Goodbye Distractions

By Coach Sean

How do we get done what really matters? 

We all have those things and people that distract us and shift us away from our important, strategic work, or what Cal Newport calls,” deep work” in his phenomenal book, Deep Work.

Cal talks about the need to be strategic in creating rhythms and systems. This helps us focus on the work that really matters and to limit exposure to the things that distract us.

Instead of trying to protect an hour here or there to focus on deep work and being open to distractions all day, what if you created short blocks of time for those distractions, and gave more protected time and focus to deep, strategic work? 

How much more productive could you be if you increased the amount of time you give to deep work by an hour or two each day? Consider limiting those things that distract you, like Instagram scrolling, the long email list, or the menial tasks to short, scheduled times each day.

5 Tips for a Successful Interview

By Coach Louanne

Job interviews can be intimidating. 

Instead of stressing, use these tips to help you embrace the interview with enthusiasm and confidence. 

These five steps will set you up for a successful interview: 

1.  By all means, be on time, preferably early.  This shows you are responsible and dependable. If you are a generally tardy individual, consider what obstacles might get in your way, and then plan around them. 

2.   Dress for success.  This can be frustratingly subjective, so err on the side of looking professional.  An unfortunate reality is that people will form an opinion of you within seconds of seeing you.  So, save the stained shirt for Netflix night and pull out that snazzy button down. 

3.  At all costs, be prepared!  The most important piece to an interview is being prepared.  The interviewer knows within the first couple of minutes if the prospective candidate has put quality time into doing their homework on the company and role. Having done your homework will help you answer the questions presented with knowledge and confidence.

4.  Be a positive communicator. During the interview, whatever questions are presented to you, avoid responding in the negative.  For example, if you are asked about a problem you've encountered with a co-worker, explain the situation as objectively as possible and always end it with a positive resolution. 

5.  Know the company that is interviewing you.  Be able to present them with information on the company's history, what they do, their mission, and values. 

These tips will help you to be on your way to landing the job of your dreams!

3 Common Misconceptions about Virtual Assistants

By Keila Drum

Myst Busters:  virtual assistant edition. 

Virtual assistants came with the dawn of technologies. The first idea of a “VA” came to be in 1996 when Anastacia Brice had a simple phone call with Thomas Leonard, who was her first “virtual client.”

Although the world is still getting used to this fairly new concept, there are many myths about virtual assistants and it is time to set the record straight and discuss why bringing a VA on your team has the potential to take your work to the next level.  

Myth #1:  remote workers aren’t as productive.  A recent two-year study by Stanford University showed that remote workers were not only more productive, they were also less likely to take sick days. So a VA can easily give you a lot of bang for your buck.

Myth #2: virtual assistants can only help with basic administrative tasks. The truth is, virtual assistants can assist with a variety of tasks and established virtual assistant agencies will offer a range of services from people who have very specific skills and experience. 

Myth #3: people are sometimes afraid of hiring a VA and not having enough time to manage them. If you initially take the time to work with the right agency to find the best person to suit your needs, you won’t have to spend much time managing them. On the contrary, they will free up so much of your time, you won’t know what to do with it. Time to take a vacation! 

If you want more information about hiring a virtual assistant, visit our friends at wheelhouse.co for more information.

How Progress is Made

By Coach Sean

Small steps over time equal significant progress. 

It can sometimes be discouraging when we are committing to a process, but not seeing fast results. Stick with it! Small steps towards our goals make a huge difference. 

In his book “Atomic Habits,” James Clear uses the analogy of a plane leaving LA and heading to NYC. If the pilot adjusts his assigned route by just 3.5 degrees, a minor adjustment, he will end up landing a few hundred miles south in Washington D.C instead of NYC. 

That small adjustment would take a pilot to a totally different destination. A small adjustment makes a big difference over time. And the same is true for you—small adjustments in your life can create monumental differences in where you end up.

Your small steps of progress that may seem tiny now can make a huge difference in the long run. Trust the process and stay consistent! That’s where progress happens!