I am so sorry for being ‘away’ from my blog for such a long time. Things have been quite busy around the Mann Made Time offices, and I have been wanting to write some great posts - really - but I was coming up with nothing. I mean…I have ideas all the time. My Gemini/entrepreneur brain is going all the time. But I believe if you don’t have anything very interesting to ’say’ in your blog - or if you can’t say it well - then you shouldn’t say something just for the sake of saying it.

I know I should carefully craft my blog posts in advance, I know that, but that’s not my style. I am a very passionate person. When I feel passionately about something, everyone that knows me knows about it. If I write a post today about the benefits of sticky notes with the intention of posting it in a week from now, well, that just doesn’t feel right to me. In a week from now I might want to blog about desk drawer organizers and blogging about post it notes might feel - I don’t know - dishonest or something. It’s a mental thing, I know nobody cares if I switch the topics, but it’s just too structured for this…my little outlet for creativity…my blog.

Now it’s not like I haven’t had interesting things happen over the last couple of weeks to be blogging about. It just seemed as though a great idea would pop in my head on a day that I was so busy working and writing other people’s blog posts that I couldn’t get to my own.

I’ve had lots of topics come to mind:

• Should I blog about the insanity of the new toner cartridges I have to order costing $600 while the whole printer with three colors and black toner would cost me $220?
• Perhaps I should blog about what a great printer that was since I’ve had it for two years and this is the first time the color cartridges have run dry.
• Maybe I could write about the difference between marketing and advertising. Nah…that one will take too much thought.
• There are a few real estate tools I could blog about, but I’d have to piece it together.
• The book “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer was an amazing read, but it’s not a business book. Could I extrapolate a business lesson from that book? Stop it Jaime - you read that for pleasure.

Now, keeping in mind that I have two children under the age of three, and I have not slept through the night since June 2005 (no exaggeration) maybe I was experiencing some negativity from the sleep deprivation. I mean, I have the ability to turn any of those topics into interesting blog posts, right?  Probably, but I just haven’t had the time. All of my best hours have been spent on client work (and of course, aforementioned children).

I felt that any post I would make would simply not be good. I’ve posted less than stellar posts in the past, just for the sake of posting something. That, my friends, is a mistake. No post is better than a boring post.

So, I think you should thank me now for not cluttering your RSS feeder with uninspiring posts over the last two weeks.

I have come to learn that it’s true in blogging as it is in life. If you don’t have anything nice to say, really, don’t say anything at all.

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I was pondering something last night while I was watching American Idol (and wondering why in the world that first guy sang a WHAM song) that I thought would make great blog material.

I had this dilemma when I was starting my business. I was brand new and had lots of administrative experience, but I was trying so hard to find that first client, and I felt like all of the more experienced VAs were getting all the work. I had a case of the self-doubts and wondered why anyone would want to work with me when I had no actual ‘virtual’ experience.

First of all, what didn’t strike me right away was that nobody needs to know how many clients you have. I didn’t write my website content stating “Newbie VA offers her services”. I used testimonials from past employers, tried to demonstrate my areas of experience, and whipped up a ‘corporate resume’ so in the event of a potential employer questioning my work history, I would be prepared. Interestingly enough, to this day nobody has asked to see a resume. I pushed those doubts aside, and worked with what I did have that the more experienced VAs might not. Time. I marketed the bejeezus out of my business. And it worked.

Second of all, it could be an interesting feature to play off of, if you’re bold. Why not advertise that you’re brand new in business. Offer a deal - your first client will receive 10% off your services for their first year - or something. A new business owner is full of energy. Full of motivation and momentum. A new business owner is a force to be reckoned with.

Sometimes, after being in business for a while, you get lots of referral business, you let your marketing efforts get stale, you feel confident that you’re going to continue to do alright. You’re busy, your systems might be getting a little old, you might have lost a bit of that entrepreneurial spark you had when you were just getting out of the gate.

Of course, with experience comes knowledge, expertise and trust.

I was thinking about this, in particular, when it comes to real estate agents. There is always someone new popping up. They come, they go. Some stay for a long time.

A seasoned ‘top producer’ has a lot going for her. A great database full of contacts, name recognition in her market area. Lots of word of mouth referrals, etc.

Does that mean there’s no hope for a new agent starting out in that area? Not at all.

A new agent is coming on to the scene full of new ideas, a drive to become successful and catch up with the big guys.

I was perusing Active Rain and found a new agent in Charlottetown that has a great blog over there. Good for her. She was the only agent I saw in this area that didn’t just plug in an RSS feed for ‘PEI’ . I feel that’s cheating. It’s not really blogging. This agent actually wrote an interesting and useful post. She took the time to share something with her readers, and in turn, her blog has much more to offer than local news, weather reports, and other mundane information that doesn’t belong on Active Rain.

I am going to keep my eye on this person. I’ve seen her name in a lot of places, and I think she is going to be one of the ‘top producers’ in a couple of years time.

So what do you think?

When you’re in need of a service, would you rather work with someone that’s brand new - full of energy and drive?

Or would you tend to work with a seasoned pro. Someone who’s name has been around for awhile?

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I just noticed that I have been listed on fellow VA, Trina Lamarche’s blog as an outstanding blogger of 2007! What a huge honor for a new blogger like myself. I’m thrilled that people are actually reading this thing, never mind being listed as an outstanding blogger! Heavens, I’m blushing

Trina wanted to see her favorite’s favorites, so here we go, my Top 5 (in no particular order):

1. Connie McVicker, In The Worx
   
2. Maureen Kerr, Kerr Consulting
3. Cristina Favreau, The Savvy Entrepreneur
4. Yvonne Weld, Thriving Business Blog
5. Sally Kuhlman, Virtual Simplicity

I get excited when I see that these five ladies have posted something new, so I figure they belong on my list. Now I’m going to have to start reading Trina’s blog too since she put me on her list

Ok ladies, let’s see your list of outstanding bloggers!

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