Category Archives: Love

14 Opportunities and Ideas to Help Add Additional Income During the Pandemic

Hello loves! I wanted to share some information that may be helpful for those that recently were laid off and/or you are looking to supplement your income during and beyond the Convid-19 Pandemic. Like many online business owners, I have a unique birdseye view because of the work that I do and the business I run. None of it is a secret or a ninja trick, and much of it you already have likely heard about, so most of it is just a re-iteration.

I have compiled a list of 14 opportunities and ideas to help add additional income during the pandemic for yourself and your family in these times of uncertainty.

As we start to do more and more delivery and curbside shopping, eating and etc… we will see that we simply do not have the force to support it. Here are places that you can look into if you are looking for work.

1) Grocery stores are hiring and their services are in high demand. Check into Clicklist and Instacart shoppers particularly

2) Doordash and Uber Eat Drivers – Even Pizza Delivery as well

3) Talk to your local marijuana dispensers and liquor stores – See about helping them with their curbside services…and in some cases delivery options

4) Amazon warehouses are hiring as well as drivers and customer service agents. Amazon alone is providing over 100k jobs

5) Become a secret shopper. I know that times are different right now, but there are many online secret shopping opportunities, for instance, customer service secret shopping with Expedia. The restaurant and retail store options won’t be available (unless they pivot) is my guess, but there are other opportunities. Let me preface that this is NOT a huge moneymaker, but it is great for supplemental income. https://www.bestmark.com/ I always had fun with secret shopping and I think you could too.

If you are looking at making some extra money in the online sphere here are some pretty great options.

6) For online work look into https://jobs.sykes.com/ , these are customer service jobs that you can do from home. You must have a dedicated phone line (not a cell phone) and highspeed internet.

7) Working Solutions is another home-based customer service opportunity as well – www.workingsolutions.com/

8) United Health Care for those that work in more of a medical field, they are hiring to help with the influx of calls that are coming in.

9) If you have a special craft, like content writing, graphic design, etc… you can look into www.upwork.com or www.guru.com and if you make and sell your own goods, look at facebook market place, www.etsy.com and www.ebay.com.

10) I realize that the stock market is a pretty scary place right now, but it also offers a lot of opportunities. Stocks are at a record low right now. The market will not be this unstable forever and it is guaranteed that there will be a boom (just don’t know when). The beauty of that is if you can get in at a cheap buy-in, like now, it could provide a huge return in 6-months. Only look into this if you feel empowered to do so. You can start up through Robinhood, which is a free platform for buying and selling stocks in the stock market. It is pretty intuitive and if you use this link you can earn free stock to start your journey with. Truly investing in stock (if you have the means) now might set you up for life. It could be like buying Amazon in 1997 if you get my drift! For Robinhood, though, it doesn’t require any investment right now, just sign up, get your free stock and start dabbling. Use this link to get your free stock >>> https://bit.ly/freerobinhoodstock-jg

11) For those that are toying with taking their business or ideas to Facebook, I have a free mini-training “8 Ways to Revive your Facebook Business Page Organic Reach” that you can take. It is a tiny bit outdated, but the content is still very relevant. www.va.alpinesbsolutions.com

12) If you are looking to take your vision into an online setting and getting serious about taking this time to pivot instead of panic, I would like to offer up some of my time to help you brainstorm. While I do have limited time, I still would like to offer up my own time as a resource. I am offering free 30 minute consults for a limited amount of folks (no strings attached, just value, value, value) the rest of the month. Private message me if you are interested.

13) I am also working on some additional free training and webinars to help people with making supplemental income online or to finally start your own online business journey. If you have a topic you would like me to touch on or have someone in the community talk about, please private message me or put your request below.

14) Lastly (for now), I would love to create a container for those interested to network together and join in on the opportunity to join think tanks, masterminds, engagement circles, and other self-promotion threads so we can all build each other up, stay connected, and love one another.

Do you have things to share or add to my list, please do? The more the merrier. The more information we can put out there the better. I will continue to harvest more ideas around this as the days and weeks unfold.

For those that are in a position to help, please help people, offer your time and what resources you can. This is a time to band together, practice impeccable hygiene, be compassionate and remember we are all in this together. Do not lead in fear…keep being amazing and I am rooting for those that are having a hard time. Please share with someone that you think might benefit from this information as well. I love you!

