Coach's Copilot: Your Online Business Manager Podcast: Recent Episodes
Virtual A Team
Are you struggling to build a successful coaching business without burning the candle at both ends? Do you wish you had a copilot or business manager that could help you handle the details so you could focus on the things that only you can do? On this show, Nicole Bandes and her team of experts will serve as your coaching copilots. We will share tips, tricks, and strategies that focus on marketing, outsourcing, productivity, and more! Whether your goal is to grow your business, have a business that’s built around your life, or both; Coach’s Copilot: Your Online Business Manager Podcast will help you manage the details to make it happen.
Have you taken a bunch of time to research business tools, narrowed down the choices to finally choose a tool, only to discover it is not quite a good fit for your needs?
During the month of August, we're taking it back to Business School and focusing on all the business basics. We will be focusing on topics like the most common fundamental business practices to things like goal setting and review.
In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes discusses not letting the hype and popularity of a business tool cloud your selection process.
Ready to discover the best tool to implement in your business? Get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole helps you discover an easy-to-follow, systematic approach to choosing the best tools for your personality and business needs.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Get practical, actionable steps to evaluate programs. * How to rank your preferences for a more effective comparison. * The tip that will save you tons of time on this entire process.
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder, and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* How to Choose the Best Tool for Your Business Spreadsheet * Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Back to Business School: How to Choose the Best Tool for Your Business appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Did you know that if your audience loves your brand story, they are 55% more likely to be a client in the future? During the ...
Read More The post Back to Business School: How to Build a Blockbuster Brand Story appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are your results not entirely aligned with your business goals? During the month of August, we're taking it back to Business School and focusing on ...
Read More The post Back to Business School: What You May be Leaving Out When Measuring the Success of Your Business appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Your business goal is to grow, but do you know to where? During the month of August, we're taking it back to Business School and ...
Read More The post Back to Business School: The Importance of Knowing the Stages of Business When Setting Goals appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Can you confidently say you can take a 2-4 week vacation without having to bring your business to a grinding halt? July is not just ...
Read More The post Embracing Business Freedom: How Virtual A Team Founder and CEO Created Her Version of Business Freedom with Virtual A Team’s Nicole Bandes and Jocelyn Compton appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Does your business integrate seamlessly into your life, or is your life fitting in the cracks of your business? July is not just a month ...
Read More The post Embracing Business Freedom: How Virtual A Team Can Assist You in Taking Charge of Your Business Freedom with Virtual A Team’s Ruth Kimani appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Have life challenges caused you to shift focus in your business? July is not just a month of scorching temperatures, we also get to celebrate ...
Read More The post Embracing Business Freedom: The Starting Point to Turning Your Dream of Business Freedom into Reality with David Price appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Do you want the freedom of being a business owner but are hesitant? July is not just a month of scorching temperatures, we also get ...
Read More The post Embracing Business Freedom: Why Having Business Freedom Creates a Healthy Work-Life Balance with Mackenzie Armstrong appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you letting the idea of being "too busy" get in the way of your productivity? July is not just a month of scorching temperatures, ...
Read More The post Embracing Business Freedom: How a Mompreneur Set the Foundation for Her Business Freedom with Amanda Furgiuele appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Have you been waking up feeling like you don’t feel like adulting? June is focused all around productivity - We will be bringing you interesting ...
Read More The post 12 Key Strategies to Help Improve Your Productivity When it Comes to Your Business appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Do you find yourself with a number of unfinished tasks at the end of each day? June is focused all around productivity - We will ...
Read More The post 9 Practicable Strategies to Help You Heighten the Focus in Your Business appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Is your business set up to run without a hitch when you are not around? June is focused all around productivity - We will be ...
Read More The post How to Make Your Business Efficient so It Works Even When You Aren’t with Run Like Clockwork Founder Adrienne Dorison appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you struggling with a lack of productivity? June is focused all around productivity - We will be bringing you interesting and actionable topics related ...
Read More The post 5 Actionable Tips to Enhance and Uplevel Your Business Performance Today appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Have you noticed a decline in your audience and are starting to feel concerned? The month of May is Small Business Month! We will be covering some small tips that will make a BIG impact in your small business over the entire month. In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by Sunjay Nath, Professional Corporate and Empowerment Speaker. Sunjay travels nationally, showing individuals and businesses ways in which they can improve their performance by shifting their mindset in how they approach business decisions. Ready for some actionable tips on staying in your zone of genius to ward away the concerns? Get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Sunjay discuss how to stair-step your way to higher business results by focusing on strength-based leadership and creating a plan to narrow down your targeted audience.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Who is Sunjay Nath? * How to identify the audience who can’t be persuaded; the "Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is made up" type of audience, and how to deal with them. * How to implement the 10-80-10 principle in your business.
About Our Flight Crew:Sunjay was a founding Vice President of an e-learning company based in Toronto that has gone on to become a multimillion-dollar company. He started an international speaking business when he was 19. Sunjay travels globally, sharing insights on leadership and performance. He is best known for his trademark, "The 10-80-10 Principle," which is a framework that helps individuals and teams improve performance. This methodology combines best practices with small wins to help people empower themselves.
The framework is the synthesis of years of studying many different business models and philosophies and then distilling them into a very simple and easy-to-apply the framework. Some of the concepts it compasses include The Pareto Principle (The 80/20 Rule), The Gallop Research that was used in the writing of "Now Discover Your Strengths," Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion, and Jack Welch’s concept, Differentiation.
Connect with Sunjay Nath
Website
In-Flight Snacks:* Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Small Business Month: Small Changes for BIG Impacts – How to Effectively Apply the 10-80-10 Principle to Narrow Down Your Targeted Audience with Sunjay Nath appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Have you been looking for ways to make passive income with your already-established business? The month of May is Small Business Month! We will be covering some small tips that will make a BIG impact in your small business over the entire month. In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by Paulette Ensign, the CEO of Tips Product Publishing Agency. For 32 years, Paulette has been helping business owners such as yourself turn their already obtained knowledge into revenue by offering tips; yes, you read that correctly! Are you ready to learn innovative ways to turn basic tips into profit? Get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Paulette discuss turning your bite-size tips into luscious returns.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* How Paulette became the Queen of Tips. * The formula for structuring your tips. * Ways in which you can grow your audience.
About Our Flight Crew:Paulette Ensign and her Tips Products Publishing Agency have helped thousands of subject matter experts monetize tips that they usually give way for free. By teaching her clients how to focus on licensing and wholesaling their content through selling tip booklets, Paulette has paved the way for her clients to mirror the same success she has had over the years.
Connect with Paulette Ensign
Website
In-Flight Snacks:* Re-Purpose Your How-to Tips * Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Small Business Month: Learn How to Turn Your Small Tips into BIG Passive Income with Paulette Ensign appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you struggling with your email marketing strategy? The month of May is Small Business Month! We will be covering some small tips that will make a BIG impact in your small business over the entire month. In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by the CEO of System to Thrive and the Copyright Queen, Alyson Lex. Alyson has over 15 years of copyright experience and is passionate about showing female entrepreneurs the power of sales copy. Do you want to send sales emails but not sound pushy to your audience? Get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Alyson discuss creating an email strategy that won’t overwhelm your audience.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Just who is Alyson Lex? * How to insert sales copy into your newsletters. * Some tips and tricks on how to compose a sales copy to see a higher conversation rate in your business.
About Our Flight Crew:Alyson Lex is a 15+ year veteran direct response copywriter. From her start as the Director of Marketing at Glazer-Kennedy Insider's Circle (working and writing for Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer) to her private business helping hundreds of coaches, authors and speakers, to her podcast helping you market your business AND put good into the world - she lives and breathes effective marketing that works withOUT selling your soul.
Connect with Alyson Lex
Website
Podcast
In-Flight Snacks:* The FOUR Email Sequences That Will Engage & Convert Your New Leads * The 30-Second Headline Generator * Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Small Business Month: Small Tips on How to Write Converting Sales Copies While Avoiding the BIG Pushy Tactics with Alyson Lex appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you looking for best business practice tips? The month of May is Small Business Month! We will be covering some small tips that will make a BIG impact in your small business over the entire month. In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes shares with 5 small business tips that will have a meaningful impact on your business. Ready to make some small changes in your small business to get some BIG positive impact back? Get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole kicks off Small Business Month with some small but mighty business tips that are sure to pack a powerful punch for your business.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Learning to be flexible in your planning. * Creating meaningful and organic business relationships. * Setting healthy boundaries within your business. * Building the proper framework for goals and tasks. * Creating a system to keep tabs on areas of your business.
