in finding you the perfect match, their claim to fame is they are a “marriage site, not a dating site.” Let MyOutDesk do all the work for you- the connections, the relationships, the recruiting, and the vetting. The interviewing process is all handled with only the top-tiered talent making their way through to you as a candidate. Most clients say “we could have easily picked all 3 options but had to choose only 1 for our position”. Having three great picks for one position is a good problem to have, wouldn’t you say?

It Works!

Timezone, language, and integration- check! These seem to be the 3 questions on most clients’ minds, pre-MyOutDesk. Rest assured knowing your virtual assistant in the Philippines works your same office hours right along with your team. They join MyOutDesk fluent in English as most Filipinos are, along with a college education and a high level of experience and skill. Lastly, integration; your virtual assistant will go through the same onboarding process as every member of your team has done previously. Once you have dedicated the training effort, you will see how seamlessly they will join your morning meetings and chat with you throughout the day, without skipping a beat. 

Now that you realize how easy it is to start the process, MyOutdesk will be there every step of the way to ensure your success. Once you click here to schedule your consultation, we will provide you with advice on technology that has proven to be successful. In addition to the tools and templates that will guide you on the best way to integrate your virtual assistant. Into your team, and eventually, make them a part of your work family. Your success is our success. Ready set Grow!

Reaping the Benefits of a Virtual Assistant

We often hear “why didn’t I do this sooner”! Let this be one great thing that came out of the pandemic- virtual comfortability. If ever there was a perfect time to go virtual, the time is now in 2022! Enjoy working on the part of your business that you are truly great at, the part that prompted you to start the business initially, and most importantly the parts that scale your brand. Spend more time with your family and your friends. Spend more time focusing on yourself and your health, all, because you are confident that things are getting handled…sometimes even better than if you had done them yourself.  Use the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. They’ll go over everything you need, including any concerns you have, before pitching an action plan. No obligation, no pressure. We’d just love to hear from you!

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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The Missing Piece of the Healthcare Puzzle: Virtual Assistants

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The healthcare industry has been undoubtedly affected by world events in numerous ways. But to be fair, a lot of the issues this industry faces have always been there.  After doing some homework of our own, three particular areas seem to be major pain points in this industry. So we wanted to take the time to point out how one missing puzzle piece in the healthcare equation can effectively “cure” all of that pain. That piece is a virtual assistant, and we’re going to break down how and why. While this article is for healthcare professionals and business owners, the lessons within apply to many different businesses. Specifically, those who are ready to try something different to grow their business but also want a high chance of success. Because nowadays more than ever, time is money. And MyOutDesk is not in the business of wasting anyone’s time; we’re in the business of saving you time(and money while we’re at it). Let’s go over exactly how we do that.

Wasting time & energy?

There are many tasks a qualified professional can confidently perform remotely. A big one is general administrative tasks, like data entry, document review, scheduling, email/calendar management; the list goes on.  All of those listed items tend to add up and bog down an otherwise productive and effective team. But letting that happen to your local staff is unnecessary when you could outsource those tasks to someone somewhere else. Someone just as experienced, skilled, and capable as anyone locally. Someone familiar with industry applications like Behaviorsoft, for example. And at up to 70% less cost! Because our virtual assistants are all based out of the Philippines; one of the most English-speaking places in the world. Not to mention a treasure trove of hardworking professionals anxious for steady, consistent work. Why waste your time and your energy juggling a bunch of tasks that take you away from more high-level, dollar-generating duties? You need to focus on that stuff, the stuff that only you and your loyal team can do. Let our virtual assistants handle the just as important but less exciting tasks everyone else dreads.

Benefiting roles: Patient Service Representative, Director of Credentials, Document Specialist, Billing/Accounting Specialist, Administrative Assistant

Poor client experience?