7 Reasons a Hike is Like Starting Your Own Business

I went on a little adventure with my daughter, her friend, my dog and my lover. This cool little adventure took us under roads, through the forest, over creeks, up a mountain, through the snow and into dark tunnels. During this adventure we encountered many obstacles like ice, boulders, fences and downed trees, etc…. This definitely made for some interesting moments that left us on our butts or trying to figure out a way around the hurdle. Each time we fell on the ice we picked ourselves back up, each time we hit a bump or barrier along our path, we figured out a safe way around and/or through. No matter what, we kept going because we knew whatever was around the next corner it was sure to be interesting and beautiful…and it was! It was a great day!

When I came home and reflected on my awesome day it reminded me that my nature infused adventures are similar to my business building experience. While the backdrop is very different the feelings, the emotions and mentality of it was similar.

7 reasons why a hike in nature is similar to starting your own business!

Preparing:

When starting any new adventure you always have some sort of destination in mind. Preparation is a key component to your journey. For instance, when you go on a day hike you need to be sure to have all the necessities, like water, snacks, proper attire and a fairly clear idea what your route will look like and what your time frame will be.

Building your business is quite similar. You need to have an idea, a business plan, a blueprint and the right tools to help you get to your goal in the timeframe you desire. Evaluate your goals; understand what it takes to start a business not only from a financial stand point, but also from an emotional, mental and physical stand point as well. There is so much heart and soul you will pour into your business and being as prepared as possible is truly in your best interest. Furthermore, educate yourself on the legalities of starting your own business and seek legal and financial consultation should you need it. Sometimes it is easier to work with a professional that can tell you right away the answers you seek, rather than spending weeks trying to figure it out on your own.

Getting Started:

A journey of a thousand miles (or even just 2 miles) starts with a single step. Building your business is like starting a hike. When you arrive at the trail head you know that there will be many miles between you and your destination. Excitement and sometimes fear will be an emotion you will feel as you embark on the path to your destination. A hike, depending on your level of fitness and how steep the climb is, you will stop to catch your breath or stop to rest your legs.

Your business is no different. You will meet goals, stop to catch your breath, regroup and then keep going. If you are unsure where to start with your business I suggest that you start by carving out time each and every day to work on your business. This can be as simple as doing research on the internet, reading blogs, finding a community online to bounce ideas off of, or seek mentorship and coaching. I also suggest that you invest in this journey and if you are someone that can learn online, purchase a training course that will help you get started. This is nice because it can save you time and also take a lot of guess work out of it for you. Your time is precious, so be sure to seek help where help in needed! Your family and friends will appreciate this too.

Finding Your Buddies and Support System:

Not only is it fun, but it is also super smart to never hike alone. Hiking with friends or family is an enjoyable experience and can help keep you safe. In nature there are many things that could go wrong. Wildlife encounters, inclement weather and even the risk of injury. So having a buddy can lessen the burden should something negative happen. Plus on the fun side, you will build memories together; you can share stories and most importantly someone to encourage you should you feel too tired or weak to keep going.

Here is a little secret, your support system when you are building your business is one of the secret sauces to your success. I can’t express how much you need to have your support system in place when you decide to embark on this epic entrepreneurial journey. Your support system is the people that will pick you up when you have fallen; these are the people who will cheer you on when you feel like giving up. These are the people who will gather around you to celebrate your goals when you have accomplished them. Business is hard, it can be a lonely place with lots of hurdles along the way, but with a support system by your side anything can be possible.

Being Prepared to Weather Any Storm:

In the mountains of Colorado (where I live) the weather can change in a matter of minutes. It can be sunny and beautiful, then within an hour it could be thunder snowing. You have to be prepared to weather any storm in the mountains. So, as you embark on this epic metaphorical hike of building your business you should remember that the seasons of success will change.

What does seasons of success mean? As counter intuitive as it may sound, success is temporary! But so is failure. As a veteran online business owner that has helped thousands of businesses build their online presence, I have weathered many storms along the way. Every time I feel defeated or elated, I center myself and understand that it is only a temporary feeling.

I share this not to deter you, but rather to prepare you. Success is a crazy rollercoaster and truly is not for the faint of heart. Tenacity pays off. Consistency pays off. Failure pays off. One day you may feel like giving up, another day you may feel like you’re the master of your universe. Don’t give up; remember the seasons of success will change and every great leader in all industries have experienced it. Remember the master once was the beginner… trust your journey!

Embracing and Enjoying the Journey:

Nobody said it was going to be easy…they said it would be worth it. Let it be a mountain in front of you or starting your business building journey, one thing is for certain, it will surely be an interesting adventure and journey.

