Virtual Zen

A Great Source for Research!

The other day my mother, Betty Wilder, passed along a link to a website that she thought I might like since she knows I do a lot of online research. This morning I finally took a look at it and she was right!

It' called AssignmentEditor.com and it was created in 1999 by Jim Lichtenstein. According to the site,

"As Managing Editor at CBS/WBBM-TV in Chicago, Jim wanted a resource that reporters, writers, producers and assignment editors could use to find stories and do research on the Internet. That resource didn't exist, so he decided to build it himself. AssignmentEditor.com was born."

The homepage of the site provides links to almost any resource for research that you can imagine; from local and global newspapers, political sites, reference sites (for conversions, abbreviations, dictionaries, property tax data, and more) as well as links to "find a source".  You can even look for photo and video sources or track  packages on any of the major shipping services such as Fedex and UPS (can you tell I'm excited about this site?)!

The majority of the links are offered  free of charge, but with a $50 annual subscription, you can add links to news wires, archives and breaking news sources (to name a few).

Whether you are doing research for a writing assignment, for a client, or just for yourself; this is a site well worth checking out. Thanks Mom!

Giving Thanks

Sometimes in the middle of dealing with day-to-day life challenges, email malfunctions and internet outages, it's easy to forget just how much I have to be thankful for.  As I prepare for Thanksgiving, it's time to pause and reflect.

I am thankful ... for family, both near and far; without them nothing else matters.
I am thankful ... for friends who cheer for me and inspire me.
I am thankful ... for my beautiful home in a safe neighborhood.
I am thankful ... for never being hungry.
I am thankful ... for having the opportunity to open my own business and do the work I love each day.
I am thankful ... for working with ideal clients who motivate and energize me.
I am truly blessed. 
Happy Thanksgiving!

No Truer Words ...

It seems lately, that Maya Angelou has really been speaking to me.  I receive daily inspiration/motivational quotes from a couple of sources, but it seems that when one really clicks with me, it was written by Dr. Angelou.  Recently, I received my daily quote from the NAWW (National Association of Woman Writers) and I wanted to share because it's just so true.

"All we can control are our choices." - Maya Angelou

We can't always control our circumstances, situations, or environment; but we can always control the choices we make on how we handle what life throws our way or the paths we choose.  You always have choice even when you think you don't.  "I had no choice" doesn't really hold true when you think about it. We may not always make the right or best choices, but we have to own them, because they are our own!

Can Coffee Be Green?

For those of you who watch network TV, you may have noticed this week that NBC has woven the theme, "Green is Universal" in to much of its programming.  From the Today Show to The Biggest Loser, shows have featured an environmentally-friendly focus. The network is a couple of weeks behind the bloggers (Blog Action Day) but the concept is worthwhile.  I'm not as Green as I probably should be, but I try to be whenever possible.  Because of this, I'm inspired to talk about another green issue: coffee.

Can buying coffee change the world?  Maybe – if you buy Fair Trade Certified coffee. Fair Trade coffee is the fastest-growing segment of the specialty coffee market today. But what is Fair Trade coffee and how could it possibly be good for the environment?

Coffee that has been certified by TransFair USA (a member of the Fair Trade Labeling Organization International) is premium coffee grown according to strict standards.  These rules ensure that growers get a fair price for their crops by eliminating unnecessary middlemen, allowing small farms to flourish. The additional income for the farmers means a better quality of life for them and their families. These farms must also foster fair labor conditions and uphold strict environmental standards which restrict the use of pesticides and promote sustainability.  Because of these requirements, TransFair U.S.A. reports that more than 60% of Fair Trade coffee sold in the U.S. is also certified organic. In addition, the majority of Fair Trade coffee crops are also shade grown.  Why is this important?  Many large coffee growers strip away the natural forest canopy to allow their crops to ripen more quickly.  Shade-grown coffee preserves the natural shade canopy, protecting the habitats of many plant, insect and bird species.

Fair Trade coffee is identified by the “Fair Trade Certified” seal on the package.  You can find a variety of brands at local retailers (usually in the natural food section), online, and at some coffee houses.  The cost per pound will be slightly higher than national, non-organic brands, but if you’re accustomed to paying a little more for premium coffee, you’ll find pricing comparable. When you consider the positive impact you could be having on the environment, isn’t it worth it?   To learn more about Fair Trade Certified coffee and other Fair Trade Certified products, visit TransFair USA.

What Do Successful Freelance Writers and Successful VAs Have in Common?

I was flipping through the September issue of The Writer the other day (yes I'm a bit behind) and an article caught my attention.  It was called "Secrets of six-figure Freelancers" (Marcia Layton Turner). First, I was drawn to it because I plan to one day do some freelance magazine writing; but it was the advice that some of the interviewed writers suggested that really struck a chord with me.  Not as a writer but as a Virtual Assistant (VA). The advice they offered to be a successful freelancer also reflects what's needed to be a successful VA.

A few of the writers talked about utilizing technology to organize research and project information, manage an onslaught of email, and coordinate projects efficiently.  I think most, if not all, VAs would agree that working virtually requires that you be a whiz with these tools.  But the most important point of the article (at least to me) didn't have anything to do with technology. It talked about relationship development. There's that word - I've said it before - at the core of becoming a successful VA, is the RELATIONSHIP you build with your clients.

As writer, Robert McGarvey noted:

"This business is about relationships ... One's success is, in many ways, a measure of one's ability to create and nurture relationships"

Sam Greengard added,

"I don't look for customers, I look for clients - people I can sell to repeatedly."

They may have been talking about writing, but the same holds true for working as a VA. Looking beyond the one-shot assignments is the key to success. Spending time developing collaborative relationship allows you to work productively and profitably instead of consistently searching for new business (that's just exhausting!). Whether you are a writer or a VA - it's a good lesson learned.