The Virtual Wire

Be the hero of your own story

For Mother’s Day I took my mom to see Nim’s Island. Family films seem to work best for her lately; easier to follow, less violence, etc. The movie was filled with gorgeous island scenery and much adventure plus there were ample reasons to laugh out loud, so it worked for both of us. The writer in the story, played by Jodie Foster, was an agoraphobic apartment dweller who lived vicariously through her larger-than-life action hero in her books. Through him, she sagely advised her readers to, “Be the hero of your own story!” which is also the tag line for the movie. Kinda thought provoking isn’t it?

There have been passive periods in my life when I wasn’t the hero of my own story. I let life pass me by without taking action—paralyzed by self-doubt and negativity which kept me from believing I could create the life of my dreams. Thankfully my path to personal enlightenment and fulfillment paved the way for my journey with AssistU, for which I am grateful beyond measure, and I have been realizing that life with my thoughts and actions over the past three years. To me it has been a heroic journey!

Today as I look to the virtual horizon I’m curious to discover what’s next. The Virtual Wire has been a glowing chapter in my life for two years and I’m now ready to take a leap of faith and birth a personal blog about my learning and lessons. I’m not entirely sure where the pages may lead but I’m one hundred percent committed to making this creative, authentic, (adrenaline-producing) adventure.

And so it is with mixed emotion that I write my final post and say thank you dear reader for traveling with me and sharing the highs and lows. It is time for me to move on and scale new heights in the blogosphere and wonderful world of words. Know that I wish you light and laughter and the wisdom and courage to put one foot in front of the other and be the hero of your own story.

Happiness & Bright Blessings,
Laura

Becoming

I’ve been thinking of something my life coach said to me a few weeks ago. I’m sure she’s said it before or I’ve read a similar philosophy of thought—it wasn’t brand new—but this time I heard it. Really heard it. An ‘aha’ moment that begs to be shared. Here are Sharon’s wise words:

It’s not about the goal—but who you become in the process of reaching for the goal.

Here’s a story to illuminate this insightful perspective. My husband and I have a vision of being powerboat live-aboard cruisers and we are seeking our ideal vessel. We’ve looked at hundreds of boats in Marinas and on the Internet, compiling our absolute yes list of features, designs, and must haves. One priority are diesel engines which will allow us to operate on alternative fuel such as biodiesel or vegetable oil. This is as environmentally friendly as we can be without sails!

We found a boat in Missouri at the lower end of our price range with every feature on our list—except it had gas engines. We were considering going to look at it when I asked myself and then my coach if we were ‘settling’ for less than our ideal. In essence weren’t we saying it wasn’t possible to find every essential item on our list on one boat? Weren’t we negating our dream by considering less than our ideal? Yes! Here’s my coaches’ kicker: ultimately it’s not about the end result: the boat. It’s about the journey: who we become while making our vision a reality. Did I want to become someone who settled for less than my ideal or someone who believed in her dream? You got it; we didn’t go look at the boat. ;)

When I began my Virtual Assistance practice I knew my ideal clients were out there—waiting for me. I never doubted it. That’s exactly what attracted them into my life and biz! As I look back over the past few years of becoming: a business owner, debt free, saving to be a boat owner, a healthier, fitter person. I see a journey of the smallest details and choices that have brought me to where I am today—and I truly like who I have become in the process.

Rethinking pink

I wrote just last week that you never know who you’ll reach via the Internet, and voila I hear from James. He wrote to share that he is one of the partners behind the flamingoed door I wrote about here. With neighborly good spirit he sent a link to his mission statement to explain the mystery behind Blankenship & Pasteur, Inc's tag line. It’s creative, inviting, playful and shows a sense of humor I can relate to. ;) I was ‘way’ off base with my interpretation! I’m still curious about the Flamingoes and will have to take James up on stopping by for a cup of Joe to learn more about his company—how could I not after reading this on his website: “We draw pictures and build metal stuff.”

Do you have a mission statement for your biz? Does it fulfill its purpose? Wanna share?

Blog on!

Last summer I wrote this
article about Artful Blogging and received an email from Staci Dumoski, Managing Editor of the magazine asking for permission to quote from my post. How cool is that!?

Volume II has been available since January but I only recently put my hands on a copy, our local B&N doesn’t carry it (yet). Staci explained they wouldn’t be able to feature The Virtual Wire but she really liked what I wrote and wanted to include it somewhere in the next issue. What an affirmation for a budding blogger! My excerpt is listed under Letters to the Editor—hurrah I’m in print! You never know who you will reach when you put yourself out there authentically!

Once again I’m savoring this beautiful magazine—the layouts are intriguing and inviting, the excerpts lead me to know these bloggers better and check out their sites. Kudos to Staci and the team at Artful Blogging for the inspiration and encouragement. And a heartfelt thank you to authentic bloggers who bravely bare their souls and inner worlds and shine a light for us to see by. Blog on!

Which mouse is in your house?

Last week Terry sent a comment about the mouse she uses from Evoluent. Thanks Terry! It is now offered in a wireless model and has received excellent feedback from users. My search also turned up a Microsoft mouse (with a twist) that I’m able to test out locally. Obviously, I have not given this essential tool enough thought or considered the options available. The hand position offered by the Evoluent mouse seems unique and makes sense, but seems like it would take some getting used to. What mouse is perfect for you? Did you try it out first or trust a recommendation?

There’s an older review of ergonomic mice by Techspot that I still found helpful which led me to a Google search of preventive exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome. Check out Desktop Yoga and take a quick break!