In the fast paced world that we live in we tend to focus on what we lack or do not have, rather than celebrating the things we do. There will be many days you will find yourself focusing how far you have to go or what you have not accomplished yet. You may beat yourself up about the training you still need, or how your website may not operate perfectly or that you don’t have enough social media followers. It is so easy to focus your energy on what you haven’t done that you forget to embrace exactly where you are right now.

The entire journey is worth embracing, everything from the trials and errors, to the huge accomplishments along the way. Each step you take and each twist and turn or achievement that you encounter on this path is put there to either help you grow, help you learn or help you put everything into perspective. Success is by no means a straight line, but rather full of turns, bumps, sharp curves and more. Allowing yourself to embrace its every last drop, is a true gift you can give to yourself, but to say that it comes easy would be a lie, but oh so worth it!

Celebrating Along the Way:

What is all the hard work without reward? For some the hike to the summit is the reward that they feel is enough, the breathtaking views, the sense of accomplishment, the burn in their calves. Or maybe you have plans to get an amazing meal or a big tasty beer as soon as you return back to town. I remember, I did a huge and brutal 15 mile hike a few years back and I knew that my reward was going to be a gigantic class of ice water when I returned to town. When I got it I was in heaven and cherished every last cold delicious gulp.

It is no different with your business. Celebrate the big wins of course, but also celebrate the small wins too. All those small wins are just as important as that big goal that you accomplished. There is no way you can achieve a huge leap without a series of steps before it (unless you’re super(wo)man). Those steps are just as important as that moment you jump. Those steps before the leap should be celebrated just as much as the leap itself, because they were a huge reason you were able to make the leap to begin with.

With this same metaphor in mind, remember to celebrate all the steps that occur before whatever the big goal is that you plan to celebrate. I think the best advice one of my mentors ever gave me was “Until further notice celebrate everything!” So I give you the same sage advice… and to take it one step further, find something to celebrate every day. It could be you finished a blog you had been working on, or that you got 20 new likes on your Facebook business page, or you actually ate breakfast, or that you got to the gym before you started the day, whatever it might be, celebrate it in your own unique and happy way. Your mind, body, spirit and your family will thank you for it.

Sharing your Adventure:

I know when I finish a hike, just like I did at the beginning of this blog, I looked forward to sharing it on my facebook and instagram pages with my family and friends. How lucky are we that we live in a time that we can do this with a few clicks of a mouse. With the magic of social media it is so much easier to share precious and adventurous moments.

The same mindset should be applied for your business building journey too. Let it all hang out, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Honestly, when I am looking for inspiration in terms of business or my fitness goals, I never want to be shown the sweet and cute parts. I want to relate, I want to connect and have someone tell me “Yes! It is freaking hard sometimes, but keep going”. When you share your business building experience you have the ability to inspire others that maybe feel defeated or just needed a reminder. I promise your adventure will inspire someone else. There is always someone waiting to hear from you…even if they don’t know it yet.

In closing, remember business is very much like an adventure…where it leads us, we aren’t quite sure, but one thing we know it will be worth it. I highly suggest following your Entrepreneurial spirit down that rabbit hole… What you will find will be one of the best adventures of your life.

Remember, the master always started out as a beginner. One foot in front of the other…baby steps! Your story is bound to inspire someone and I hope that my story has inspired you too. Pass it on.

#Entrepreneur #OnlineBusiness

10 Actions You Can Take To Help You Prepared Should The Unexpected Happen

My business is my baby. I nurtured it through many struggles, successes, and interesting times. But what happens when you can’t nurture business? What happens to your business, your clients, etc., when the unexpected happens? Getting a plan in place is so important to the success and legacy of your business.

Let me tell you a couple quick stories about how having a plan for the unexpected saved my sanity and my business.

In 2013 on Halloween morning, my mother passed away from cancer. Like many that lost their battle, her cancer journey was awful and long. Being an only child, I was the only one other than my dad who cared for my mom. All our family lived out of state, so the responsibility of the devastation of her cancer weighed heavy on my father and me. Between doctors’ appointments, meal prep, physical therapies, and other tasks, caring for my mom was almost a full time job (not to mention the time I carved out to just sit and be with her so we could spend quality time together). My time was split very thin between my dying mother, my two young daughters, and my growing business . . . as well as all my other relationships with friends and my father. My mother was constantly in and out of the hospital, and there were countless crazy times that required me to drop everything and rush to her side. During this time, my focus was solely on healing and helping my mother. She was the most important thing to me, so my business had to come second . . . third . . . fourth to the more important things in my life which was my family.

