When all else fail, Google it. This is a tip for entrepreneurs and small business owners from your Virtual Assistant Rita Cartwright.

I created a drop down menu for my ASPX web pages with Expression Web 2 software. The drop down menu appeared correctly in IE8 but not in FF 3.6. I posted my issue in the Expression Web forum, and the members gave me various suggestions and tips, which were from the perspective that I was designing my web pages incorrectly. So, I applied their suggestions; however, it didn’t solve my drop down menu issue.

Although, their tips didn’t solve the problem with the appearance of my menu, I did learn some valuable information regarding how to correctly lay out my web pages; therefore, it wasn’t all in vain. However, my menu still wasn’t displaying correctly in Firefox. So, I decided to Google my problem.  Lo, and behold, I found a solution.

It turns out that it isn’t me, it is Firefox’s browser; specifically, Version 3.6 if using with Vista Operating System.  If you are having the same display problems, click here for more information.

As a sidebar, Safari and Chrome browsers don’t show ASPX drop down menus correctly either.  The members of the Expression Web forum did help me resolve this.

Anyway, when all else fail, Google your question and/or issue. There is a good chance you will find your solution. This is a tip from your Virtual Assistant Rita Cartwright.

Working for someone else and working for yourself is as different as day and night.  I suddenly realized this having worked in the corporate world for over 25 years compared to now being an entrepreneur.

It is quite an adjustment to become accustomed to not having to answer to anyone or feeling inferior to a superior.  I call this conditioning yourself into a mindset of an entrepreneur.  It is not an easy transition, but well worth the transformation.

Your client is not your boss, but your equal.  This type of relationship fosters a mutual respect for each other to the point where you can even brainstorm on certain topics or issues.  Sure your boss in the workforce may have attempted to show you mutual respect, but there was always that element of inequality that existed.

Having an entrepreneur’s mindset gives you the freedom to express your ideas or creativity without being worried about being stifled or causing confusion in the office or the boardroom.  An entrepreneur’s mindset gives you more confidence in yourself and your capabilities.  It can also build your self-esteem, especially for female entrepreneurs.  Women in the workforce have come a long way, but there is work yet to be done.

In today’s economy, being an entrepreneur is rapidly becoming the norm.  According to Entrepreneur Magazine, self-employment rates have been growing at an average of 4.5 percent annually. With all the layoffs, especially among baby boomers, that percentage will increase.  Age discrimination still exists; therefore, it will be difficult for them to find employment, forcing them into becoming entrepreneurs.

Overall, thinking like an entrepreneur rather than an employee is a process, which takes time.  As I mentioned before, it is a conditioning that takes place.  It is not easy, especially for baby boomers after so many years in the workforce; however, it can be done.  Enjoy the ride!

From the mindset of an entrepreneur,

Cordina Charvis, CEO of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal, recently wrote an eBook and will be going on a virtual book tour beginning this week to promote it.  Her first stop will be here at my blog on Friday, November 20th.  Cordina has agreed to write a guest post giving us an overview of her book.   Be sure to come back on Friday for my interview with Cordina about her eBook, as well as a chance to win a fr^ee copy of her eBook.  More details later this week.  Following is her post:

I started my virtual paralegal business because I wanted to settle down and have a family. I have always wanted to own my own business but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Friends and family have always asked me for paralegal help and I figured I had the skills and I am already helping others maybe I should research the independent paralegal business. That’s when I came across the virtual paralegal industry. I realized that I could create a business offering my paralegal skills virtually to attorneys.

With more than 12 years working as a paralegal and almost five years as the CEO of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal I believe I have enough insight in the business to share some of my struggles and successes that may help others who are trying to break into the business or for those who have started their virtual assistant or virtual paralegal business but are looking for ways to grow.

In the eBook, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide, I discussed the following among other things:

• How I lost my first 10 clients while starting and operating my virtual paralegal business.
• What is the most difficult part of starting a virtual paralegal or virtual assistant business?
• What are some of the obstacles I faced when starting my virtual paralegal business?
• What is the one thing I wish I knew before starting my virtual paralegal business? and
• Common business mistakes virtual paralegals and virtual assistants should avoid.

The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide gives step by step guidelines for starting a virtual assistant or virtual paralegal business. It includes links to resources in the virtual legal business and more than 25 low-cost ways for advertising a virtual paralegal or virtual assistant business.

To network with other virtual paralegals and virtual assistants join the Virtual Outsource Paralegals group on LinkedIn.

Cordina Charvis
CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal
http://www.cdcvop.com

For those of you who are entrepreneurs and small business owners and are in need of a new website, consider creating it with WordPress software.

The software is free. The only costs to you are domain and hosting fees. There is no need for you to purchase website development software. The self-hosting version of WordPress allows you to create an entire website, manipulate the codes for customization, and has a lot of available plugins. Plugins are snippets of computer programming that can be added to WordPress, which gives it the ability to do almost anything you can think of. Click here for more information on the most popular plugins available and their capabilities.

You can also make edits, changes, and updates quickly and easily. However, it is very time-consuming to set up your site and there is a learning curve. There are business professionals who can teach you how to set up your site. However, if you are limited on time, this serves you no purpose. On the other hand, there are virtual assistants who have the skills and experience to create your site for you.

So, if you are limited on time or don’t want to be bothered with it, outsource this task to your Virtual Assistant. S/he can set up and maintain your site, which will save you time, as well as allow you to focus on your products and/or services.

Announcing this Thursday, October 1, 2009, I will be hosting one of Sue Canfield’s virtual book tour stops.  I will be interviewing Sue on her newly released book, The Commonsense Virtual Assistant – Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee. This book is a guidebook for newer and aspiring virtual assistants on what it takes to run a successful virtual assistant business.

Sue has agreed to offer her book for the low cost of $10.00, shipping included, to a random winner.  That is a 50% discount!  To qualify for the drawing, all you need to do is post a comment or question.  The drawing will be held Friday, October 2, 2009, and you will be notified by e-mail.  Also, I will announce the winner here on my blog.

Stop by on Thursday, October 1, 2009 to see what Sue is saying about her new, informative book, The Commonsense Virtual Assistant – Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee. See you Thursday!

I remember when I first began my business in 2002, home-based business was a dirty word.  In fact, networking experts at that time recommended when at networking meetings, introduce yourself as a small business owner as opposed to an owner of a home-based business.

According to a 2008 SBA (Small Business Administration) report, small businesses make up 99.7 percent of all employer firms.  Fifty-two percent are home-based.  Today, being a home-based business owner is all the “buzz.”  If you are part of this 52%, as I am, your timing is perfect.

The economy also plays a major role in the increased number of home-based businesses.  So, the term home-based business will be even more popular.  As a Professional Administrative Expert providing virtual assistant services, my timing is once again perfect, because these new home-based business owners will need administrative support.

If you are at the crossroads of whether or not you should be a home-based business owner or a Virtual Assistant, there is no better time than now.  The bright side of  our dismal economy is these are exciting times to start your own business.