Release and renew

I was in Antonette’s office a few weeks ago standing behind her rubbing her shoulders while she sat at her computer (fair payment for the hospitality of Hotel Artiz!). As she ooohed and ahhed, I mentioned how much I was looking forward to a massage when I returned home; traveling puts kinks in places you weren’t aware could kink. ;)

There’s quite a difference between a massage therapist and a spa-day type of massage and I am pleased to have discovered the distinction and therefore become addicted to therapeutic massages. My massage therapist educates me on what’s going on in my body and why. After two years of working on my bod Maria rubs hard and deep. Yes, it can be painful in places but it’s more damaging to leave that tension buried in my muscles. She has included Cupping in several of our sessions with excellent results.

Her work heals damaged muscles and she always queries me about how I’ve been sitting at the computer, for how long, or what new activity I’ve engaged in. Maria encouraged me to raise the handlebars on my bike for better position and back support. Last week she gave me exercises to diminish the space between my pointer and middle finger on my mouse hand. I’d have never noticed that! We discussed mouse options, too. (Any suggestions?)

My bi-monthly massages began as an act of prioritizing self-care and saying, “I’m worth it!” Now I realize this amazing time I spend with Maria has morphed into an integral tool for my well-being and productivity as a business owner. Are you ready to release and renew?

Dream big

Three years ago this month I was a newbie in AssistU’s Virtual Training Program (VTP). Some days it feels like: “three whole years!” and others: “only three years!” How did I navigate from an uninformed wannabe to operating a successful virtual assistance practice? Some days I wonder how I got here! There is no simple answer to that question—it was a life changing journey taken moment by moment; I showed up for my life and was present as never before. If I had to name one attribute that gave me an edge; it would be my attitude. I’ve always been the glass is half full kinda gal. ;) Usually overflowing. I may have had moments of self doubt and overwhelm, but through it all I stood firm in my vision and believed in my dream.

My dream big highlights:

• A loved one who believes in me (for me it’s my hubby who is also my best friend)
• A clearly defined vision
• A life coach (to inspire the best in me and help me shine)
• An action plan
• An unquenchable passion for what I do

Today I’m living that dream! I’ve partnered with four ideal clients and have long standing collaborative relationships—friendships—with each one. And as if my work and practice weren’t reward enough I have been touched and moved by the most inspiring, empowered, creative, kindred souls thanks to the AssistU community, my clients, and their students and clients. If we are indeed the sum of all our experiences than I am where I am, in part, because of each person who has supported and touched my life—thank you for your contribution to this life of bliss! I can only imagine where I’ll be three years from now! Dream big!

The Writing Diet

I have struggled with being over weight since my daughter was born. I can lose weight but I don’t keep it off. When I turned forty I made the decision I was done with dieting forever. I knew what I needed to do: eat healthy and exercise consistently. Simple, right? What I didn’t realize I had to do was reprogram the ingrained habits, beliefs, and thoughts that led to self-sabotage. As long as my self worth was tied to a number on a scale or a clothing size I would never believe I was enough. First I had to be open to changing my thoughts, and next I had to believe I could change my thinking and change my reality.

I devoured spiritual, self-help books on meditation, manifestation, and miracles. Something clicked for me over the years of listening to the enlightened words of so many wise teachers. I reinvented my life. I became a business owner so I could do what I love and love what I do, and create the resources of time, energy, and abundance to pursue my health and wellbeing.

This year one of the support tools I chose has been to join Weight Watchers; stop dieting and start living is their tag line. I’ve known several people who have successfully changed their body size with Weight Watchers but I was resistant and believed they taught members to diet. I said I wanted to do it alone, but really wasn’t ready to ask for help and support. The reality of Weight Watchers has been 180 degrees different than what I thought it would be. I’ve benefited from their experience and knowledge of course, but the weekly accountability, support, and inspiration has been phenomenal.

Grinning over Google

Google is so cool! I'm always a sucker for a new web collaboration tool and Google seems to have done it again with Google Sites. The catch is the sites are set up as Intranets and designed for groups from the same company or school, so participants have to have the same .com or .edu email address. One on one with my coaching client this space will work perfectly for sharing docs and keeping us organized. For another client we need an accessible space for groups of students to collaborate and stay informed. It's free, it's Google, and it's fun! Please share your experience if you've created a Google Site. Thanks!

Saving daylight?

So, did we really lose an hour yesterday? I was a bit grumpy on Sunday but hadn’t really attributed that to loss of sleep, I didn’t change my clocks until I woke up! Did your computer handle the update glitch free? I felt like I had an extra hour last night, and enjoyed it.

Until I began working as a Virtual Assistant time zones didn’t affect my day-to-day tasks very often and I never needed to keep track of what states/countries did or didn’t participate in daylight-saving time (DST). Today I do need to calculate time zones before I make a call or set an appointment and DST does add a hiccup, but VAs love a challenge!

My curiosity about why we shift time took me to the web where I found this interesting site (be sure to let me know what you think of Spicy Nodes if you click through!) along with this fun quote:

I object to being told that I am saving daylight when my reason tells me that I am doing nothing of the kind. I even object to the implication that I am wasting something valuable if I stay in bed after the sun has risen. As an admirer of moonlight I resent the bossy insistence of those who want to reduce my time for enjoying it. At the back of the Daylight Saving scheme I detect the bony, blue-fingered hand of Puritanism, eager to push people into bed earlier, and get them up earlier, to make them healthy, wealthy and wise in spite of themselves.
– Robertson Davies, The Diary of Samuel Marchbanks, 1947

How does the time change impact your work or play? Does darkness keep you from a morning jog? Do you shift your daily activities to enjoy the evening hours? I wrote in my journal this morning instead of walking—and will walk this afternoon. My husband didn’t bike to work this morning, but I think that may have been the thirty something temperature rather than the amount of light. I thought we were in Florida!

Are you yay or nay for a longer day? Is this time honored tradition perfect timing for you or do you need a time out? ;)