In July of 2015, I was at a peak in my business, but something unthinkable happened. Unlike my mother’s slow and prolonged illness, this tragedy hit me hard, fast and I was completely blindsided. It was a beautiful summer day and like I often did, I went and enjoyed some live bluegrass music with my two daughters and their friends at this quaint outdoor area. The kiddos didn’t want to listen to the entire set list of music and they asked if they could go and record a short movie instead. They are an artistic bunch and often made short films on their cell phones. I said yes as long as they stayed close. They stayed very close, but that didn’t matter because things can happen and change your life in a blink of an eye. My older daughter had an extremely hard fall and experienced a life threatening head injury that required her to be airlifted to Children’s hospital. We spent two days in the ICU and about a week in the hospital, followed by many doctors’ appointments scattered across town. I am happy to report she is okay today, but during those weeks after her injury my focus was on healing and helping my daughter. She was the most important thing to me, so my business again had to come second . . . third . . . fourth to the more important things in my life.

If I lacked a plan for the unexpected, my business surely would have failed (and as a result I would have fallen onto even harder times beyond the tragedies that hit my life). Here are 10 actions to take to be prepared should the unexpected happen to you, your family, or friends.

Foster authentic relationships with clients. Always work to create an open and honest relationship with your client. Laying the foundation for solid relationships not only makes it easier to do business, but makes it easier to be transparent with them if a crisis occurs and you need to renegotiate timelines or contracts. I am blessed with amazing clients that understood life happens, and they were super supportive. When you’re authentic with clients, they will often be understanding and supportive in return. People understand life and shit happens, and being real will gain you more flexibility, trust, and respect with your clients in the long run.
Build a crisis team. You’ll want go-to people (or a go-to person, if your business is smaller) that you can confidently delegate to during a time of distress. Make sure your crisis team is equipped with the knowledge, resources, and personality traits to handle being in charge of projects in your absence. Talk over your expectations and their responsibilities to ensure everyone is on the same page long before a crisis occurs.
Create a guide book to your business. Create a business Wiki or process manual that can serve as the “bible” for your business. Clearly outline how to complete various tasks (more detail is always better). When applicable, include screenshots to help visual learners. You’ll want to cover everything anyone might need to do, both the strategic and mundane. Remember it’s much better to put too much information than not enough. Whoever is in your crisis team will need to reference it to accomplish tasks they aren’t used to doing, so make sure they have all the information they need at their fingertips.
Make business passwords easily accessible. Not only does your crisis team need to know how to handle various tasks, they need to know the passwords to access the technology to achieve those tasks. I recommend Lastpass, which allows you to easily share needed passwords with your team in a secure manner.
Invest in a laptop. A laptop offers you incredible flexibility. During my difficult times, I was able to do some work away from the home office. While I wasn’t as productive as I was working in the office, I was still able to work some. It’s important not to allow your work to take you away from precious time with family. However, working some during a crisis can be really helpful. It gives you feelings of control and accomplishment to get work done, and can provide a temporary distraction from what you’re dealing with (which can give your heart and brain a much needed break).
Be organized. Every important document should be in one place to make it easier on your staff. I use Dropbox and give access to my team and clients. That way, my team won’t have to search through multiple online and physical locations to find what they are looking for. You can also be organized with your method of contact. Use your forwarding call feature from your business line to your cell phone or your team.
Do a test run. You can plan a solid strategy, but there’s bound to be kinks and hurdles to overcome. A test run will help you discover what areas need to be fixed to get to the smoothest transition during a crisis as possible. Coordinate with your team a day (or preferably a few days) where you simulate your absence due to a crisis. Remove yourself from the office, and only communicate with your staff as much as you think you would during a crisis. This will help everyone see what needs to be adjusted and improved, which makes you better prepared for an actual crisis.
Invest in disability insurance. Disability insurance is helpful in case you get hurt and can’t work. This will help protect you financially if you are unable to work for any extended period due to an injury.
Add a legacy contact in Facebook. In the event of death, your Facebook account can be memorialized and serve as a place for loved ones to share memories. A legacy contact is a designated person who can write a pinned post for the profile (such as a message on your behalf or memorial service information), respond to new friend requests, and update your profile picture and cover photo. They can also download a copy of what you’ve shared on Facebook. To add a legacy contact (https://www.facebook.com/help/1070665206293088)

Click in the top right of Facebook and select Settings

In the left menu, click Security

Click Legacy Contact

Type in a friend’s name and click Add

To let your friend know they’re now your legacy contact, click Send

Take care of yourself. Exercise consistently, maintain a healthy diet, get regular massages, do what you need to make yourself as healthy as possible. This will prevent illness and improve recovery time in the event you do get sick or injured.