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Run Like Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz * Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Small Business Month: Small Tips for Small Businesses that Make a BIG Impact appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
We've gotten rid of the delegation clutter, but have you taken a look at your calendar yet? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight on the spring cleaning task of decluttering your calendar. Spring is here, and it's time to get some cleaning done in your business. Are you ready to finally tackle the delegation to free up your time and energy to get to enjoy that weather warming up outside? Grab your Passport to Success, fasten those seatbelts, sit back and relax - you will NOT want to miss this flight!
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* How much time do you spend on activities that do not contribute to your overall goals? * You might be overcommitting yourself - here's how it's hiding from you. * It's time to just not talk the talk, but walk the walk - Delegate!
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Toggl Track * Timely * TrackingTime * Zapier * Join us for our next Delegate SMARTER Bootcamp at the end of April
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post How to Properly Spring Clean Your Calendar to Achieve Your Goals appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
We've gotten rid of the delegation clutter, but what spring cleaning tasks should your team be doing? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight on the spring cleaning tasks that you should be delegating to your team. Spring is here, and it's time to get some cleaning done in your business. Are you ready to finally tackle the delegation to free up your time and energy to get to enjoy that weather warming up outside? Grab your Passport to Success, fasten those seatbelts, sit back and relax - you will NOT want to miss this flight!
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Cleaning the cobwebs out of your files. * When was the last time you clicked on your own website? * Social media - why it is a time suck for you.
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Join us for our next Delegate SMARTER Bootcamp at the end of April
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post 5 Spring Cleaning Tasks You Should Be Delegating to Your Team appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Were you with us for our Delegate Smarter series? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight on a recap over the 4 topics that were covered during the month of December to help you Delegate Smarter. During the series, Nicole gave key tips and strategies to assist you in your delegation journey. Are you ready for some hot topics to take away today? Grab your Passport to Success, fasten those seatbelts, sit back and relax - you will NOT want to miss this flight!
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* In our first episode, we discussed the importance of avoiding decision fatigue. * Episode two - we talked about the importance of sharing your vision with your team. * We tackled the question of how long it takes to train a new team member in episode three. * In our final episode, we explored the question of how to know what to delegate first. * Want to skip out on listening to all the episodes? Nicole shares how you can do just that!
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Ep 115: Delegate Smarter: The Importance of Avoiding Decision Fatigue * Ep 116: Delegate Smarter: Why Sharing Your Vision with Your Team Matters * Ep 117: Delegate Smarter: How Long Does it Take to Really Train a New Team Member? * Ep 118: Delegate Smarter: How Do You Know What to Delegate First? * Join us for our next Delegate SMARTER Bootcamp at the end of April
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post How You Can Begin to Delegate Smarter in Your Business appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you running and navigating a business with a diagnosis of ADHD? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by Konrad Sanders, the CEO of The Creative Copywriter, a content strategy and copywriting agency. Konrad was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and is successfully running a charming team of strategic word-slingers. Looking for some motivation that you are still able to be successful even if you have a diagnosis of something like ADHD? Get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Konrad discuss what it's like to own and run a business while being neurodivergent.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* How Konrad got started in the copywriting industry. * Getting the diagnosis of "Adult ADHD" and what it was like to navigate through it as an entrepreneur. * Some tips and tricks on systems and processes that have worked for Konrad.
About Our Flight Crew:Konrad Sanders runs a charming team of strategic word-slingers, known as The Creative Copywriter. They’re a fast-growing content strategy and copywriting agency that blend art with science to help bold brands sell more stuff - brands like Adidas, Hyundai, TikTok, Geox, Les Benjamins, Superdrug, PTC, Thomson Reuters, VMW and plenty more. His mission? To break the boundaries of corporate dullness. And help companies pierce through the noise with ‘real talk’, ‘word science’ and calculated creativity.
Diagnosed with adult ADHD, Konrad went from founding his agency, over-extending with other businesses, burnout and debt, to bringing his partner onboard and starting over. This time they grew the agency around systems and processes and a holistic company culture, resulting in becoming one of the best known seven figure copywriting agencies around.
Konrad believes in an outside in approach to business, and they have developed a 13-lens strategy that they use in the agency and it is also the basis for the Creative Copywriter Academy which Konrad founded to help businesses hone their own copywriting skills.
Connect with Konrad Sanders
Website
In-Flight Snacks:* Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Running and Navigating a Business With a Neurodivergent Diagnosis with Konrad Sanders appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you practicing hot or not social media strategies? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by Katie Brinkley, a Social Media Strategy Expert. Social media trends, what works and what doesn't, isn't a "set in stone" practice - Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are keeping businesses on their toes. Want to nail your presence on social media platforms? Get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Katie cover how to show up on different social media platforms to convert new clients.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* 2023 - is it going to be a new ball game for social media? * Why you should be making a skeleton for your social media posts. * Going viral isn't good if it's Covid, and it's also not a business goal - here's why.
About Our Flight Crew:Katie Brinkley has been leveraging social media to grow audiences and income for over 18 years. Since the time of MySpace, she's helped her clients build a strategy to attract the right followers and generate consistent inbound leads in as little as an hour a week.
From building corporate-level growth strategies for AT&T and DirecTV to implementing done-for-you social media for solopreneurs and local businesses, Katie has been at the forefront to the changes in how buyers engage on social media. Utilizing her platform-agnostic strategies, Katie's clients have been able to see bottom-line results at every stage of the sales process.
Katie's history of radio journalism mixed with her social aptitude allows her to bring a unique insight and leverage her client stories to the forefront of their social strategy.
Connect with Katie Brinkley
Website
In-Flight Snacks:* Episode 122: Can Using Social Media Actually Attract More Clients? Part 1 with Katie Brinkley * Loomly * The Social Profit Lab * Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Social Media Strategies: Hot or Not Part 2 with Katie Brinkley appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
We always hear the importance of being present on Social Media and all the different outlets - but is it worth it, and does it actually convert to new clients? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by Katie Brinkley, a Social Media Strategy Expert. There are tons of different social media platforms out there, and could definitely cause overwhelm. Want to nail your presence on social media platforms? Get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Katie cover how to show up on different social media platforms to convert new clients.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Katie covers the different content resources within one single social media platform. * The importance of showing up. * Should the main focus always be trying to get new clients?
About Our Flight Crew:Katie Brinkley has been leveraging social media to grow audiences and income for over 18 years. Since the time of MySpace, she's helped her clients build a strategy to attract the right followers and generate consistent inbound leads in as little as an hour a week.
From building corporate-level growth strategies for AT&T and DirecTV to implementing done-for-you social media for solopreneurs and local businesses, Katie has been at the forefront to the changes in how buyers engage on social media. Utilizing her platform-agnostic strategies, Katie's clients have been able to see bottom-line results at every stage of the sales process.
Katie's history of radio journalism mixed with her social aptitude allows her to bring a unique insight and leverage her client stories to the forefront of their social strategy.
Connect with Katie Brinkley
Website
In-Flight Snacks:* JV Directory Networking events * Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Can Using Social Media Actually Attract More Clients? Part 1 with Katie Brinkley appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Now that we're back to on-stage and in-person events, has your wardrobe suffered the Covid death and needs a freshen up? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by Patty Buccellato, a certified image and personal style coach. While you don't need to be "Instagram ready" at all times, your personality and characteristics should come out in your brand. If you're looking to update that wardrobe - get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Matthew cover how a podcast could help skyrocket your business.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* How Patty started out of her college dorm. * Why comfort is the key. * Have you ever heard of the term "silence dressing"?
About Our Flight Crew:Since 1993 Style-Reboot Coach, Patty Buccellato, has shown the way for thousands of leaders and business owners to discover their hidden style mastery.
Talented and successful professionals call upon Patty to bust fashion myths, purvey wardrobe hacks, and teach how to identify the style that changes success trajectories.
Patty is expert at bringing her clients out of the closet with a personal style that suits their body, psyche, and circumstances for maximum impact and results.
Connect with Patty Buccellato
Website
In-Flight Snacks:* Patty's Bust Your Style Rut Mini Course * Schedule a Consultation with Virtual A Team
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Brand-Boosting Style: It’s Not What the Fashion Magazines Say with Patty Buccellato appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
So you've started your podcast - but all you're getting is crickets. Are you marketing your show effectively? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by Matthew Millstein, the Founder and CEO of Old Soul, a marketing and media agency specializing in podcast production. Is it considered meta to talk about podcasting on a podcast? Oh well, we're going to do it anyway, because it is a great tactic to add to your business. If you're looking for a solid marketing strategy for your podcast - get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Matthew cover how a podcast could help skyrocket your business.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Is there such thing as too much content? * Extending the shelf life of your podcasts. * Emails and websites - how this can help drive traffic to your show.
