I turn frazzled women into kick-ass Virtual Assistants so they can have flexible working lives that fit around their families (and shoe shopping).
π§ A very posh bloke and Wispr Flow
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Good morning! It seems that spring has finally sprung. The daffodils are out, the days are getting longer, and the weather is getting slightly warmer. However, I'm still being cautious because:
I have another couple of recommendations for you this week. Wispr Flow I'm writing this week's newsletter using Wispr, which is a free voice-to-text app that came recommended by a friend. As someone who doesn't touch type and is trying to mitigate RSI, it's been an absolute godsend. It even edits mistakes as you write. For example, if you say, "Let's meet tomorrow at 3, sorry, 4", it will remove the reference to 3 and just write 4. It works on all devices and in all apps. It's blimmin' great. The Luxury Academy YouTube Channel I recently watched this 3-minute video on YouTube about value and justifying your prices. I definitely don't live in the same world as this very posh YouTuber, so it must have come up as a suggested video. However, when I watched it, I knew I should share it with you. The point in the video is that people don't judge your value and then decide if your price is fair. They see your price first and then build up the value in their head to justify it. It sounds backwards, but research shows that a higher price tag actually changes how the brain experiences quality. "The moment you justify price, you admit it needs defending." It's explained really well in the video, and I recommend you give it a quick watch if you have a tendency to over-explain your rates. Although the channel is aimed at people who work with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), I think you'll find many of the videos useful. β Espresso Shot Clients take their cue from you, so be confident when you talk about your rates. You definitely don't want to come across as apologetic or sound like you're defending them. As I've said on multiple occasions, if you're speaking to somebody face-to-face, just state your rate, then zip it. You will desperately want to fill the silence. But do not say another word. If the conversation is happening by email, try this prompt: THE PROMPT βPlease write a short, confident reply to a client who says my rate is higher than they expected. Keep the tone warm and professional, explain the value and results of my service without justifying or defending the price, and offer a clear next step without discounting.β This helps you sound calm, clear, and sure of your value. It also shows that your rates are based on the service you provide, not magicked out of thin air. Modern but busy AF VA? Then sign up for my monthly Espresso AI newsletter for more handy VA-centric prompts like this. πͺ Other useful VA resources
That's it from me. The clocks go forward this weekend here in the UK, and I am 100% ready for it! PS: Just signed up and missed an issue? Read previous Coffee Break newsletters here.β |
The VA Handbook
I turn frazzled women into kick-ass Virtual Assistants so they can have flexible working lives that fit around their families (and shoe shopping).
Good morning! Last week, I celebrated the tenth anniversary of my VA Handbookers Facebook group. A whole decade! As I was replying to all the lovely congratulatory comments, I realised how many of the VAs have been in the group since the early days, and how I've watched their careers and lives change over the years. I've seen them grow teams, open agencies, have children, move countries, and even change the direction of their business to become OBMs or social media managers. I've also had the...
Greetings from bonnie Scotland! This week's edition is a little different from usual. I've come across two things recently that changed how I plan my personal and professional lives, and I wanted to share them with you. The first is a phenomenally insightful YouTube video by Daniel Pink. At first, I was like "Urgh, New Year shizz, same old, same old", but I hit play and discovered the content was different from any other planning advice I've come across. It's 26 minutes of absolute gold dust....
Greetings from a breezy but beautiful Scotland! The March issue of my Espresso AI newsletter goes out on Thursday, and, as usual, I wanted to share a preview of what the existing subscribers will receive. This monthβs issue covers: 1. The OpenAI furore Youβve likely seen the headlines about OpenAI's recent political donations and lobbying, and by the looks of my LinkedIn feed, everyone and their Mum is either switching to Claude or at least has an opinion on the subject. In this month's...