Are you tired of getting negative feedback about your client experience? Have you pinpointed what exactly is leaving more to be desired? Perhaps it’s the slow application process, inconsistent appointment scheduling, or even the speed at which you process incoming leads. Someone somewhere in your equation is not getting the fast, accurate service people have come to expect these days. With tech companies offering white-glove quality service to wow and retain customers, a healthcare company has to be at least on par. If your local team is feeling overwhelmed and stressed juggling duties, this is another instance when a remote working virtual professional can step in to lighten the load. By alleviating pressure from the person handling these tasks, you give them more room to provide the highest quality of customer service possible. Does your company use Klara? That’s just an example of a system for healthcare companies that our virtual assistants can manage in your name, to improve the client experience. 

Benefiting roles: Recruitment Specialist, Virtual Patient Service Representative, Profile Coordinator, Technical Support

Employee attrition?

We’ve talked about the “great resignation” in recent articles. It’s a very real problem facing numerous industries as of late. Professionals are leaving companies for greener pastures or trying to start their own businesses. The standards for what professionals expect nowadays are only rising, and employers need to work a bit harder to keep up. That is if they want to solve their employee retention problems. Some ways of doing so; lighten the workload so they feel less stressed, and increase pay/benefits. These two answers are surefire fixes, even if implementing them is easier said than done. You can accomplish both, however, with the help of a virtual assistant. By outsourcing tasks to a reliable, experienced virtual assistant you effectively remove pressure from your local staff. In doing so you also save money, which can be reallocated where you see fit. Like, a cost of living adjustment, improved benefits, or regular bonuses. You’ll probably even have some cash leftover for something else, like upgrading your marketing efforts. Our virtual professionals long for the opportunity and work hard to prove it. Meanwhile, your local staff appreciates not having the weight of the world on their shoulders, coupled with a bit of extra cash in their hands.  It’s a win/win.

Benefitting roles: Director of Recruitment, Human Resources, and virtually everyone else!

Conclusion

It may sound like hyperbole to say that virtual assistants can solve numerous problems all at once. Well, MyOutDesk has been providing virtual assistants to businesses in various stages of development since 2008. Long before it was “cool” to outsource and work remotely. We have testimonies from clients who saved literally hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. And while being able to actually hire more local talent and keep them around too. All because they outsourced one or more tasks to virtual assistants we helped match them up with. Our mission is to empower businesses to scale and grow in cost-effective ways while remaining true to their own mission and sustaining it indefinitely. Our success is literally your success, which is why we don’t mess around with this stuff. We tell it like it is, and we’d love to tell you personally.

Let’s Talk Help

So if you’re at all interested in how a virtual assistant could help your business, do use the link at the bottom of this blog, or anywhere on our website, to request a consultation. Our experts like to hear you out first, and understand your needs, wants, and concerns. Then, we pitch a plan to address all of them. It’s not always the right fit, but it’s always worth your time. So reach out and let’s have a chat. Because we’d love to help. Thanks for listening!

So use the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. They like to hear you out first, so they can understand exactly what you need. Then, if we’re a good fit, they pitch a plan involving one or more virtual assistants for you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so don’t hesitate. Now more than ever, the clock is ticking for businesses everywhere.

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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Entrepreneurs Die Chasing A Fantasy: Addicted to Hopium

This is part 1 of a 2 part blog that aims to help professionals learn how to focus their ambition and vision to achieve greater, more sustainable success.

“Focus is a matter of deciding what things you’re not going to do.” That’s a very wise quote from John Carmack, co-founder of iD Software, a video game studio that started in the ’90s. He was the lead designer on titles that even the most non-video game adept person likely still knows about; like Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein. He knew then what our CEO Daniel Ramsey preaches today; you can’t have vision without focus. And that’s not about your eyeballs, it’s about the mission you’re on with your business. John Carmack helped make his company one of the most successful and beloved software developers in the world by focusing on the right things. iD Software didn’t sell one game and then decide they wanted to produce and sell consoles too. They’re a software company, not a hardware company. Their customers just wanted them to keep producing bigger and better video games. So they listened to their fans and delivered on the expectations while evolving things the fans didn’t even know they wanted yet. Leave it to companies like Sony and Nintendo to handle the console side of things, that’s a whole different league. This is an example of a focused, successful vision. And they didn’t become a global phenomenon overnight; it took time and focus to grow their brand according to the wants and needs of their community. Long-term success means short-term focus. 