While it’s difficult to think about life crisis and death, it’s important to. Creating a plan to deal with a crisis can make a huge difference in how your business, and you, make it through the crisis. I guarantee it’s worth the time and effort to put a plan in place-it will provide you huge piece of mind for the future.

Join us in Performing 26 Random Acts of Kindness for Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims

Best Virtual Assistant Colorado

My heart still weeps for the 26 beautiful souls that started their morning on December 14th in Newtown CT, like any other day. They woke up, got ready for school never knowing that this was their last morning they would ever hug their mom and dad goodbye. They were excited for the new day, excited to see their friends, their teachers and were ready to fill their noggins will all kinds of juicy new knowledge at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As a mom and nurturer by nature I was horrified and tears flowed abundandly after reading of the tragedy. I wanted nothing more than to swoop in and do something, anything to ease the sadness and pain that the country felt at that moment and forever more.

Once I had the courage, I talked to my kids gently about this tragedy. I wanted to tread lightly as they were still healing their hearts from the Jessica Ridgeway abduction and murder that took place locally here in Colorado, only a few months earlier. My children were understandably frightened, but I didn’t want them to be controlled and guided by that fear. I wanted them to still hold on to their innocence and to know that there is still beauty everywhere they turned.

I wanted to do something that showed my children to never lose faith in humanity and that there is still kind, gentle and wonderful people that walk amongst us. I wanted to show them this by example. Then it hit me! I would show my kids what Random Acts of Kindness is. I did a little poking around on Facebook and the internet and found that I was not alone in my thoughts. There were groups and communities that were supporting the very same idea of performing 26 random acts of kindness to represent each person who had taken their last breath at Sandy Hook Elementary School that day.

I am happy to report that I have successfully started my 26 random acts of kindness mission. It was fun to tell the kids about my intentions. I won’t lie they looked at me oddly, but had this intense sense of wonder in their eyes. They didn’t quite understand the concept. They had tons of questions and were genuinely intrigued to see how something like this would work. I told them, it will come naturally. I explained in detail to them what types of people I hoped to encounter and I was going to begin this journey right away. I immediately completed 4 of the 26 random acts of kindness.

The first three random acts of kindness came when the kids and I went to have dinner at one of our favorite little salad bar restaurants. As we waited to pay for our meals I turned and looked at the three people behind me and said, “I would like to pay for your dinners”. They looked at me baffled. I continued to explain my 26 random acts of kindness mission. The cashier, said, “oh I heard about that, how cool that I get to see and experience it happen here at work”. The three people were so humbled and grateful. I bought dinner for a single lady who was tired and stressed from the day and was getting a to-go order. The other 2 were a lovable grandmother and her granddaughter duo. The granddaughter was so sweet as she kept saying god bless you and thank you. The little girl was hugging and standing behind her grandmother in complete shyness, it was adorable. The cute little girl later came to our table with a plate full of ice cream and sprinkles for us to enjoy as her own token of kindness. The 4th random act of kindness was a generous contribution to a person that I hold very dear to myself and my Virtual Assistant Business here in Colorado to help her through the holidays while she endures medical assistance. It warmed my heart to know that my contribution will help her sleep better and support her family through the holidays.

The kids have been so excited and are telling everyone about our 26 Random Acts of Kindness endeavors. They have come up with some brilliant ideas. We have 22 more random acts of kindness to complete. It won’t be hard, my kids and I are so happy and full of light and love to be able to do this in honor of;

Charlotte Bacon, 6
Daniel Barden, 7
Rachel D’Avino, 29
Olivia Engel, 6
Josephine Gay, 7
Dylan Hockley, 6
Madeleine Hsu, 6
Catherine Hubbard, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47
Jesse Lewis, 6
Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
James Mattioli, 6
Grace McDonnell, 7
Anne Marie Murphy, 52
Emilie Parker, 6
Jack Pinto, 6
Noah Pozner, 6
Caroline Previdi, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Lauren Rousseau, 30
Mary Sherlach, 56
Victoria Soto, 27
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6

Check out this awesome 26 Random Acts of Kindness community facebook page for ideas on how you too can join this extraordinary kindness initiative. AND Remember don’t stop at 26 – keep it going and pay it forward…always!

Download your copy of 26 Random Acts of Kindness honor cards.
To view file, you must have adobe reader. It is free!

