I actually closed my laptop last night for a couple hours to watch Michael Moore’s latest film, “SiCKO”. I enjoy Moore’s films, and this one was quite disturbing and it made me very angry and sad.

The film, for those of you who haven’t heard about it, is basically about the state of health care and HMOs (which I did not know the definition of prior to watching the film) in the United States. The goal of the film from what I understood was to get Americans to support Bill H.R. 676 which would help to shift the model to one offering health care for everyone.

To my American friends, I wish I could do something, but I do think you should consider writing your politicians and asking them to get behind that Bill.

Here in Canada, when you’re sick you just go to the doctor. If you need surgery, you get it. If you have a baby, you only have to pay for a private room if you requested one (at least on PEI). It’s true that we pay high taxes, but I would much rather our system over that of our neighbors south of the border.

I felt proud to be Canadian while watching the film, but very sad for those who’ve lost loved ones because of their lack of health insurance. I don’t understand how health care providers and insurance companies can deny care to someone because of money. How do you put a price on human life?

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What were you doing just a minute ago, before you decided to read this blog post?

Maybe you were checking your email…following up on a new inquiry…fixing a snack or bidding on ebay. Was it something you enjoy, something you abhor or something in between?

Before I wrote this post, I was writing some content for a new client’s new website. My business, Mann Made Time, offers many services I love to do, many services I love to do a little less and some that I personally just don’t want to do. That’s why I have a team of VAs working with me to provide all types of services to our clients. I will not preform a service that I don’t enjoy doing because if I did - I would probably do a less than stellar job. It’s human nature. And if I did a less than stellar job, I would not be fulfilling the mission of Mann Made Time which is to exceed the expectations of our clients.

I’ve been lucky enough, recently, to have been given several projects by several clients which I really can’t believe I’m getting paid for because it’s so much fun! Copywriting is something I absolutely love. I could write all day long, and some days I do which is fine by me.

In order to do the things I enjoy, such as writing for clients, working on my own business, and spending time with my family, I outsource the other stuff. If you own a business, or are simply a busy person, I suggest you consider doing the same. Imagine getting rid of the stuff that clutters your desk and your mind so you could spend more time doing what you want to be doing. That’s why the virtual assistance industry exists! It is tough at first to give up control, I know from my own experiences. I also know it gets easier. And after that, it’s a wonderful feeling. Plus it’s cool to be able to say you have a virtual assistant

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IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

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I was thinking last night about a couple of meetings that I have on Monday at my favorite coffee shop - Beanz. Then I started thinking about their policy to give discounts to people that bring their own mug. Then I thought that I should go get a cool mug to bring with me when I work down there, or meet clients there. THEN I thought it would be cooler still if I went to CafePress and got a Mann Made Time mug!:

When I got up this morning, brewed my coffee, and reached for one of my plain Jane coffee mugs, I couldn’t help but think how much fun it would be to bring a mug with my company logo on it to a coffee shop frequented by business people.

Have you heard of CafePress? You could get customized corporate t-shirts, mouse pads, note cards, wall clocks, baby bibs, and so on and so forth. There’s no minimum, so I don’t have to order 200 Mann Made Mugs (tee hee) just one for the CEO….(yes, that would be me). I have ordered things from there more than once, and I’ve always been happy with the product and with the shipping time.

This could be a great time to order some things for Christmas, even as corporate gifts. Maybe you could get one of your clients’ logos put on a canvas tote bag or wall clock for her, how cool would that be?:

Think outside the box. I could go to Beanz and use their own mugs or get a take out cup. OR I could bring my own while doing something good for the environment AND showing off my logo. Win-win.

Great idea, but no time…you say? Hire a VA to do it for you. Done!

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Mann Made Time has recently suffered an identity crisis. What? You say! I know, I know, the series of ebooks that I co-wrote includes a book entitled “Preventing an Identity Crisis” but it happened!

First of all, there was nothing wrong with my old logo - I loved it - the problem was that people were getting confused about what I did. People kept asking me if my husband makes clocks…not a nice assumption that it’s my husband that owns the business, either! This is my former logo:

Now I have a new logo which incorporates the clock from my old logo and the colors are the same, but it gives a better idea of what Mann Made Time is…which is, of course, a VA company. It’s a caricature of moi, and it is much more fun. Of course with a new logo, I needed a new website design. My new website, created by Signature Worx has much more of my personality infused in it, and I’m getting great feedback.

When I first started my business, I had very little of my own personality in my web copy and marketing materials. I said what I thought I should say, and I set up my website like everyone else did.

Then I got confident and decided that I wanted clients that would appreciate my quirky sense of humor. I don’t particularly want to work with someone that doesn’t want to smile while they’re perusing a website. Let’s face it, I am my brand. I am ‘The Mann’ in Mann Made Time. Every email I send, phone call I return and blog post I make reflects upon my brand and my business. It’s important to me that my clients know what they’re getting before they start working with me, and that’s a quirky but sharp assistant who will get the job done and make you laugh - guaranteed- at some point along the line.

However, don’t expect me to show up in a periwinkle blue blazer - I don’t own one.

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