About Our Flight Crew:Matthew Millstein is the Founder & CEO of Old Soul. Old Soul is a marketing & media agency that specializes in podcast production for B2B service providers. Matthew has led the agency to produce over 200 podcast episodes, and travel over 12,000 miles to film. Matthew has also received his Masters of Strategic Communication & Leadership from Belmont University. Outside of Old Soul, Matthew enjoys playing the drums (his first love). He also enjoys volunteering at his local church. Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn.
Connect with Matthew Millstein
Website
In-Flight Snacks:* Podmatch * Matthew's 6 Steps to Start a Podcast
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post How to Effectively Market Your Podcast Part 2 with Matthew Millstein appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Have you considered adding a podcast to your business mix? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by Matthew Millstein, the Founder and CEO of Old Soul, a marketing and media agency specializing in podcast production. Is it considered meta to talk about podcasting on a podcast? Oh well, we're going to do it anyway, because it is a great tactic to add to your business. If you're on the fence about starting up your own podcast - get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Matthew cover how a podcast could help skyrocket your business.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Matthew's start as a music major that shifted with the start of Covid. * Did Podcasts kill the Radio Star? * You don't even need to be the host of the show if you have a team, here's how.
About Our Flight Crew:Matthew Millstein is the Founder & CEO of Old Soul. Old Soul is a marketing & media agency that specializes in podcast production for B2B service providers. Matthew has led the agency to produce over 200 podcast episodes, and travel over 12,000 miles to film. Matthew has also received his Masters of Strategic Communication & Leadership from Belmont University. Outside of Old Soul, Matthew enjoys playing the drums (his first love). He also enjoys volunteering at his local church. Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn.
Connect with Matthew Millstein
Website
In-Flight Snacks:* Podmatch * Matthew's 6 Steps to Start a Podcast
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!
The post Would Having a Podcast for Your Business Really Help? Part 1 with Matthew Millstein appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
But Nicole, what should I delegate first? Welcome to our Delegate Smarter series! In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight on the next installment of the series - How to determine what needs to be delegated first in your business. During this series, Nicole will be giving key tips and strategies to assist you in delegating smarter. Are you ready for this journey with us? Grab your Passport to Success, fasten those seatbelts, sit back and relax - you will NOT want to miss this flight!
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Is there a fit-all answer for delegating? * The 5 A's of freeing up your time. * It's all in the follow-through!
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Loom * TechSmith Capture * Ready to Delegate Smarter? Register for our Delegate Smarter Bootcamp!
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!The post Delegate Smarter: How Do You Know What to Delegate First? appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Looking to get your team trained up so they can think five steps ahead of you? Welcome to our Delegate Smarter series! In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight on the next installment of the series - How long it takes to really train a new team member. During this series, Nicole will be giving key tips and strategies to assist you in delegating smarter. Are you ready for this journey with us? Grab your Passport to Success, fasten those seatbelts, sit back and relax - you will NOT want to miss this flight!
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* College and training - they have so much in common! * Confidence is key. * Your team's skills and your trust will make a lasting impact in your business.
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Ep 115: The Importance of Avoiding Decision Fatigue * Ready to Delegate Smarter? Join us for our Delegate Smarter Bootcamp!
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!The post Delegate Smarter: How Long Does it Take to Really Train a New Team Member? appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Wouldn't it be a dream to have your team start thinking five steps ahead of you? Welcome to our Delegate Smarter series! In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight on the next installment of the series - Why sharing your vision with your team matters. During this series, Nicole will be giving key tips and strategies to assist you in delegating smarter. Are you ready for this journey with us? Grab your Passport to Success, fasten those seatbelts, sit back and relax - you will NOT want to miss this flight!
Key Takeaways from this Episode: Do you know the top three reasons why most people hate their jobs? * Micromanaging - how it's actually not* saving you time. * The absolute #1 thing your team is asking of you!
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Ready to Delegate Smarter? Register for our Delegate Smarter Bootcamp!
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!The post Delegate Smarter: Why Sharing Your Vision with Your Team Matters appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you needing to reduce decision fatigue? Welcome to our Delegate Smarter series! In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight on the first installment of the series - Decision Fatigue. During this series, Nicole will be giving key tips and strategies to assist you in delegating smarter. Are you ready for this journey with us? Grab your Passport to Success, fasten those seatbelts, sit back and relax - you will NOT want to miss this flight!
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Do you know the average number of decisions a person makes within a single day? * Mistakes come in when there's decision fatigue - and here's how. * How to overcome the slippery slope of decision fatigue!
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Ready to Delegate Smarter? Join us for our Delegate Smarter Bootcamp!
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!The post Delegate Smarter: The Importance of Avoiding Decision Fatigue appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Is it time for you to ditch your to-do list? Is there a better alternative? From grocery lists to bucket lists, everything is lists these days. In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight through 7 tips to make those to-do lists less overwhelming and more enjoyable. Are you ready to kick those lists up a notch? Grab your Passport to Success, fasten those seatbelts, sit back and relax - you will NOT want to miss this flight!
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* To-do lists are not sufficient as your only type of productivity tool. * Gratitude is a game changer * Prioritizing will help you maintain your sanity
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
In-Flight Snacks:* Remember The Milk * Asana * Trello * Evernote * Toodledo
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!The post Encore: Why Your To-Do List Isn’t Working and What to Do Instead appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you really bringing in the whole worth of your service, or are you afraid that you'll lose clients if you boost your fees? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by #1 Amazon best-selling author, Jan Wallen. Money is always the deciding factor when it comes to running a business, so you definitely don't want to miss this flight! If you're wanting to raise your fees by as much as 25% - get your ticket, fasten those seatbelts, sit back, and relax as Nicole and Jan cover tips and tricks on how you can raise fees without losing clients.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:* Where is the best place to start? * Seeing progress fast - yes, it's really possible. * Pitching is for baseball, not business! * How to combat the "Your fees are too high" statement. * What holds people back from raising their fees and how to overcome that.
About Our Flight Crew:Jan combines her years of experience as a corporate account executive and sales mentor so B2B consultants, coaches and speakers can raise their fees as much as 25% with confidence.
Because of her expertise, her insights are sought after and sourced by publications and media including NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News, Business News Daily and the Business Insider. When she’s not speaking and strategizing, you will find her meeting with friends in New York City, having interesting and stimulating conversations, meeting new people, spotting trends, and painting colorful watercolors.
Connect with Jan Wallen
Website
Facebook Group
In-Flight Snacks: Raise Your Fees Without Losing Clients* by Jan Wallen * Run Like Clockwork Accelerator * Jan's Special Report
Still have questions about this topic?Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest?We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe!The post How You Can Raise Your Fees Without Losing Clients with Jan Wallen appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Have you considered clockworking your business? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight on the first ...
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Do you have enough positive Mindset, Resilience, and Grit in your business? Welcome to our Combat Boots to Entrepreneur series - Virtual A Team is ...
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You've decided to create a course, great! But do you know how to make it a hassle-free launch? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our ...
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Are you stuck in the old-school forms of selling? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight by serial ...
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Are time zone differences putting a kink in your management chain with your teams? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is ...
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Did you miss us? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes takes us on a solo flight over all of the changes ...
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Have you been biting at the bit to learn a little bit more about Nicole and Virtual A Team? In today's Diamond Episode of Coach's Copilot, Jocelyn ...
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Are you running your business, or is your business running you? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined in flight ...
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Everyone stresses the importance of learning the ins and outs of business - but do you really need to? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host ...
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Video content is on the rise, but are you struggling to figure out how to fit it into your brand to work to your advantage? ...
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Is your Virtual Assistant completing given tasks faster than you can get around to reviewing their work? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host ...
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Are you needing to up your connection in virtual meetings and networking events? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined ...
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Are you starting your outsourcing journey, and wanting to make sure you avoid any mistakes in the process? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our ...
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You've written the book, got it published, and the book launch was a huge success - but now what? In today's episode of Coach's Copilot, our ...
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Do you get discouraged when you fail to reach some of your performance targets? In today's special episode of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes encourages you to reassess if you are measuring the right marketing and performance metrics. Nicole also reflects back on her own experience and realizations. Take a listen and see if it resonates with you. Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Why you need your focus to go beyond one goal and micro measurements * Balancing performance results with personal and/or business objectives. * What's your big hairy audacious goal (BHAG)?