Colorado Virtual Assistant - 26 Random Acts of Kindness Honor Cards

Health Coach Virtual Assistant - 26 Random Acts of Kindness Honor Cards

Top Virtual Assistant Company - 26 Random Acts of Kindness Honor Cards

20 Things Every Parent Should Know to Keep your Children Safe with Technology

We cherish our children! Any parent knows that having a child is a blessing and no matter if they are 2 or 40 we will always protect them! Sometimes we get too comfortable and think that all of the people are good outside our front door. Sadly, this is just a dream. The reality is, you’re not safe anywhere but you can still live a happy life as long as you follow some safety rules.

Think of the worst possible thing that could happen to your child. Have that image? It’s not pretty is it? It wasn’t pretty for Jessica Ridgeway’s mother when she realized her 10 year old daughter didn’t make it to school one morning either. Jessica was a 5^th Grader in Westminster, CO. She was walking to school one Friday morning and never arrived. She was kidnapped and murdered because a predator was stalking her route to school.

A parent’s biggest fear is going through what Jessica’s family is currently facing. Balloon releases to heaven, students going to counseling to deal with the events of their lost friend, neighbors locking their doors and checking them twice for fear of someone taking their own children. The guilt of being thankful it is not your child that was kidnapped…it doesn’t end. We need to educate ourselves on safety; not only on street safety but especially in today’s world, technology safety!

Internet Technology

95% of teens are online from the age of 12-17.

The world of technology is rapidly growing especially on the internet! 95% of teens are online! What are they doing? They are probably loading the newest pictures onto their facebook page, watching videos with friends on youtube, playing an online game and chatting with new friends. Maybe they are taking advantage of their technology and researching a topic for a History paper. No matter what they are doing, kids love technology but they need to know that just because no one is physically watching them, they can still be harmed through technology. Sadly, there are a lot of parents who know very little about technology.

1. Monitor use of technology. Keep the computer in a high traffic area of your home.

2. Establish limits for which online sites children may visit and for how long.

3. Surf the internet with your child and let them show you what they like to do online.

4. Never give out personal information on any piece of technology! No one should be asking you for it! If they are, this is a RED FLAG! Personal information includes, your name, address, phone number, e mail address, what school you go to and even photos!

5. Never agree to meet someone you met online! Remember that people may be pretending to be someone they are not!

6. Talk to your child about “grooming”. Use examples and show real stories like “Amy”, 15 who traveled out of state to meet the “Love of her life” or “Justin” 13 who set up his web cam to meet friends only to meet a man telling him he’d pay him $50 to take off his shirt and sit bare chested for three minutes! (He even helped him set up a paypal account), reported by the New York Times.

7. Know who is connecting with your child through technology and set rules for social networking, emailing, chatting, web cams, etc.

8. Continually dialogue with your child about technology safety!

9. Be up to date with the new technology out there, if it’s in the schools know your kids will more than likely want one i.e. ipod touch, nook, kindle fire, smart phone. If you get one for your child, know how to use it yourself.

10. Never get involved in cyberbullying or let anyone cyberbully you! Amanda Todd let it get the best of her and sadly she committed suicide.

Cell Phone Technology

75% of teenagers and 58% of 12 year olds have a cell phone

How many times have you seen a child on their cell phone texting? It seems to be the new way of communication. A teenager would rather break up with someone through a text than in person or by actually dialing a phone number. Thankfully cell phone carriers offer unlimited texting or else parents would be looking for a second job to pay for texting bills.

The technology available today is overwhelming for parents especially when they can put it in their backpacks and carry it with them. This mobile technology makes it harder for parents to monitor what their children are doing since they can access it at anytime away from home. You can still educate your child and yourself to ensure your children are using technology for a positive outcome instead of getting themselves into trouble. What makes this challenging is that a cell phone is so much more with the internet access, gaming ability and cameras.

1. Talk about cell phone bullying.

2. Be a role model with your own technology. Don’t text and drive!

3. Remind your child that anything they send on their cell phone or any piece of technology can be easily forwarded and shared.

4. Research the security settings when shopping for a new phone for your child.

5. Establish rules for when they are allowed to use their cell phone.

6. Review your child’s cell phone records every month. Look out for late night texts and calls and unknown numbers.

7. Talk to your child about sexting. Sending inappropriate photos to one another can be very harmful.

8. Role play with your child. “Have you ever gotten a text from someone you didn’t know? What did you do?”

9. Put a parental tracker on your child’s phone so you can see where they are at all times. Verizon has an app called “Family Locator” for $9.99 a month you can add it to your plan! Ask your cell phone company if they have an app like this for your technology.

10. Make sure your child has a back up battery if ever they are in a bad situation and need their phone.

Helpful Websites

Online Child Saftey Tips * You can buy software from sources such as SpectorSoft to monitor your child’s technology use. Of course you want to give your children privacy but at anytime if your gut tells you something may be up this is a great piece of technology for a parent to have.