Narrow Your Focus

The purpose of this article is about how important a focused vision is. So let’s make sure this article does that too by getting to the point, shall we? Daniel speaks to a lot of other business owners; ranging from entrepreneurs growing a startup to seasoned CEOs managing major corporations. One such business owner was recently telling Daniel about his growth plans for the residential business he owns. They are currently planning and building a 5,000-unit apartment building. Holy crap! That is a massive project. Daniel asked about their most recent completed projects and was surprised to hear those apartments all ranged from only 50 to 75 units. Going from under 100 to 5,000 is quite an ambitious move. And in Daniel’s eyes, it’s an unnecessarily high-risk move.

Don’t Get Addicted

This kind of blind ambition is what some, including Daniel, refer to as ‘hopium’. It refers to when someone is metaphorically high on a false sense of hope. They are literally banking the success of their next big venture on hope and a prayer. This can be a dangerous habit to form, as by expanding one’s vision one also expand their focus. You’ve probably heard the phrase “keep your eye on the prize”; that is a simplified basis for this lesson. By trying to do the most we often fail at doing even the minimum. Grandiose ideas too often lead to failure and disappointment. It’s much more efficient and reliable to focus on what you’re already doing right and grow that incrementally. You got your start by providing something for a specific customer and you did it well. Don’t sabotage that progress by biting off more than you can chew. Have you ever eaten too much and felt like crap after, and said “my eyes were too big for my stomach”? Overstepping your business goals and stretching yourself thin leads to similar regret. But it’s not just about doing too much, it’s also about what you do at all.

 

“That’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” – Steve Jobs

Love The Now, For Future’s Sake

Daniel Ramsey had an idea of how to solve a problem, and he executed it well. As things went smoothly, he focused on why they were going smoothly. What was working so well for everyone and how can it work even better? He didn’t expand his vision to include call centers with local professionals or start selling energy drinks to help business owners stay caffeinated. Instead, he added a proprietary tracking application for his virtual assistants, to better suit the concerns of prospective clients. He worked on adding more diversity to the expertise offerings of his virtual assistant pool to widen his net of potential customers. These moves expanded the business and grew its success, without chasing some dream of a detached venture that did nothing for MyOutDesk at the time. This is a big lesson he preaches often and one which we’re trying to teach here. Love your current team and their accomplishments. Love them every time they push the goal post a little further. Don’t take the small steps for granted because you’re trying to skip ahead. Don’t assume that because you nailed this thing, you can nail that other thing too. As they say, “stay in your lane”. 

 

“It is those who concentrate on but one thing at a time who advance in this world. The great man or woman is the one who never steps outside his or her specialty or foolishly dissipates his or her individuality.” Og Mandino

Foundation First

Being a good leader isn’t about some lofty vision you preach to impress everyone and make them think you’re going places. It’s about being consistent with your vision and the actions that support it. So you successfully completed a project with 75 apartment units; next time up it to 100. And how did that go? Did you knock that out of the park with ease? Great, maybe double it and do 200 next time. You’re still a far way off from the thousands, and that’s okay. These smaller victories are the foundation upon which you build something truly grand. You won’t have all of these small victories that build you up if you keep losing your focus by aiming for something else. Something else isn’t a reality, it’s a fantasy. The reality is what you have today, and you need to intimately know why you’re successful today and focus on that. Why did your customers choose you and why are they sticking around? Why do your employees support your vision? Once you know the answers to those, you’ll better know how to grow your business than you ever did before. 