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
Schedule a chat with Nicole
Is it time to start delegating? Can you afford to outsource? What is your time actually worth? There's an easy way to find out! In 5 short minutes, you'll know how much you can afford to outsource and how to get started. Use the online calculator at CanYouAffordToOutsource.com
Try Our Free Online Calculator > CanYouAffordToOutsource.com <
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post What Are you Measuring? appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you ready to get back to networking and relationship building? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes is joined by Tracey Warren, founder of Ignite Your Champions and a known Queen of Connection. Fasten your seatbelt, listen and enjoy the flight as Nicole and Tracey share their thoughts and give practical tips on how to choose the right networking events and build better connections. Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Why is networking so important for coaches? * How you can benefit from Networking * How do you know what kind of event or group to join? * How can a coach prepare for an event in advance? * What are some do's and don'ts of attending a networking event?
About Our Guest: Tracey believes community is the key to success in life and business.
As a community creator and connector, Tracey loves connecting with and supporting women in business – hands-on!
She is a rabid supporter and loving truthteller. She is excited to cheer you on when you are successful, and encourage you when you need a gentle nudge.
Most days, you will likely find her quoting some random movie line or breaking into song based on your conversation – or laughing out loud at something she found funny!
Connect with Tracy
Website
Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Grab your FREE copy of Champions Bingo from Tracey Warren
Schedule your FREE 30 Minute Consultation with Tracey! BOOK NOW
Download our Insider's Guide to Delegating and get strategic steps to help you start outsourcing today. Visit www.virtualateam.com/guide for your free guide.
Get My FREE Insider's Guide Now
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post How to Choose the Right Networking Events appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Are you a typical Ms./Mr. Fixer? Do you find yourself still spending hours doing problem-solving for your virtual assistants? Well, that has to change. In this flight of Coach's Copilot, our host Nicole Bandes gives you the fix on how to train and nurture a team of problem solvers. Not only that, but Nicole also gives you a fantastic In-Flight Tip on Productivity. Get things done with the least amount of mistakes in the shortest period! Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Why being always the Ms./Mr. Fixer need to change * How to create a culture of Problem Solvers * Bonus Productivity Tip: Create an ideal day schedule (Free PDF worksheet Download)
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
Schedule a chat with Nicole
Transcription Have you traded time doing things for time problem solving for your virtual assistant? Today, we are going to talk about that and what you can do instead.
What do you do when a team member comes to you with a problem? Do you:
- give them the answer/ solution
- jump in to fix it yourself (because it would be quicker that way)
- ask them what they recommend to solve it?
Many of us – myself included – are fixers. When someone comes to us with a problem our inclination is to jump in to fix it or give the answer.
This may solve the problem in the moment, but there is a long-term impact to using this approach. One that definitely does not foster allowing you to do only the things that only you can do.
We have a handful of clients that we manage their email for them. Recently, one of my team members came to me to let me know that a client’s email address was being used as a spam email for scammers and she was getting a lot of bounce back and nasty reply emails as a result. The team member wanted to know what they could do about it.
My natural instinct is to jump on Google and find the solution to her challenge. Fortunately, if there is such a thing, I was in the midst of a fever and couldn’t do that for her. All I could do was to offer tips on how she could solve the problem on her own.
Even that, though, may have been more than I should have.
Don’t Create a Culture of Dependency. When your business is your baby, it’s hard to let go and trust others. There’s a tendency to micromanage the work of other performers to make sure it’s up to your standards. Everything someone does for you is checked and rechecked by you. This encourages team members to seek you out for every decision. They learn that you’ll need to rubber-stamp everything anyway so why try to solve the problem on their own?
Even if you aren’t a micromanager, every time we solve problems for our team we are teaching them that they can’t do it on their own. We are teaching them that they have to come to us for the ‘right’ answer.
And then you start to feel frustrated that they can’t seem to figure things out on their own and always have to come to you for the answer. Why are you paying this person in the first place???
Instead, Create a Culture of Problem Solvers
Not all virtual team members are brilliant problem solvers but most of them can be trained to do a little solution searching on their own.
Instead of giving your team the answers or jumping in and doing it yourself, ask them what they would do to figure it out? Encourage them to bring at least 2 to 3 solutions every time they bring a problem to you.
Teach them problem-solving skills that include gathering information, brainstorming possible solutions, and making a decision.
Every time a team member comes up with possible solutions, praise them. Do this in team meetings as well to highlight this valuable skill.
Watch how you respond to failures. If you tend to respond negatively or strongly, over time, your team will learn to shy away from taking chances. They’ll depend on you for the answers to avoid the outburst or negative feedback.
This will be a training process. You may need to encourage them more in the beginning but, as long as you hold fast to requiring them to come up with solutions, they will start looking. Or, you know it’s time for them to be replaced by someone who IS a problem solver.
Eventually, they will get to the point where they come up with solutions that you trust and they won’t even need to get your approval anymore.
Time for today’s In-Flight Tip! Our In-flight tips are short tips or tools that are aimed at helping you build and grow a successful coaching business.
Ready to get more productive? Then today’s tip is just for you.Peak productivity levels should be one of the first things discussed in any conversation about time management. The best way to manage time is to manage what we do with our time and when. Using peak productivity levels allows you to do the right things at the right time so that you can get things done with the least amount of mistakes in the shortest period.
Peak productivity levels, like most things, vary significantly from one individual to another. The following recipe will help you to identify your own peak productivity levels. Once you have charted and identified your peak energy levels, you can then use those to create an ideal day schedule (IDS). The IDS then allows you to plan all your days with an emphasis on peak productivity. While your day-to-day schedule may vary somewhat from your IDS, the goal is to have it match as closely as possible.
What you’ll need * A spreadsheet or weekly planner broken down into one hour increments. For an even more fine-tuned plan, shoot for every 30 minutes. * One to three very typical weeks (longer is better). This is best done when you are most likely to follow your typical routine. * An alarm.
Ideally, you will complete this prep work over the weekend so that you are ready to begin first thing when you wake up on a Monday morning.
Have easy access to your spreadsheet or planner (a print out is fine if you will always have it handy.)
Be sure to include recordings for energy, motivation and focus.
My Peak Productivity Hours Chart
FREE (PDF) DOWNLOAD
Start Tracking 1. Starting first thing when you wake up, record your energy, motivation and focus ratings on your spreadsheet. 2. Note your new ratings each time the alarm sounds. 3. Make a quick note of what you ate or drank, any activity you had or how you feel. 4. Set your alarm to go off once every 30 minutes to one hour. 5. Repeat steps 1 through 4. 6. After at least one week of data, calculate the averages for every hour throughout your day. This is easy to do if using a spreadsheet. 7. Calculate the averages across all the days to identify your peak energy levels as well as when you are most likely to be focused and motivated.
After a week or two of this exercise you’ll know your Peak Energy, Motivation and Focus times throughout the day.
Bonus Tips With an idea of when your energy, motivation and focus tends to be strongest, you can plan your ideal day around these peaks and valleys. For example, you can plan tasks or activities that require a high level of focus during the time of day when you typically are most focused. Or plan physical tasks or tasks requiring a high level of energy during the peak energy points. You may even find it helpful to schedule some meditation or a mini nap (less than 20 minutes) for when motivation, energy and focus are all in a slump.
There’s a lot of one-size-fits-all “ideal day” schedules out there. Unfortunately, if they aren’t following your natural energy rhythms they may be doing you more harm than they are good. It may seem like a lot of “work” to identify your peak productivity times but it isn’t hard and is well worth it, even if you don’t tend to have a typical schedule. Just knowing that it is not a great idea to write that highly technical business proposal one hour after lunch could save you hours of time and hundreds or thousands of dollars.
If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to leave us a review on your favorite podcast service. Reviews help us find new listeners for the show. In addition, consider sharing the episode on your social media channels and starting a conversation.
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post Why You Need to Stop Solving Problems appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Is Hustle and Grind really the best path to success? For this month's "More Than One Way to Win" special episode on Coach's CoPilot, get your passport to success ready as we travel to another redefined meaning of Success and Winning. Join Nicole Bandes as she flies with Marisa Lonic, a successful mom of 4 kids and founder of Mamaworkit.com. Nicole and Marisa talk about reframing the negative belief that "hustle and grind" mindset is a determining factor for success. They also offer tips on how to create and stick to a new belief system. Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Marissa's definition of success and winning * How to define your own measure of success * How to reframe your belief system to become more successful * How important time management and habits are to productivity and success
About Our Guest:Marisa Lonic is the founder of Mama Work It. She’s a working mom of four kids, a native New Yorker and a California resider. A self-proclaimed Time Momager, Marisa helps busy moms juggling mom life, work life, wife life, fill in the blank life via her books, courses, and coaching programs. Her time management and goal achievement strategies have helped the most overwhelmed mamas turn their dreams into reality, even when they thought they had no time to make any of it happen.
