As a parent, you know working at home is going to save you time and effort. You also know there's one big challenge you'll face:  How to get work done while your children are also at home.

I'll give you 3 tips that many parents swear by on how to be productive in your Virtual Expert® business while having your children also at home:

1. Set up a private office in your home where you do all of your work. Ideally, it's a separate room with a door you can close to keep everyone, including your children, out while you're working.

If you don’t have an extra room, you can set aside space within a larger room that you can call your office.

Everyone in your family should know that when you are in your office working you are not to be disturbed unless it is an emergency.

It's also a great idea to make a sign that indicates when you're at work and unavailable. One creative mom created a color-coded sign that showed her kids when she's available. It starts with:

Hi there!

...

One of the best ways to increase your profitability is to increase your productivity. That’s because the more tasks you can complete, the higher your income. (Oh YEAH)

When you increase your productivity you’re happier because you don’t feel like you’re wasting time, and you feel more fulfilled.

When you increase your profitability, you’re happier because … well, you know why … you have more money, honey.

Here are 5 ways to increase productivity and profitability

1. Ask for what you want

According to Steve Jobs, “Most people never pick up the phone. Most people never call and ask. And that’s what separates the people who do things from those who just dream.”

2. Don’t allow other people to steal your energy

If you want to be productive, setting up a distraction-free environment isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a must. Getting in the zone to do deep work, however, isn’t only about turning off your...

Virtual Assistants (VAs) and Virtual Experts® (VEs) make the business world a better place to be in. Across the globe, VAs and VEs are removing tasks from business owners’ and entrepreneurs’ shoulders so they can stay in their zone of genius. The VA/VE is happy because they get to focus their services on those they enjoy. Businesses of all sizes thrive as a result. Better yet, everyone is happy and everyone feels successful. Happiness is important, even in our careers.

 We as human beings need to feel seen. Heard. Appreciated. Valued. And when it comes to our contribution to a business, corporation, organization, or individual, we want what we bring to the table (experience, skills, education, accolades, connections) to matter more than implicit biases clouding the view of our excellence. We want to be given a chance to succeed and contribute.

We want to be paid for what our knowledge and contributions are worth and offered opportunities that our knowledge and...

by Kathy Goughenour

Planes are grounded. Airlines are suffering. People heading places to see new sights, take vacations, go to conferences, or visit family is at an all-time low.

Everyone is gathering virtually. In fact, people are even going to the zoo or museums online just to get the slightest taste of the travel they long to do.

Who knows how long the travel industry will be suspended?  What do you do then as a travel agent with no one to send anywhere? How do you continue to professionally thrive, pay your bills, and use the specific skills you have that make you good at what you do?

 You become a Virtual Assistant.

Travel Agents make exceptional VAs. Here’s why:

As a travel agent, you are excellent at truly getting to know the travelers you help. To create the most customized travel arrangements, you ask questions, truly listen, and learn the preferences of your clients - from what modes of transportation they like, to hotel chains they prefer, to where they...

by Kathy Goughenour

Some are saying that the return of live, in-person events won’t happen until 2022. (Did your mind just blow and your heart break? Because mine did when I heard that.)

I LOVE live events. As someone who works virtually all the time, I relish the in-person time. But I also relish physical health and safety. So when COVID hit I had to take my humongous and typically-live event to the online space, because I desperately wanted to still see my community while also keeping them safe.

To make that event successful (especially since it was my first ever virtual event of that magnitude), I required the expertise and support of event planners. I needed them when I was planning the live event, and I needed them, even more, to transition the whole thing to a virtual event.

You know what this means for you, right? If you’re an experienced live event planner, there’s tons of opportunity for you to transfer all of your skills and experience to the online...

People aren’t barreling into the Holiday Inn or Hilton or Marriott right now. Travel - for any reason - is at an all-time low which is leaving hotels quiet and empty.

As someone who works in the hotel and hospitality industry, what do you do?

No one is making reservations, calling from Room 355 with a request, or wanting to book the conference room for their event.

Who knows how long the travel industry will be suspended and the hotel lobby empty.  So how do you continue to professionally thrive, pay your bills, and use the specific skills you have that make you good at what you do?

You can become a Virtual Assistant.

Here’s why Hotel Industry Professionals, like you, can easily transition your skills into a career as a well-paid Virtual Assistant:

Hotels are all about customer care and hospitality. People will remember how their stay was based on the friendliness and care of the staff.  From the guest concierge to the front desk receptionist, to the hotel...