Archives for January 2013

My Guide to Finding and Hiring a Virtual Assistant

So far, my virtual assistant series has been one of my most "asked about" topic.  It seems like outsourcing and getting help is something that most online entrepreneurs (and offline business owners) have considered doing, but really didn't know where to start. So far, I've written about what tasks you can outsource to a virtual assistant and how a virtual assistant has helped me, so I thought it was a good time to share how I found my virtual assistant and a guide to help you find one as well. Since this has been one of my most popular topics, I've also created a total Virtual Assistant Guide to help anyone find the tools that they need to hire the right help and the right time. Here's my guide to finding a virtual assistant for … [Read more...]

How a Virtual Assistant has Helped Me

Getting a virtual assistant was a big decision for me because of the cost, the time to train and show her what to do, and just wondering whether getting a virtual assistant would be value-added.  Now, after having a virtual assistant for over 3 months, I'm a big believer in the value of her. If you're undecided about whether a virtual assistant can help you, here are they key ways that my virtual assistant has helped me.  They may not apply to you, especially if you're not building a business as an income stream, but for many who are, these tips may be very value-added.   Focus on What Matters This has been my core theme of 2013, but it really started back in 2012.  Building a business, even an online business, requires you to … [Read more...]

Building an Investing Income Stream

One of the most common questions asked of me throughout 2012 was how I built my investing income stream and how does it generate so much income for me?  If you look through my Income Reports, you'll see that I made over $15,000 investing last year - $8,200 with dividends and $6,800 with capital gains  on positions I sold. So how did I build this awesome income stream?  Here is what I've done to build a (almost) passive investing income.   Stash it Away! One of the coolest comments I got this past year was from a reader who thought I had a huge portfolio and was earning just 1% on it - so my $8,000 in dividends meant I had an $800,000 portfolio.  While I wish I did, I'm definitely not there yet. For this my multiple income stream … [Read more...]

Getting Injured at a Store – Now Dealing With It

Last year, my wife was injured at a nationwide retail store.  The injury was completely the store's fault - they didn't secure a shelf and when my wife removed an item from it, the entire shelf collapsed on her.  Her saving grace was that she was able to turn around and cover her head, but the entire contents of the shelf (and the shelf itself) all fell on her back.  As a result, her entire back was cut and bruised, and she was sore for months! Now, here we are six months later, and we still haven't received anything from the company, except for more questions...even after they admitted being negligent in writing to us!   Filing the Claim First off, when my wife was injured, nobody really came to help her.  An employee heard the … [Read more...]

What Tasks Should You Outsource to a Virtual Assistant?

As I mentioned last year, I decided that it was time that I get a virtual assistant.  A lot of people over the last few months have been asking me about my virtual assistant and what she does for me, so I decided to put together a list of things that you can outsource to a virtual assistant. I know that when I was doing my research before getting a virtual assistant, there were a lot of vague responses to this question, so I hope that I can put together a solid resource for you on what you can do with your virtual assistant and how it can make your life easier.  I'm also writing several follow-up posts on the whole process of finding and onboarding a virtual assistant, so stay tuned over the next several weeks if this is a subject that … [Read more...]

Do You Have a Hobby Business or a Real Business?

With tax time right around the corner, it is important that you ask yourself the following very important question: do you just have a hobby business or have you turned it into a real business? For many people, developing multiple income streams and side incomes starts as a hobby business.  For a few, these hobby businesses turn into real businesses.  Why does this matter? Well, it matters because the IRS taxes business income and hobby income slightly differently, and it is important that you know the differences so you don't get audited, owe penalties, and more.   Do I Have a Hobby Business or Real Business? Generally, an activity qualifies as a business if there is a reasonable expectation of earning a profit.  In order to make … [Read more...]