Scroll through the famous quotes to draw inspiration and get motivated for your business!

Organizing your life around the many roles you play will help you maintain balance and focus on your key relationships rather than focusing on tasks and things. -Stephen R. Covey

Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you. – Arnold Palmer

Efficiency with people is ineffective. With people, fast is slow and slow is fast.
-Stephen R. Covey

Hope is perhaps the greatest gift you can give another person as the result of nurturing, because even if people fail to see their own significance, they still have a reason to keep trying and striving to reach their potential in the future. -John Maxwell

If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If broken by an inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from the inside. –Jim Kwik

See every problem as an opportunity to exercise creative energy.
-Stephen R. Covey

Between what happens to us and our response is a space. In that space lies our freedom to choose our response. -Anonymous

We shouldn’t get too wrapped up in one aspect of life. If we do, we close ourselves off to new experiences. -Zen saying

To Keep the lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it. -Mother Teresa

Your life is a result of your own decisions–not your conditions. -Stephen R. Covey

“If you help enough other people get everything they want in life, you will get everything you want and more.” -Zig Ziglar

Employee development is a method of investing in your company and employees. Mentoring and teaching others to evolve will be beneficial for you, your business and relationships with current employees. To begin the employee development process, find time to have a relaxed and casual conversation with your employee. In preparation for the conversation, identify the employee’s talents and interests and connect them to her current position.

Questions to ask and discuss:

1. What are your goals and dreams?
2. What are your current skills?
3. What are your weaknesses
4. Are you interested in training courses?
5. Do you have other ways to contribute to the business?
6. What are your short-term goals?\
7. What are your long-term goals?
8. Outside of work, what are your commitments, goals, and obligations?

After the Q&A session, you can continue the conversation or schedule a meeting with the employee to develop a plan that will benefit both the employee and the company. The plan should identify:

1. Competencies outlining hard and soft skills along with weaknesses or short-comings.
2. Long-term goals
3. Short-term goals
4. Strategies to reach goals using who, what when, where, and how to be specific
5. Specific action steps using a timeline
6. Toolkit identifying resources needed to be successful in reaching goals
7. Measurable outcomes with a timeline

I can help you with successful employee development plans and programs for your business. Contact me today!

Source
Bruce, A. (2010). Perfect phrases for employee development plans: Hundreds of ready-to-use phrases for motivating and growing employees for success. New York: McGraw-Hill.

I never thought about being an entrepreneur. That word…never. I probably should not have said never because here I am an entrepreneur and owner/operator of Your Virtual HQ. My high school and community college students would ask why I was teaching instead of owning my own business. My response—I’m not interested. I watched my grandparents and parents own their business and work so hard always thinking about their business. I wanted weekends, time away without checking in, and someone else worrying about financial forecasting and taxes. Isn’t great to have a plan? What’s even better is God’s sense of humor and thinking it’s cute I planned my own life without consulting him.

I studied business in undergraduate and graduate studies. I knew I would never (there is that word again) be content teaching secondary and post-secondary general business courses. So, I decided to get a 3rd degree, a Master of Science in Human Resource Management. My game plan was to specialize in training and development while gaining experience in all other HR functions and become an assistant HR director then “the” director.

Life happened and I left my career for my family’s move to another state, to another state, and soon to another country. What in the world was I going to do with myself? I went from a total workaholic, socializing at work, making game plans with co-workers, getting excited about college and career readiness with first generation college kids to being a housewife and stay-at-home-(step)mom. I had never been so bored, frustrated, and sad. I cried. A lot. I love my husband and step-son. I was happy we were finally all in one place, not driving three hours one way each Friday and Sunday to see one another. But, other than the running and boot camp groups I joined, I was lonely and bored. I needed a challenge.

I proposed a virtual position to my former boss before leaving my job. I loved the job and what it was accomplishing. I wanted to be a part of it. Although impressed with my proposal I put together, she said no. In November 2014, I researched starting my own virtual assistant business. I knew I had skills and could offer them to people who needed an extra hand. I just didn’t know where to get started. I purchased a book about being a virtual assistant, took notes as I read it, and pondered the thought for several months. In February after moving to another state with no friends, no running group, no boot camp, I decided to start my own business. With this move, I was only 2 blocks from the beach. And I was thinking of starting a business? What was wrong with me?The beach was nice but still cold. Then, it was nice with too many tourists. It just wasn’t cutting it.

Creative is not a word I use to describe myself. Passionate, hard worker, honest, reliable, life-long learner, caregiver, extrovert, responsible, dependable, energetic, giving, selfless and organized-yes, but not creative. So, I reached out for help. I joined virtual assistant groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. I asked question after question. I had assistance naming my business and creating a logo. Then, I bought my domain and web hosting, watched many YouTube videos and read many tutorials to create my website. Finally, I was ready to share my site on the social media pages I created.

After a month into business, I cannot imagine working a 9-5 job again. I can still take care of my family, network, be challenged with work from clients, and feel happy. Happiness is key. I do not have a large client base at this time. But, I’m starting out and lucky to have a supportive spouse who is able to take care of our bills without relying on a steady check from me. This business was about my happiness and knowing I have more to offer. I want to help others. I want to give assistance to increase their productivity and growth in their business. I’m a caregiver. I truly want others to be successful. And, I have found a way to help others while ensuring my family is taken care of and not feeling neglected.