Kathy – Page 22

Are You a Cyberholic?

Do you:

1. Check your work e-mail, LinkedIn account, or business Facebook page right before going to bed? 2. Within minutes of waking? 3. Do you panic if you accidentally leave your mobile device that can access the Internet on your desk or at home? 4. Is eating your lunch often combined with texting or surfing the web? 5. Do you find that you must check your email the moment you hear the arrival chime? 6. Are you spending more time on your computer than you spend in conversations with customers, prospects, and referral sources? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, you’re in danger of becoming a Cyberholic. Two or more, you’re well on your way to Cyberholism. Three or more, and you’re already a cyber addict. Four or more and it may be time for treatment! Technology is wonderful, especially in how it gives us access to information at a moment’s notice while allowing us to log, store, and search information much more effectively. In addition, as a tool for quickly sending someone a note or a document, it almost never can be beat. However, more and more people are allowing themselves, and their time, to be thoroughly consumed by the click and clack of a keyboard and the hypnotic trance of gazing at output screens both large and small. What’s suffering? Our connectedness with one another. A true meaningful connection with another human being is not through a portal. It’s in conversation, a meeting, a handshake, and a smile. Pick one day this week to turn off the device and turn up the volume of conversations you have with the people that really count. It’s time for some Radical Accountability, an unwavering responsibility for getting done what matters most. And what really matters at work is not that next text or email, it’s that personal touch of taking time to be completely present in the presence of customers, prospects, colleagues, and employees. Cyberholism is curable, one day at a time.

Scott Wintrip, the Sales Yogi, is the author of the upcoming book Sales Yoga: A Transformational Practice for Opening Doors and Closing Deals. He is also the leading authority on Radical Accountability, a process that prospers companies and changes lives. His website is www.WintripConsultingGroup.com.

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Disaster Preparedness

NOT be one of those that never reopen. Plan your recovery before its needed. To see the supplies that Ready.gov recommends please visit http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit and look at the various kits with supplies needed. Common sense tells us, that businesses should keep copies of their most important files offsite. Personally, I use several methods personally, I use an external drive that is a complete copy and I can grab it and run if need be as well as online methods. There are numerous online backup options that are very good. . Carbonite, Backupmyinfo.com, and others as well as Box.com, DropBox.com and similar to drop in files you’ll need if working away from home. Also, I backup onto DVDs and store these in fireproof safes, and the really urgent information is easily grabbed as I’m running out the door. I use Nero BackItUp 12 for my backups to the external drive and to DVD. Be prepared. Your equipment should be insured. Don’t use a rider on your homeowner’s policy, you should have business insurance that covers your equipment. All of it. Make an inventory of all the software you have, whether its installed or not, list your peripherals List your books. If you have a radio in your office, list that! List EVERYTHING! Take pictures of your equipment, store your receipts with your inventory, OFF SITE (or in digital format offsite). My Office inventory is electronic, and is stored offsite, AND backed up regularly. Keep your inventory up to date. When you prepare your inventory, don’t forget about your various logins and account access codes and passwords. I have a book of key codes, kept in my fireproof safe. For my more sensitive logins, those are encrypted on a flash drive in the safe. Keep this list as up to date as possible. During severe weather, surges often cripple your equipment, which is why it is vital your equipment be protected with high quality surge protection, and if you lose power suddenly, having an uninteruptable power supply (UPS) can give you the time you need to save what you’re working on and shut your equipment down (or get out and start the generator). High quality UPS systems also include surge protection. Include your PHONES on the surge protection. Often, your telephone is one piece of equipment that is forgotten about when it comes to equipment protection. I use a cloud based telephone which I can access from anywhere, and easily forward calls to my cell from the office. Visit Ready.gov for more information about disaster preparedness for your home and your business. Become familiar with what you need to do, and what needs to be on hand. Stay alert to the news, and be prepared. Sending my thoughts and prayers to all effected by the destructive weather this season. Kathy McCabe]]>

Thomas Leonard Award

Kathy’s First Desk 1996[/caption] On Friday 5/17/13, I was honored to receive the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award. This is a pinnacle of my career and one I will always remember. The Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award is given by the Online International Virtual Assistant Conference. This award is to honor a Virtual Assistant who has been in business for at least 5 years and who has contributed to the industry in such a way that he or she has provided a positive impact on many others and helped them to build a successful business. Further, they may have led a VA organization or activity; written a book or other publication specifically to help other VAs; or any other impact that has helped the industry grow. Seventeen years ago (in June!) I sat at a tiny desk, with a small CRT monitor and second-hand computer. Through the last seventeen years my office has changed locations several times (including the last change to Pennsylvania!) and at times has grown smaller or larger depending on the location, and my computers have gotten much better :-). (I live for screen real estate!) Virtual assisting has been life altering for me. I tell people that virtual assisting saved my life, and there was a point in my life where I know it did. My virtual assistant friends gave me the courage I needed to change a bad situation, and in doing so, I found a peace and a sense of joy I’ve been wanting all my life. Now, being honored with this award, I have trouble conveying how amazing it is. I can hear my friends all saying, “Kathy at a loss for words????” I am at a loss for words. Perhaps it hasn’t completely sunk in yet. The most I can say is I’m honored, and thrilled (and I’m glad you can’t see me doing the happy dance all over my office!). Thank you to my husband Michael for always supporting me in everything I do and try, the OIVAC Awards Judging Panel, the Steering Committee, Sharon Williams for being such a great founder of the OIVAC, Janice Byer for always letting me run stuff by her (you’re my best bud Janice!), and to my three guardian angels: Fred, Janet and Clara.

~ Kathy McCabe kathymccabe2013

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