Ground Your Dreams

If you’re the best yoga studio business in the city, where do you go from there? Some might think the answer is to expand the business into fields adjacent to yoga, like the healthcare industry. That seems like an ambitious and smart move that pivots perfectly from what you’re already doing! Wrong. That’s getting ahead of yourself, that’s losing sight of why your customers made you the most successful yoga studio, to begin with. Instead think about growing the reality of your business, as it is now. Maybe that means starting your own line of yoga mats that you can offer clients when they visit and even sell online to those who aren’t local. Something that simple adds value to your existing customers and even expands your offerings to those outside of your community.  While staying grounded and humble with today’s success, you naturally set yourself up for even greater opportunities for success. Being an entrepreneur isn’t about dreaming and wishing you had something you don’t. It’s about being passionate about what is real now, for you, your customers, and your employees. It’s about being awake and present in the now, and loving every second of it. Because if you don’t, then you’re in the wrong line of work anyways.

Conclusion

We’ve mentioned several quotes that support the wisdom behind this lesson, but I’m sure you’ve got some counter quotes of your own. Like that cheesy poster in the classroom that said “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars”. Sure, that’s an inspiring quote and all, but remember that space is a cold, vast nothingness of darkness and silence, waiting to pull you into a black hole from which there is no escape. So keep that in mind. Hire a virtual assistant to help you focus on your target and keep you out of black holes.

Click the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. Mention this blog and the lesson it teaches, and we’ll talk to you about how virtual assistants support this model. We’ll talk about where you’re at professionally, if a virtual assistant fits your needs, and how. No obligation, no pressure; just knowledge and support. 

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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social media

Virtual Assistants Are Upgrading Social Media Management

This probably sounds like a broken record, by now. Everyone knows that social media is an effective and inexpensive way to get your product or service in front of consumers. But it’s easy to get bogged down trying to manage it, especially as you become more successful. So let’s talk about not just why you should keep social media as a priority for your business, but how best to do so. Hint; virtual assistants are the key!

The Importance of Your Social Media Presence 

While it’s easy to create a social media page for your business and get some likes and followers, the work doesn’t stop there. Nowadays, users are expecting more personal experiences when they engage with businesses. They want to feel like they are heard and valued, so they expect quick and helpful responses over social media. For example, according to Social Media Today, Facebook users commenting on a brand’s page expect a response within 24 hours; if the comment is based on a complaint, the expected response time drops to under an hour. And if it’s a public comment, rather than a private message, well then everyone else can see if, when, and how you responded. That’s another important detail to never forget.

There are over 2 billion social media users worldwide, and 81% of the U.S. population has at least one social media profile. 

Keeping on top of the increasing demands and expectations of social media users can be difficult when you’re trying to maintain the day-to-day running of your business. A popular post can receive hundreds of questions and comments containing potential leads that you want to follow up. But there’s only so much time in the day. Besides, you and your team are likely too busy with more dollar-generating tasks to hang out on Facebook all day. This is where a virtual assistant fits into your equation perfectly. 

Try to Keep Up!

Supporting your social media presence with a marketing virtual professional helps you maintain a balance. They can respond to time-consuming questions and comments. Providing a filter so that you can focus on the hot leads and prospective clients. In addition, a marketing Virtual Assistant can produce posts according to your brief or create content independently for your approval before posting. So you can have as much or as little control over your social media posts as you want. Often times it only takes a few weeks of working together before the assistant is up to your speed and ability to hit the ground running on their own.

social media

Pay to Play

In the 3rd quarter of 2020, Facebook stated that 10 million active advertisers were using their platform. While fairly straightforward to create, the key to successful paid social media ads is tracking performance and effective targeting. A Virtual Assistant can create your social media ads and help you determine your target audience. This is imperative so you reach the right people. Then, all you need to do is set your budget, approve the ads, and pay for them. The assistant will maintain your ads, renew them as needed, and track their progress. Providing you with scheduled reports on how your efforts are doing, so that you can make the decisions about what to sideline and what to focus on.

Spend Less, Grow More

Social media has become crucial for business, and it’s now expected that companies should have a robust social media presence. While outsourcing the running of your social media accounts to a marketing agency or hiring in-house is an option, it’s also an expensive one. A virtual marketing professional can free up your time to concentrate more on your business and free up your budget to create quality shareable content and targeted social media advertising. Here at MyOutDesk, we have a pool of virtual professionals with a variety of marketing experiences, including paid advertising and social media management. They can do the same job a local hire would, at up to 70% less cost. Save money, not quality. 