* No one wants to know the harsh truth of others but it’s important to be aware of your environment! To see a list of sex offenders in your area a helpful site for families is: www.familywatchdog.us. Here you can actually register and receive updates from the latest registered offenders!

* Sadly there are sex offenders around you. If you are concerned and worried for your child’s safety you can find support and tips and Take Action!

* Technology is growing everyday! Parents need to keep up to date of the latest gadgets and gizmos all of the kids are wanting so they learn how to control them and keep their child safe! Websites like www.coolest-gadgets.com can help you see the newest technology devices and you can read reviews. They will even show you what the hot new technology gift is!

* There are also apps for nearly every phone if your child wants to play with it you can set a parental control app on it so kids have limited access. If you have a blackberry you can download a parental app restricting use on your browser and text messaging. For your Droid you can download a parental app to restrict access to certain apps! Cell phones are almost a necessity in today’s world of technology and parents needs to keep up to date with the newest parental apps!

Parents have to do their homework on technology but once you keep on top of it and talk with other parents you can establish a safe technology environment for your child to enjoy the internet, cell phones, cameras, gaming gadgets, and whatever knew technology device may be on their Christmas list! Using our safety rules we can still experience the world of technology in a healthy fashion!

Top 10 Things You Should Do to Ensure you are Appreciated Work

Did you ever have a time in your career where you were unhappy? Maybe you are unhappy now and are looking for a positive shift. Close your eyes, and think back to your past work experiences and think about what made you miserable. What were the reasons that you threw your hands up and said I quit and you left?

Did you not feel welcome?

Did you feel underpaid?

Maybe you felt unappreciated for all you did for your boss?

Now, I am a firm believer in communication and showing your appreciation, but unfortunately in today’s busy society we don’t say, “Thank You” or “I value you” enough to one another. We have forgotten to focus on what is going great and instead have turned our attention to the things that aren’t. The good news is that there are many ways you can get rid of your, “Don’t want to work today blues!” If you want to feel important at work and be noticed here are 10 key elements to consider:

1. Be punctual!

– More than likely your work place has an attendance policy which includes tardiness! Being even just 2 or 3 minutes late to work isn’t cool! Be 5 to 10 minutes early everyday! This ensures you are not feeling rushed which causes you added stress and gives you time to get settled in! Your boss will appreciate that you care enough to be on time!

2. Be organized!

– Don’t keep a filing stack; put things away in their proper places so you can find them when you need them. Label and highlight important items so you can find them quickly if your boss asks for something. If you have meetings keep a schedule near so you don’t forget and so you can be on time!

3. Be Positive!

– It’s easy to get caught up in the negative complaining session going on in the break room or around the water cooler during the work day. It’s ok to listen but don’t get caught in this negative trap! You will be respected by others who notice you don’t gossip and gripe! Keep yourself in an optimistic healthy state of mind and try to turn the negativity around! It will surely rub off on others!

4. Be Reliable!

– Occasionally you are going to be asked to stay late or cover an extra task for someone who might have an overload of work already. Just do it! Do you think your boss wants to work late? Turn your projects in on time and take ownership of your mistakes should you make one!

5. Be Professional!

– Professionalism sells! Don’t slouch if you are standing! Remember good posture! Smile and say hello to someone you pass in the hallway. If dealing with customers use their last name. Don’t use fowl language! Make eye contact. Speak clearly.

Remember the old adage, treat others as you would like to be treated? Treat your clients, customers and coworkers with kindness and professionalism. You will be noticed and praised for your mannerisms.

6. Be a Role Model!

– Have you ever needed help with a project or needed to talk to someone about something that bothered you at work? Don’t go bragging to your boss about helping out Shannon with her conclusion to her sales pitch! Listen to a co-worker who’s having a problem and needs someone to talk to and don’t go spreading gossip! Keep it to yourself! Others will appreciate this quality in you and you will feel good about yourself for helping others!

7. Be Efficient

– Manage your time accordingly. If you are having trouble on a project and it’s taking longer than you think it should or know it should ask someone at work for help! Don’t try to be a hero and get it all done yourself! In the end you could waste valuable time and your boss would respect you that you were big enough to ask for help!

8. Be a Participant!

– Volunteer for the Company Relay for Life event! You don’t have to sign up for everything your work does in the community but it would certainly be nice to represent your company in something! Choose an event you have a passion for! Participant in group activities in meetings and answer questions if you know the answers!