Connect with Marisa
Website
Podcast
Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Free Breakthrough Call with Marisa Lonic
The Bob Newhart 5-Min Therapy Approach on SNL
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post More Than One Way to Win with Marisa Lonic appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
In this episode of Coach's CoPilot, let's take a flight back to one of our most popular blog posts on VirtualATeam.com—a top destination for business owners wanting to thrive and succeed. Fasten your seatbelt and let Nicole Bandes take you on a learning journey to discovering the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Online Business Managers. Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Benefits of hiring an online business manager (OBM) * What are online business managers—the roles they play * When do you need an online business manager? * Online Business Manager vs Virtual Assistant * Is an online business manager expensive? * Qualities of an effective online business manager * Where to find an online business manager
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
Schedule a chat with Nicole
Transcription Online business owners are superheroes. Turn on your laptop, monitor your website and social media pages, deal with client work or online transactions, create lead-generating material, interact with online freelancers—so much to do and so little time. They don't even have time to think about why they need to hire an Online Business Manager (OBM).
Hey, this is Nicole Bandes. And I want to welcome you back for another awesome episode of Coach's CoPilot but I have to tell you I am still in recovery mode for Covid. I had a few days there where I was hitting 100-103°F temperatures. I am doing better now but my energy level and I still have the cough and the ickiness so I’m gonna try and edit out some of the most obnoxious coughs but I wanted to get some of this great content out to you.
This episode is actually a broadcast of one of our most popular blog posts. And I love, love, love this topic. It seems everybody else does too because they're hitting this blog post in droves. So, I wanted to share it with you all here on the podcast.
Are you tired of being a superhero for your business? Your passion is limitless and you spend every waking moment pouring your heart into making your business successful. Batman is your alter ego. Okay, ladies bear with me here because this works better if I use batman instead of the awesome female version like wonder woman. So yes, it is related to males but it just works so we're gonna go with it here.
So, you put on your cape daily and you conquer the challenges for your business like a boss but you transform into some semblance of Bruce Wayne minus the wealth and the fame, of course. And in the few moments when you're able to catch a breath so that you can live a little, you dream of the day when you can strike a balance. You dream of the day when that freedom you set out to achieve by becoming an entrepreneur is finally yours. If this is you then it may be time to hire an online business manager. And there's good news! An online business manager can be your own personal Alfred Pennyworth and help you achieve this seemingly impossible feat of finding that balance between your business and your life. So, what are the benefits when you hire an online business manager?
Five Main Benefits of Hiring an Online Business Manager When you know what an online business manager does it's easy to understand how you can benefit. there are five main benefits of hiring an online business manager and those are
- Saving money yes that is in fact true
- Saving time
- Getting some unique insights that you might have missed out on
- Avoiding a human resource nightmare
- Increased chances for your business success
Now, those sound fantastic to me. So, let's dive in a little bit.
Save money How does an online business manager help you save money? How much money and time are you wasting right now trying to perfect areas of your business that you know very little about?
Hiring an online business manager to help you get things right from the get-go. the money that you invest in paying your online business manager pales in comparison with the money that you'll lose due to your inexperience. So, let's say you don't know anything about putting a funnel together, your online business manager may bring that level of expertise to help you put your funnel in place without you having to waste time and money taking classes or workshops or seminars and then trying to figure out all the tech to get it done yourself.
Save Time They can save time and hire an online business manager. Time never seems to be on your side as a busy online entrepreneur and it's the one thing that we never get more of. An online business manager can help you find more time to pursue growth opportunities by being the middleman between you and the online freelancers you hire. Heck, you don't even need to be involved in the hiring process if it's if it isn't absolutely necessary. it can be time-consuming to onboard online freelancers and monitor their work especially when you're working with multiple freelancers across numerous teams. you will also have someone who you can trust to keep the business's best interest at heart. So, you can focus on your growth opportunities and leave the finer details to your online business manager. Oh, doesn't that sound amazing?!
Get Unique Insights Okay, an online business manager's experience provides useful insights. Experience teaches wisdom. When you hire an online business manager, you get an individual whose experience provides a unique, current, and relevant perspective that can help your business thrive. You'll be amazed by the interesting ideas he or she presents. Your business will only get better.
Avoid a Human Resource Nightmare The human resource requirements of a full-time employee are not necessary. Typically, you hire an online business manager on a contractual basis. Therefore, you won't be responsible for employment taxes, benefits, and other human resource concerns. This is quite different from hiring a full-time manager.
Increased Chances for Your Business Success The main goal is to help your business thrive. An online business manager has the best interests of your business at heart. Consistent communication, transparency, and leadership are second nature for an effective online business manager. You'll get a highly valuable team member who will help you take your business to the next level.
And here's a little pro tip: Have potential employees take an online business personality quiz like Myers-Briggs to see if they're a good fit for the position you'd like to fill.
Who Is an Online Business Manager? An online business manager helps virtual entrepreneurs govern and monitor the daily operations of a business. This person plays a critical role for small business in many ways.
Manages Your Team If you know that building a team is important for your business goals but managing people is not your strong suit, you absolutely need to hire an online business manager. Your OBM can help you work with other team members—from graphic designers to website developers and copywriters and so many more. If you're building a sizable team, it helps to have someone manage all the different members for you. They can help with managing operations from accounting to customer service. There are a lot of things to manage in a growing online business. These are the weeds of your business. They need to be taken care of but it's not the best use of your time if you plan to continue to grow. Hiring an online business manager can help you manage the details so you stay focused on the big picture.
Monitors Your Goals and Keep You Accountable Were you excited about not having a boss to report to when you chose to become an entrepreneur?
Is not having a boss leaving you without the accountability you need to succeed?
You have goals for your business but how good you are monitoring those goals?
Are you keeping up on the metrics you need to so that you can see the progress your business is making?
Are you easily distracted by other ideas and shiny objects?
Your online business manager can help you track your goals and make recommendations when those goals are getting off track. Your online business manager can serve as your accountability partner helping to keep you focused. It's like having the best benefits of the boss without getting yelled at for not performing.
Gives You a Break Your online business manager can even give you a break. Have you ever wanted to go on a month-long vacation to Thailand or Bali but you knew that your business couldn't last a week without you? An online business manager can help you totally unplug from your business so that you come back with brilliant new ideas and you're ready to hit the ground running
When Do You Need an Online Business Manager? There are many things that you're asked to invest in as a business owner. How do you know if it's the right time to invest in an online business manager? This one is a lot easier than you might think. Hiring an OBM can free you up to make even more money to invest in all those other opportunities. So, ask yourself:
Have I started to resent my business because of all the things that I don't love to do?
Am I constantly feeling overwhelmed and need some help?
Do I feel more like an employee than a business owner?
Am I inexperienced in a particular business area that will help my business to grow?
Am I missing out on growth opportunities because I'm focused on day-to-day operations?
Look closely at how you feel when you answer those questions. The answers will reveal to you whether it's time to hire an OBM or maybe you can continue to wait it out for a little while longer.
Online Business Manager vs Virtual Assistant
What’s the Difference Between an online business manager and a Virtual Assistant? Virtual assistants are often hired to do the work of online business managers but the roles are very different. Hiring the wrong type of person for the job can lead to frustration and disappointment. A virtual assistant’s role is specific to the tasks you assign. However, an online business manager is responsible for overseeing your business. Therefore, they have a lot more on their plate. For example, a virtual assistant is more of a team member. They tend to focus on the narrow details of their role in a project. They are not necessarily self-starters. They're not going to come to you and ask what needs to be done next. Versus an online business manager, they're the big picture people. They are team leaders and they focus on how each team member’s actions within a project affect the entire project.
Is an Online Business Manager Expensive? Remember, these are just titles. You may get lucky and find a virtual assistant that can perform the work of an online business manager. An online business manager, though, brings a greater set of skills to the table than a virtual assistant. Therefore, their rates are typically higher than that of a virtual assistant. Some OBMs will work only on a fixed monthly rate (similar to a salary). They generally will only work with two or three clients at a time while giving much more time and attention to those clients. Other OBMs work at an hourly rate. Those rates tend to range between $60 and $75 an hour.
Qualities of an Effective Online Business Manager What are some of the qualities of an effective business manager?
Effective business managers are experienced. They're leaders. Their experience leading remote teams is very helpful.
They are effective communicators
They're driven by results instead of emotions
They're good multitaskers
They're able to pay keen attention to details
They have a high level of loyalty to their clients
They're extremely trustworthy, and
They are committed to helping your business succeed
Where To Find an Online Business Manager So, how can you find an online business manager? Well, Virtual A Team has effective online business managers that can help your coaching business to succeed and we'd be happy to have a consultation with you. Now, Batman couldn't save Gotham city without Alfred hanging out behind the scenes. And successful business owners don't do it on their own either. An online business manager is essential for any online business owner serious about business growth. You'll get someone who you can trust to oversee elements of your business so that you can get the time that you need to pursue growth opportunities and establish a healthy work life balance.
