You Know Who You Are

According to statistics of SCORE, the following is true of women in business:

-Women represent more than 1/3 of all people involved in entrepreneurial activity. (Source: Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2005 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship)

-Between 1997 and 2002, women-owned firms grew by 19.8 percent while all U.S. firms grew by seven percent (Source: SBA, Office of Advocacy)

-Women-owned firms accounted for 6.5 percent of total employment in U.S. firms in 2002 and 4.2 percent of total receipts. (Source: SBA, Office of Advocacy)

-The number of women-owned firms continues to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. firms (23 percent vs. 9 percent). There are an estimated 10 million women-owned, privately-held U.S. businesses. The greatest challenge for women-owned firms is access to capital, credit and equity. Women start businesses on both lifestyle and financial reasons. Many run businesses from home to keep overhead low. (Source: SBA, Office of Advocacy and Business Times, April 2005)

-Women are more likely to seek business advice—69 percent women vs. 47 percent men. (Source: American Express)

Impressive, right? What those statistics don't tell us is that you are also:

-Usually raising a family, while running your small business from home.
-You are involved in your community in some way.
-You are working on a VERY limited budget.
-And you give until you can't give any more (both personally and professionally).

As a fellow mother and business owner, I can relate. I know what it is like to work from home, but still have outside commitments for your children, your husband, your community. It adds up, and adds to your stress level.

This is where I can help. As a virtual assistant, I can ease that stress by taking over some of the daily, weekly, or monthly tasks that must be done to keep your business afloat, but are not necessarily in line with your passion of your business.

Take a few minutes, sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, and evaluate. Make two lists....One labeled "What I love to do", the other labeled "What I need to do". Don't think to hard about it, just put whatever comes to mind.

Now look at the list of "What I need to do". Are any of those things like marketing your business, doing the bookkeeping, or keeping the client database up to date on your "What I love to do" list?

If not, consider hiring a virtual assistant to take over those must do tasks and help free you up for the "What I love to do" list.