If you’re at all curious, use the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. It’s a no-pressure conversation, where we like to hear your concerns or ideas first and see if we’re even a good fit. And then we pitch a plan to get you exactly what you need with one or more of our talented and reliable virtual assistants. So don’t hesitate to reach out and let’s grow your brand more, for less!

 

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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economy

The 2022 Economy – Business Owners Fight Inflation with Virtual Assistants

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Is your business economy-proof? We ask because things are pretty unprecedented these days, and the economy, in particular, is very tumultuous. Companies are imploding as often as they are exploding, as material shortages and a labor crisis continue to plague our nation even more than the actual virus is. Speaking of which, on the road to America’s recovery is a speedbump called Omicron. The COVID-19 variant is adding drama to our economy just as much as it is our personal lives, and has been since December. Now that we’re firmly into February of 2022 we can see the effect it’s already had so far. The depth of its impact will be apparent soon when we review the data for Q1. But don’t wait for statistics and data after the fact to take whatever next step your business needs.  Especially since one of those steps should be hiring a virtual assistant!

Help wanted!

The White House Council of Economic Advisers reported recently that the number of jobs added at the start of 2022 will be unusually low. The low availability of job opportunities contrasts with the growing “great resignation” we’ve reported on already. If professionals are leaving their positions in record numbers, why is the number of available jobs decreasing rather than increasing? Part of that could be because a lot of quitters aren’t just quitting work entirely; they’re jumping ship for greener pastures. Newer generations are setting high expectations for the companies who’d like to employ them. Perhaps on the flip side, businesses are raising their expectations of prospective employees to match their own efforts. This makes for a complicated and unstable job market.

“The ADP Employment Report, which tracks private payrolls, showed an unexpected drop of 301,000 jobs in January.”

Since December the continued pandemic has resulted in millions of people calling in sick to work, staying home to care for someone sick in their family, or even just coming in sick. Being as Omicron is highly contagious that last example doesn’t bode well for our nation overcoming this pandemic anytime soon. But it’s not all doom and gloom! There is good news on the horizon; claims for unemployment have been dropping from their record highs as of late. A small improvement that represents gradual healing in the US. And Omicron rates are also dropping and are expected to continue dropping according to researchers at Washington State University. The data shows a much shorter incubation period for the variant and shorter times spent in the hospital recovering. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Where Are You?

What does this mean for your business? Maybe you’re trying to make life better for your employees so they don’t jump ship. Maybe you’re struggling to find reliable, qualified professionals for your available roles. Or maybe that’s all good for now and you’re just wary of the cost to run your business in the face of inflation. Whatever place your business is at, finding ways to enrichen your internal culture while being more productive and cost-effective at the same time is imperative. This is the perfect segue into the value of utilizing virtual assistants for scaling and maintaining a business. Every business is full of tasks that while not immediately dollar generating, are nonetheless equally important to your success. No one sees the foundation of a building, but it’s there and without it, the building couldn’t stand. 

economy

Act Now, Save Now

This is when outsourcing those tasks that can be done remotely becomes so attractive. Don’t waste time combing through piles of unqualified applicants, conducting boring interviews, and throwing money at potential disappointments. At MyOutDesk we hire experienced, skilled, and often educated professionals who can at least match if not exceed the same value of a local hire. We keep a diverse pool of assistants, ready to match just about any business need. Marketing, customer service, sales, administrative duties, finances; the list goes on. By saving you up to 70% of the cost of a traditional hire, you’re free to allocate more funds to your local efforts. Strengthen that workplace culture, keep employees happy, spend more on marketing, whatever your heart desires. All while receiving not just the same level of professionalism you’re used to, but even better due to our proprietary time-management software and tight-knit community of virtual assistants.

money

Don’t waste your time and your money. Reach out for a consultation and we’ll explain how we save you both. No obligation, no pressure, or risks. Just a friendly chat to better understand each other and see if it’s a good fit for either party. Let’s get ahead of this economy by being successful together. Click the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. 

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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