Hire an effective online business manager, today. Hey thanks so much for joining us for this unique take on business managers—Batman and Alfred. And hopefully you got some great tips and have a better understanding of what online business managers do. Sometimes these are also called Virtual Business Managers. Here at Virtual A Team, we call them “Directors of Stuff You Don't Have Time to Do”. So, if you're ready to have your own “Alfred”, give us a call. You can reach out to us at virtualateam.com/contact-us.
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post Hey Batman, Where’s Your Alfred? appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
In today's special flight of Coach's Copilot, host Nicole Bandes is joined by one of Virtual A Team's Directors, Deanna Monet. Nicole and Deanna give us a preview of what it's like to be a Director at VAT and the working dynamics within. Take a listen and it might help you decide if that's someone you want to work with.
Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Deanna's strengths and forte—VAT clients love her for it! * Flexible chameleons at Virtual A Team? * Unique team approach and synergy of talents at VAT * RV lifestyle adventure on Deanna's Horizon!
About Our Guest: Deanna has many passions. On top of the list is organizing, wine, and helping people!
Deanna Monet is a natural-born organizer with 13 years of experience in the wine & spirits industry. On top of being an Online Business Manager, she's also a Wine Compliance & Business Advisor.
Armed with superb organization skills and several years of background in Marketing, Sales, Administration and Operations, Deanna started providing virtual support in 2017 to busy entrepreneurs and small businesses. She helps by putting systems and automation to help companies run efficiently, from setting up bookkeeping software to marketing platforms to creating operating procedures.
Deanna has certifications in Digital Marketing, Online Course Creation, Project Management, Social Media Management, and Dubsado.
Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Have you ever wondered if you could afford to start outsourcing? Oh sure, delegating free's up some of your time but is it in the budget? Now you can find out with our outsourcing calculator! Try it out for free at www.virtualateam.com/calculator
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post What It’s Like to Be a Director at Virtual A Team appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, host Nicole Bandes is joined by Jennifer Mallory, an expert at community building and founder of Ingenious Coaching & Consulting. Nicole and Jen talk about one of the biggest challenges facing coaches right now: the struggle to stay connected and belong in a supportive community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a listen and get insights on how to get connected. Key Takeaways from this Episode: * What we mean by community * How to stay connected with your community during the COVID-19 pandemic * Benefits of social connection and community * How to find your community
About Our Guest:Jennifer is a rare leader, trusted by clients and competitors. She built a career on her ability to imagine the future, honing her skills at powerhouse companies like ABCNews.
An ICF-certified coach, Jennifer combines traditional productivity techniques with current human potential research to help entrepreneurs create businesses aligned with core values.
Jennifer founded and leads The Society of Ingenious Women, an "un-networking" group that supports development of innovative business that gives back to the community.
Connect with Jennifer
Website
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post How You Can Get Connected and How Valuable Community Is appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Selecting the right productivity tools for your business can be an overwhelming task and may cost you more time and money than necessary. In this episode of Coach’s CoPilot, Nicole Bandes helps you discover an easy-to-follow, systematic approach to choosing the best tools for your personality and business needs Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Get practical, actionable steps to evaluate programs * How to rank your preferences for a more effective comparison. * The tip that will save you tons of time on this entire process.
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most. Connect with Nicole
Schedule a chat with Nicole
Transcription Have you ever posted something on Facebook or Instagram asking what project management program people used? How about a scheduling tool? This is one of the most common questions I see in Facebook groups and the intent is to get help choosing the best program. There’s only one problem, the most common answer may not be the best program for you. Today is going to be a shorter episode but it will be very actionable. You can take this information and apply it in your business every time you need to purchase a new program or tool or even if it’s time to upgrade your old systems.
There’s a better way to select the best programs than just taking a poll of the most used ones. You are as individual as the set of DNA that makes you up and, unless you are an identical twin, there isn’t another one like you on the planet. That means that the way you think and the way you do business is very different than the next person.
Just because Asana is probably the biggest project management tool out there doesn’t mean it’s the best one for you. And even if everyone seems to be jumping on the Monday bandwagon because a few gurus think it’s AMAZING (and are getting affiliate revenue for recommending it), you may find it confusing and not able to do the things YOU need it to do.
The best way to find the right program for you is to do some research. Ok, OK, I hear you. Researching isn’t fun for most of us. It’s not what you WANT to do. Can’t you just go with what everyone else is using?
Here’s why that’s not a good idea.
- Different tools have different features. The one feature you need may not be in the most popular tools.
- Different tools have different price points. You may need something that’s free for now but everyone else is recommending programs that are only good if you upgrade to a premium subscription.
- Your brain is set up totally different. I am fascinated by people who love Trello. This is a very visual program and, while I always thought of myself as a visual person, it isn’t how my mind works for most project management tools. In this case, my logical brain takes over and I need something more structured and outlined.
- And, most importantly, choosing the wrong program could cost you a lot of time and money later one when you’ve realized this one just won’t work for you.
Let’s figure out, then, how to best research software programs so you aren’t just picking something that everyone is using.
First of all, there’s nothing wrong as using recommendations as part of the overall research plan. But lets’ break it up into steps.
Step 1 – Initial research
This is the phase when asking for recommendations can be helpful because it can help you identify some of the biggest programs out there that you may not have heard of before. But here’s what I’d do different. Instead of just saying, “What appointment scheduling tool do you use?”, add one small bit, “and what is your favorite feature and what do you wish it did?” By asking this question, you’ll also begin to discover what features to pay attention to and what features programs have.
Step 2 – Overview
I HIGHLY recommend you get a virtual assistant to help you with this step. You don’t need to be spending time on Google looking at different programs and digging into features.
Create a spreadsheet. Along the side, you’ll list each of the different programs you find. Do a web search to see if you can find more than what was initially recommended. The more detailed you go, the better your overall results.
Along the top, you’ll list price and features.
Now research each of the program options once over. This is a quick review to find out any additional features you may not have highlighted. You can also use this quick review to eliminate any programs that are not an option due to price or if it doesn’t have an important feature you need.
Let’s stick with appointment scheduling tools for our example.
Along the side, you may list programs like:
- Acuity
- Calendly
- SimplyBook.me
- TimeTrade
- Zoho
The list goes on.
And that’s why it’s important to do your homework.
Along the top, in addition to pricing, you might include things like:
- Google Calendar integration
- Website integration
- Email integration
- Email responders
- Mobile app
- Booking questions
- Book multiple meeting types/locations
Again, this list can go on. There may be certain features that don’t matter to you right now. For example, you may not care if it doesn’t allow you to integrate it into your website. But make note of the feature anyway. Also make note if a feature is only available at a certain price point.
As you start looking up different programs, put an X in any box where a program has that specific feature. Add a Y if that feature is available but at a higher price point.
What you’ll find is that, as you go through your initial overview, you’ll uncover some features that you didn’t think to list upon your first go through. So that leads us to the next step.
Step 3 – Deep Dive
Now go back through and fill in any gaps. If you aren’t sure if a tool has a certain feature, jump on the support or chat to ask that question. Again, you can save yourself a lot of time by letting a virtual assistant do this for you.
Once you’ve done your deep dive, you should have a spreadsheet that outlines between 5 and 10 programs and ALL of the available features.
Step 4 – Initial evaluation
Now, highlight the features that are a MUST have. Those features that, if a tool or system does not do this, it’s not even an option for you. For me, any tool I use has to have the option to have multiple calendars, one for clients and team meetings, one for prospect strategy sessions, one for my podcast records, etc… And, preferably, not have these raise the price significantly. So, if it only allows you to have one calendar option at a reasonable price, it’s a no go for me.
You can remove any programs that don’t meet your MUST haves. I usually move these to a separate sheet so I still have the info in case I need it later.
Step 5 – Rate and Score
In this step, you will review the remaining features and rate them on a scale of 1 to 5. This is usually a bit arbitrary and just a gut instinct. Add one more column right below the Features. This is where you will note how important each feature is to you, independent of the programs.
How important is it to you to have website integration? A 5 means you would really prefer to have that feature but it’s not a deal breaker. Remember, we are only rating the ones that are NOT must haves. You don’t care if it doesn’t have a mobile app because you prefer not to do business on your phone? Rate that a 1. Something that may not be important now but that you could see it being important later might get a 3.
Now, for each program, you’ll convert your X’s and Y’s to numbers. If you rated website integration as a 5, put 5s in all the programs that have that option. If it has a Y instead of an X, deduct 2 points since it’s only available at a higher price.
