The Tilda Virtual office will close for the Christmas break from Friday 23rd December and will reopen Monday 9th January 2012. For any enquiries during this time, please use the contact form.

The team and I would like to thank our clients, suppliers and familes for all their support this year and to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!!

You may not be aware that as a professional partner of both MYOB and QuickBooks you can purchase your software through Tilda Virtual. Special deals on at the moment include:

Reckon – QuickBooks

Clients who purchase a full version of QuickBooks Accounting, Plus, Pro or Premier 2010/11 before 13 March 2011 will receive 13 months Advantage cover. This will give them the upgrade to QuickBooks 2011/12, installation phone support, technical phone support and product updates.

Clients who purchase a full version of QuickBooks Plus, Pro or Premier 2010/11 will also receive Customer Manager V3 valued at $329. To order, please click here.

Tilda Virtual Services is looking for someone to join the team in a part time Office Assistant role. If you have administrative experience, reception skills, some bookkeeping skills and don’t mind part time work, then send an email via the contact us page as we’d like to hear from you.

Please note that this position is not on a subcontract basis and you will be required to work from our office in Wheelers Hill – this is not negotiable!

I did something for the first time since starting my business, I took vacation time and didn’t touch my computer for a whole two weeks. And while it was much needed veg-out time, It was also really hard for me to step back from the computer. I realised just how much time I actually spend on the computer each week.

Because I want to embrace the new year I decided to revisit my goals and my sale forecasts for the rest of the financial year. While I seem to be on track for reaching my goals I’ve decided to set some new ones. I’ve broken these goals down into baby steps to make more achievable.

I have a fantastic team in place and we’re working with some great clients. I can’t wait to see what 2010 brings my way.

I started my business May 2006 and in 2007 I attended my first work related conference. Money was tight at that time and I was fortunate to have been offered a scholarship to attend the Business Mums Conference. Otherwise I would never have been able to attend. We lived interstate and the accommodation for two adults and one baby was a squeeze on the family budget.

I came away from that conference with a renewed sense of self, I knew what I needed to do to take my business to the next level and I knew that I had the support of the rest of the network while I did it. The first thing I did when we got home was fire my main (and first) client because we were stuck in the employer/employee mindset and I knew it would be an uphill battle for either of us to change. We parted ways on the best of terms and I don’t regret working with them at all.

From there my business grew a lot quicker than expected and I became a multi-VA business owner.

I attended the conference again last year and fired some more clients, renewed my love of my business and hit the ground running again as soon as I got home. This time I came to Melbourne on my own (two flights just to get there) and I had a great time networking with new and old members. I also got to meet my mentor Kathie Thomas and listen to her speak.

It was last year that I decided to sponsor another member because I was able to and I also wanted to see another member get the same opportunity that I received. Who knows where my business would be if I didn’t attend that first conference??

This year I’ve sponsored another ticket the the conference for the full two days. If you’re a business mum (and that doesn’t mean that you have to still have children at home or even your child/ren have been born) or you would like to be a business mum, fill in the form below and tell me why you should have my spare ticket. I’m also speaking at this year’s conference which is very exciting for me!

This competition is now closed, thanks to all those who entered. I’ll be announcing the winners very soon.

The next issue of our Techno Update Newsletter about to be sent out next week so if you haven’t subscribed yet but would like to learn more about the technology that is behind the scenes, then I recommend you subscribe today.

You’ll even receive a free audio on how to outsource effectively and we all know how cool free stuff is.

Go on, sign up! I’ll still be here when you get back.

Today I met with the lovely Elizabeth from the Melbourne East brokerage who took me through all aspects of Bartercard and what it means for my business.

So what is Bartercard?

“Bartercard is the premier business transaction card for business owners and decision makers to boost their business and lifestyle. New customers and sales are guaranteed to be received from the membership community of over 23,000 in Australia (over 55,000 in 10 countries around the world) who seek to do business with other Bartercard members. Purchases can be made immediately using interest-free credit and paid for later with your goods and services…NOT CASH!” Bartercard.com.au

What does this mean for our clients?

We now accept payment via Bartercard!!

This year for the first time, I’ll be presenting at the Business Mums Conference on Sensational Systems in your Business.

Each year that I’ve attended the conference I managed to take something different away from it. I learn and grow so much as a business owner and as a Virtual Assistant that for 2008 and 2009 I have paid for a ticket to sponsor someone to go to the conference. I’m a big believer in training and development and the Business Mums Conference is always marked on my training plan for each year.

Stop by the website and register for your ticket today. I’d love to see you there!

Pick up any suburban newspaper right now and when it comes to real estate, the picture they paint is far from rosy: moving interest rates, mortgage stress, mortgagee defaults, investors tightening their belts.

I asked Wendy Moore, founder of Australia’s leading Women Investing in Property website Affluencia.com what she thought and here’s what she said:

“To me, when I read this stuff my eyes light up. Why? If the average investor is listening to these so called experts and basing investing decisions on what they read, that opens up so many opportunities for savvy investors such as you and I.

That’s why I’m so excited by our upcoming October event. We’ve brought together four property experts to show you why right now is the best time to make serious money in real estate.”

You’ll find details here: www.realestatewomen.com.au

So I actually had a good look yesterday and found my camera safe and sound in my top drawer at the office. Decided to have a go at using iMovie so here is our new office. Sorry about the wobbles, I’m not a very good videographer!

Enjoy!