9. Be Healthy

– This may seem like a strange element but by you being happy and healthy you will rub off on your output of your work and your co-workers. Exercise to relieve stress, eat the right foods to keep your immune system up so you don’t have to call in sick as often! Have good hygiene!

10. Be Passionate

– If you give 100% to your tasks at work without expecting anything in return your hard work will pay off. Do your best and put your heart into your work as though it is your family! Know your works values and what is expected of you and follow them!

Remember everyone gets into a funk at work but you can get yourself out! Do you want that raise? Do you feel you deserve a promotion? Do you want to work up to that big corner office with the gigantic windows? Don’t loose sight of your goals and your future. What you do today will make an impact on your tomorrow and the years to come in your professional journey.

How a Virtual Assistant can Help you Achieve Life Balance

Once upon a time….You know the story, right? The complicated story of your life. You are juggling too many things and finding time for yourself is next to impossible, with work, kids, friends and family. You go to bed after a long day of working on your life, that you only find yourself waking up to conquer the new day and the laundry list of things to complete and start all over again and again and again. Oh and don’t get me started on fitting in some exercise time so your love handles don’t turn into something not to love. Not to mention finding the time to eat healthy so you still feel attractive when you put on your favorite pair of jeans. No thank you, I will not take a side of muffin top with my jeans!

Is this you? You’re a professional who is building a business. You’re a parent trying to juggle everyone’s schedule. You’re a partner who is trying to keep things happy and loving by being attentive and passionate. You’re trying to keep friends and family happy by being “available” to EVERYONE to offer support, some good ol’ fashion gossip time or that friendly happy hour you keep promising people you’ll show up at. BIG SIGH, who in the world with your life has time to relax, rejuvenate or just screw off and play for the day? To take a few hours for you and go for a walk on your favorite hiking trail, play a round of golf, take a hula hooping fitness class, schedule a body love massage and spa day, or how about that much needed weekend of fun and adventure you keep talking with your lover about? Ha!

Does any part of this scenario resonates with you?

Have you ever hit that rut in your life that you feel you have to let go of one thing to be able to achieve and meet other goals you have in your life?

All too often as working professionals we have a hard time finding balance in our lives. We seek that perfect balance of;
Success. Family. Love. Health. and FUN.

It is shown that we often let two or three of these slide in conquest of perfecting and achieving the others. I mean, look at people who are focused on their career, they may neglect their partner and/or children, but find time to work out all the time. Look at people that are seeking love so badly that they get in a new relationship and completely lose themselves in their new found love, that they neglect work and their fitness goals. How about that professional that is so busy building their business, that they can’t justify taking off enough time to go on that fun and exciting adventure they keep talking about with their friends and family.

We can play with any of these scenarios and make it match our life. So let me ask you, What is your life balance challenge?

So, why am I writing this, I am reaching out to those that seek life balance, especially those small business owners facing the never ending battle of finding time to fit balance in their life. I know it is a lot of work to build a business; it takes time, passion, time, passion, time, time, time… This is time that is taken away from your family, your friends, your lover and your body! You are so mentally focused and invested that you forget there is a big world that still needs you to be present. You need to find that perfect balance of success, family, love, health and fun, so you can enjoy everything else in your life that is beautiful and positive.

I am sure you are thinking, “where in the heck do I even start to try and find this balance”. Well, start small, move forward with your end goal in sight. It won’t happen over night, it takes effort and time. One of the best ways to get you there is to start with just one simple thing, and that thing is DELEGATION. Delegate to someone like Alpine Small Business Solutions, a Virtual Assistant solution, that understands your struggles and that is always eagerly standing by to help you. To take that laundry list of to-do’s surrounding your business and tackle them and help give you more time to focus on your life balance. To help get you back to all the other super important life enhancing things that make YOU, a happier YOU!

I know it is hard to hand over anything with your business, as you know it best, but take baby steps, back away slowly from certain parts of your business, delegate those tasks that you feel comfortable with, build a trust with your Virtual Assistant. Start with some marketing help, or social media help, or maybe it is as simple as your website updates, or some data entry. Maybe you are ready to hand over the tasks that are associated with the next big event you are putting on, or maybe it is getting your Quickbooks set up and functional. No matter, what it is, you just have to be open to allowing yourself to delegate and not feel guilty or be a worry wart. Just think how happy your lover, your family, your friends and your body will be that you have freed up that extra time to focus on them.

Take time back for YOU, you work hard, you deserve it, you deserve to find that perfect balance of success, family, love, health and fun.

What is your life balance challenge? Share with me me at jessica@alpinesbsolutions.com or on facebook.