Add up the numbers. You should have a few programs that come pretty close together. It’s time to evaluate.
Step 6 – Evaluate
Once you’ve scored your options and reduce the potential programs to 2 or 3, it’s time to do a hands on evaluation.
Hopefully, the programs you are looking at have a free trial version or you can subscribe for just one month.
Evaluation will be the most time consuming part of your selection process but should NOT be overlooked. Just because a program scores well, doesn’t mean it’s the right fit.
Run the program through a few tests. See if there’s anyone you know that is using it that will let you test out theirs.
While we recommend having your virtual team do the set up and integration for any programs, you’ll at least need to look around the back end now and then.
At the end of your spreadsheet, add the following questions or come up with a few that are relevant to the programs you are reviewing.
- Does it feel confusing or intuitive?
- How easy is it for your customers to use?
- How helpful is customer service (you may need to test this with a question or two)?
- How good is the knowledge base or support system?
- What is my overall gut feeling about this tool? Now rate and score these additional questions and add them in to your overall numbers.
Step 7 – Implement
Well, of course you are going to get your virtual team to help you with the implementation. There is no reason you need to know HOW to set something up that you’ll only do once.
Be patient though, they may have a lot of seemingly random questions for you that are needed for the tool you selected.
Ready to dive in? Give the tool your best efforts for at least 3 months. Tools take time to get used to and the more time you take up front, the more likely you are to stick with it. Create scenarios that require you to practice so you don’t forget it’s there.
And remember, the best research in the world can’t uncover certain issues or changes. There will be times when you’ve done all your homework to pick a program and you still need to change after a few months. Don’t beat yourself up and continue to pay for something that isn’t working. It’s a balance between staying with something you don’t like and tool hopping looking for the perfect solution (that doesn’t exist by the way).
Need help researching the best tools for your business (and you)? Our team is ready to jump in and help with this and ALL of your outsourcing needs. You can check out our scheduling tool while you book a consultation with our team at www.virtualateam.com/contact-us
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post How to Choose the Best Tool for Your Business appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Have you ever had that moment in your life when you felt you're not happy and fulfilled even though by society's standard, you're successful? You are not alone.
Reformed hustle bunny and lifelong overachiever Laura Rubin felt the same. She began to question if "having it all" was really worth it. And she's here to share her journey towards redefining success.
In this episode of Coach’s CoPilot, Laura sits down with Nicole Bandes and shares her unconventional definition of success: Living your life by design, not by default.
Key Takeaways from this Episode: * What is ‘living your life by design’. * What prompted Laura's transition to a different mindset on success. * How can you start living by design. * Overcoming the challenges.
About Our Guest:Laura is a reformed hustle bunny, joy seeker, and lover of life. She mentors other corporate and entrepreneurial hustlers to forget the hustle and unwind from the grind of overwork and burnout - encouraging, empowering, and inspiring them to free themselves from society's rules of success and experience life on the other side of the desk - on their terms. She guides them on the courageous journey of living to work, not working to live.
Connect with Michelle
Website
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post More Than One Way to Win with Laura Rubin appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Is selling not your favorite thing in the world??? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot, host Nicole Bandes is joined by Tish Times, owner of Tish Times Sales Agency, an outsourced sales solutions provider. Nicole and Tish talk about the extent of help a third-party agency can provide to businesses that need to generate and convert leads into sales. Key Takeaways from this Episode: * What is sales outsourcing? * Who outsources selling? * What is it like to work with an outsourced sales provider? * What happens when delegating sales isn’t enough?
About Our Guest:Tish Times is the founder of Tish Times Networking & Sales Training. Tish is a certified networker, Community Builder, and Franchise Owner for Network in Action in Phoenix, AZ. For over 10 years, Tish has been empowering businesses and entrepreneurs. Tish Times is an expert at helping companies attract more leads, maintain a full pipeline, and convert more prospects to clients.
Connect with Tish
Website
YouTube
Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Grab Tish Times' free Million Dollar Sales Mindset Blueprint.
It is a PDFthat you can print out and hang up in your office for a quick reminder of how amazing you really are. It will also help you make mindset shifts throughout your day so you can focus on the people who are looking for YOU and need the product or service you offer. https://bit.ly/Mindset4Sales
Have you ever wondered if you could afford to start outsourcing? Oh sure, delegating free's up some of your time but is it in the budget? Now you can find out with our outsourcing calculator! Try it out for free at https://ww.virtualateam.com/calculator
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post Outsource Your Sales Team appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
As a strategist with a passion for life and business excellence, Michelle works with busy entrepreneurs and small business leaders like you. She helps them reframe challenges to create a bigger impact on the world, while sharing their beautiful gifts. She works closely together with clients to get past feeling “stuck,” accelerate their growth, and move forward with a clear and realistic strategy to get to Fully Booked and Beyond.
Are you living in your zone of genius? In today's flight of Coach's Copilot Host Nicole Bandes is joined by Laura Hulleman, creator of the Endotype Formula. Nicole and Laura dive into what it means to find and operate in your zone of genius. You'll be fueled up after you join them on this flight and get a new motivation to discover and market the uniqueness of you. Key Takeaways from this Episode: * What zone of genius means * Saving your energy and finding JOY! * Outside input is valuable
About Our Guest: Laura Hulleman, the creator of the Endotype Formula, is a powerful truth teller. Her superpower is helping people believe that being themselves as they are designed is more than enough. Once grounded in their identity, everyone can operate from their zone of genius. Laura has created the Endotype Formula, the most comprehensive and advanced personality assessment available at this time. She takes coaches and entrepreneurs into their Endotype Formula to improve their businesses. Connect with Laura
Website
Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Find out your Endotype. Take the Quiz.
The Idea Collective
Have you ever wondered if you could afford to start outsourcing? Oh sure, delegating free's up some of your time but is it in the budget? Now you can find out with our outsourcing calculator! Try it out for free at www.virtualateam.com/calculator
Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post Finding Your Zone of Genius appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.
Do you know what your biggest time waster is? In this flight of Coach's Copilot our host Nicole Bandes walks you through 5 habits that have you wasting your time and they might surprise you! Nicole not only helps you identify these wasters but also gives you the fix. Tune in today, you'll be happy you did! Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Nicole's largest personal time waster * 5 actionable fixes for your time wasting * Save time by utilize an OBM (online business manager)
About Our Pilot:Nicole Bandes, founder and CEO of Virtual A Team, is intensely committed to guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners to find and OWN THE ZONE so they can overcome overwhelm and have more time for what matters most.
Connect with Nicole
Schedule a chat with Nicole
Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode: MadTV Skit Bob Newhart
Coach's Copilot Horror stories of outsourcing episode
Transcription Time. Time management. Can we actually MANAGE time? Well, no. The clock is going to keep ticking no matter what you do with the seconds as they pass by. But we can manage what we do with our time. We can become more productive with the time we have. And, one of the number one things we can do to improve our productivity is to stop wasting time. Welcome to this week’s flight! Today I’m doing a solo cast and focusing on one of my favorite topics, productivity. In case you didn’t know, before launching Virtual A Team, I was a productivity coach. I LOVE helping people spend more time on what they love and less time on things that are a distraction or waste of time. But here’s an interesting little secret, this next tip is very personal to me. And that’s because I spent WAYYYY too much time doing this very thing. What is this time waster that I am personally guilty off along with many MANY other coaches and consultants? It’s LEARNING. Ok, I don’t mean ALL learning here. I mean the kind of learning you have to do to in order to do things in your business that aren’t in your zone of genius. Like learning how to do social media. Or trying to master website design. Or figuring out how to edit podcast audio. These are things that you should NOT be wasting time learning, that is, unless you are a social media coach, website designer or podcast audio editor. And yet, most coaches spend hours and hours trying to figure these things out. How do I know? Because that was me! When I first started my coaching business back in the early 2000’s, I had a lot of basic knowledge around things that were needed to build a business besides my core expertise. I had basic knowledge of how to build websites, how to set up social media, how to manage my book keeping, and I had a huge interest in marketing. What I did NOT have was a huge start up expense. I was reinvesting every dollar I made, which wasn’t much. While I didn’t have a lot of money, I had a desire to learn, in fact, learning is one of my top 2 strengths on the Strengths Finder assessment. So learn I did. I learned how to do all of those things because I believed I needed them to build a successful business. What I didn’t realize was that, while I was learning, my business was on hold. There’s only so much time in the day. While I was spending time learning how to do social media, I wasn’t out there finding and connecting with prospective coaching clients. I wasn’t building up my coaching skills. I wasn’t doing the things that made me a sought after, successful coach. Can you relate? By why do we do this? Why do we spend so much time working on things that aren’t going contribute directly in the short term? Why do we waste so much time learning about things we don’t need to be learning? There are 5 core reasons that coaches find themselves spending all their time learning how to do the things in their business. Let’s chat about each and see if we can’t overcome some of these tendencies. After each, I’m going to give you a quick actionable fix. Something you can do to shift the way you think or concrete action you can take. 1. You love learning. This was part of the trap I fell into. I truly do love to learn new things and it was easy to get distracted by something I love to do anyway. If this is you, you probably tended to do well in school and still nerd out on documentaries or digging below the surface. While this is a wonderful trait to have, it can also do a lot of harm by slowing down your progress and success. What’s The Fix – Focus your learning on something that will improve your core skills. Make what you are good at even better. Don’t try to improve your weakest link or grow in areas that could be delegated to others. 2. You don’t have a lot of money and you don't have a plan. This was another trap I easily fell into. I didn’t have the money to delegate and I didn’t have a clear plan for how I could grow my business without all the “extras”. Just like setting out for a road trip, it helps to have a plan and a budget. If you know you want to see Mount Rushmore but you have a stop in Door County, WI first, you have to create a plan that gets you from Phoenix, to WI to SD and back based on how much you want to spend. You may get there without a plan but the trip may take longer, cost more and you may run into a lot of road blocks or detours along the way. On the other hand, if you have your route mapped out, you can avoid a lot of challenges. What’s The Fix – Create a bare bones plan for your business. Avoid all the fluff until you have some profit that you can reinvest. In business, you CAN create a successful business without needing a lot of the “fluff”. You don’t HAVE to have a website or an email newsletter or social media, despite what all the people selling you courses want you to believe. You can create a plan that gets you started without having to spend all that time learning or all that money delegating if it doesn’t make sense in your start up phase. 3. You are a perfectionist. You know what you want and have, probably, been burned by bad results of others before. Think of this like working on a school project with a small group. Were you the one that did most of the work but your overall grade suffered because of the work of the other group members? Was it just easier to do it yourself rather than let them have control and risk the results being bad? It’s your business and the final grade is your success or failure. That’s a high price to pay if you struggle to trust others to do a great job. What’s The Fix – Take it slow. Start by delegating small tasks or projects and learn to trust the outcomes. Work on your belief that things have to be perfect. Deliberately put out things that are imperfect to test the reaction. Is it less than you expected? Sure, you’ll always know when something isn’t up to your standards but I guarantee your clients aren’t judging as strenuously as you are. 4. You think you have to know how to do something in order to delegate. This may be one of the biggest myths in the outsourcing industry. If you hire someone that is unskilled, you will need to know how to get them up to speed. But what is that old saying, that’s like the blind leading the blind??? Spending hours learning something like how to use WordPress to design your website only to then hand off the maintenance and spend another couple of hours training them how to use the program is NOT the best use of your time. I was talking with a client recently. She shared that, before hiring Virtual A Team, she spent a lot of time (and money) taking webinars and online courses to learn how to set up her own online course. She kept thinking she wouldn’t be able to outsource this stuff until she had a basic understanding of it herself. It wasn’t until she had gotten so far into the depths that she realized she was in way over her head. That’s when she reached out to us, desperate to have someone take all of that off her plate so she could get back to what she loved doing, writing the content for the course. Had this client known about the alternative sooner, she could have actually saved herself time, money and stress! What’s The Fix – I’m probably going to seriously date myself here but Bob Newhart had this one right. In a skit on MadTV back in the early 2000’s, Bob Newhart played a therapist who could fix any problem in less than 5 minutes. His cure: Stop It. I’ll include the link to the skit in the show notes. It’s hysterical! While this may sound harsh, most people can easily let go of this belief once they realize they don’t have to. It’s just having the knowledge that it isn’t true. So, STOP IT! 5. You don’t know how to delegate. The idea of delegating feels totally overwhelming and scary. The feeling of learning something new is exciting and fun or, at least, controllable. Given a choice, our natural instinct is to go with what is exciting or controllable over overwhelming and scary. What’s The Fix – If you are going to spend time learning a new skill, delegating wouldn’t be a bad one to learn. It’s an investment. Once you’ve mastered this skill, you can delegate all kinds of things! But there’s an even better fix. One that helps solve all of these challenges. Not all outsourcing is created equal. I love old sayings because they stick around for a reason. And this one is no different. You get what you pay for. For every story of someone that’s had success paying $10 or $20 an hour, there are easily 20 stories of experiences gone bad. From VAs that don’t show up to projects not completed on time. You can check out my Halloween Horrors episode from last year for more great stories. I’m not telling you this to scare you away from delegating. I’m sharing this as a cautionary tale not to make the same mistakes those individuals did. There are options if you don’t have the time or desire to learn how to effectively delegate. Online business managers are a great solution. These outsourcing wizards have a way of magically solving most of your delegating challenges. I love the movie Devil Wear’s Prada. It’s got everything a girl could want, romance, drama, fashion and a woman who stands up for herself. And, the idea that a CEO can have an Andy! OK, I do NOT think of myself as a Miranda Priestly, that over-the-top controlling and demanding boss that gets exactly what she wants no matter who turns into collateral damage. But Andy is a lot like an online business manager, only OBMs work virtually instead of showing up to Paris for the Fall Fashion show. In the movie, Miranda, the mean editor of a popular fashion magazine, doesn’t spend time learning how to do the things she wants Andy to do. She just tells her what she needs done and expects Andy to figure it out. Miranda’s twins need the latest copy of the new Harry Potter series. No, not the one that has been out for a few weeks, the one that isn’t even published yet… If Andy can’t figure it out how to get it, she’s fired. Virtual Assistants tend to need a lot more hand holding than OBMs. OBMs will take your requests and run with it. They are problem solvers and project managers. If they can’t do something, they find and manage the right person for the job. So let’s get back to our 5 challenges and see how an OBM, aka Andy, can help. 1. You love learning. Because an obm has a deeper relationship with you, she’s going to be more open to helping you think through and understand some of the aspects of your business that you don’t have a handle on now. She’ll nurture your love of learning in a healthy way while helping you avoid going down the rabbit hole. 2. You don’t have a lot of money and you don’t have a plan. An OBM can work with you to develop a plan for your business so you are spending the money you do have on the right things. While these wizards aren’t coaches themselves, they often have a lot of knowledge that can help guide you in the right direction. And they will definitely help you avoid those shiny object distractions that end up delaying your success and cost you lots of money. 3. You are a perfectionist. OBMs are very detail oriented. And, when you have them working with the rest of your team, they offer a second set of eyes to help review things BEFORE you get your hands on it for a final proof. They aren’t going to offer therapy for your perfectionist tendencies but they can help you manage your expectations a bit. 4. You think you have to know How to do something before you delegate. This may be one of the best gifts an OBM provides. She knows things you don’t. A LOT of things. Things you need in your business but that aren’t the best use of your time (or money) to learn. Trust her and you’ll stop spending all that time (and money) to learn all those things. She’s got it covered. 5. You don’t know how to delegate. The beauty with an OBM is they will walk you through everything you need to know to work with them. They don’t expect you to come with all the knowledge and expertise, that’s their job. When you decide to go with an OBM, you have one task, find the right OBM for you. That’s it. Your new Andy will handle the rest! What next? Which of these time wasters did you resonate with the most? Take some time to reflect on how that’s effecting your business life and personal happiness. Is it still serving you to be that way? Is there a way you can adapt to honor that part of who you are without it continuing to harm the outcome of your business and personal life? Now, make a commitment to yourself that you’ll no longer waste time because of this. Still have questions about this topic? 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What is success? Are you winning? Do you even know what success means to you? On today's flight of Coach's co-pilot host Nicole Bandes is joined by Leslie Urbas of Fit & Fabulous Family Nutrition to discuss what it means to redefine success. Key Takeaways from this Episode: * Success is being able to define yourself * Taking yourself to the next level * Find the better way
About Our Guest:Leslie works from her home office. She combines her grounded sense of family values as a military wife and mom of two with her expertise and entrepreneurial flair. A great example of the high-impact commitment she shares with her clients is when she married her husband in 2017 in a hurricane. She thrives today because she infused her purpose-driven passions for health, business and family in a way thatbest serves everyone whose life she touches.
Connect with Leslie
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Still have questions about this topic? Join us in our free private group - Coach's Copilot Hanger - to dive deeper into the topics we share on every episode.
Would you like to be a guest? We are looking for guests for our shows. If you would like to be coached in a hot seat or have a topic you think would benefit our audience, apply to be on the show here.
And, if you like what you heard, be sure to Subscribe! The post Redefining Success appeared first on Virtual A Team | Delegate Smarter.