If you like this Twitter bird you can get it at Nyi Nyi Myanmar.

How do you choose who to follow on Twitter?
Do you auto-follow people?
Do you follow people with the generic avatar?

Answers to questions like these fascinate me.  I love it when a person goes into a deep involved explanation about their follow theories.  Our theories may be deep and complicated to explain but when faced with a new profile we apply them immediately – followers be damned!

We spent a lot of time talking about tools developed around and general rules of Twitter at Chicks Who Click – but not so much about what rules we use to decide to follow.  Sometimes I think the tools make the decision easier – sometimes just a lot harder.

Here is a rundown of my “follow back” qualifications:

1) If you are new, you can’t be following more people than you have updates!  Like following 500+ with 2 updates.

2) I’m less likely to follow back if you have over 2K+ followers.

3) I’ll definitely follow you back if you:

(a) are in my niche, duh, isn’t that what Twitter is all about!
(b) are a fellow Virtual Assistant, because we’re down like that.
(c) are a member of a group I’m in, like the Powerful Women’s Networking Group in KC.
(d) are from my geographical area, exact city or metro area.
(e) attended an event with me, even if we didn’t actually meet.
(f) talk about chocolate, soccer or cats.  (All work and no play…)

4) I couldn’t think of a fourth one but one of my 7-year-olds likes even numbers.  Ok, the real reason is transparency.  I like to be able to see people’s moods, sudden tiny details of their lives or just plain “give me some personality people!”

I don’t think any of these qualifications seem too difficult and some are down right quirky, I know.  I bet your list has some quirks in it too, right?

Nibbling away -

Sundi

I didn’t dream it would take me this long to recover from Chicks Who Click!  I was very much in overdrive by the time I got to bed Saturday night.  Extra special thinks to Jenny Love for teaching a breathing technique – I was asleep before I finished the second eight count!

I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of exploring the tools covered at Chicks Who Click.  There is one particular item I can tell you I used immediately – before I even left the conference!  I signed up and started using my new Hootsuite account in real time and I’m not looking back!

As the day was moving along I started sending out scheduled tweets to the people who were speaking and interacting with our group.   Have you ever been sitting at a conference and thought, “That was really funny!” and then you jotted it down?  Did you ever send a note to that person and say Thank You?  I did.

In real time but I scheduled it out for that evening or the next morning or the next evening.  It was the coolest thing!  Conversations from those scheduled tweets are still going on.  Talk about creating longevity.

If you’ve never tried HootSuite then go give it a browse!

Nibbling away -

Sundi

Today I’m attending Chicks Who Click in Kansas City.  For more information about Chicks Who Click please visit their website.

I can’t wait to share with you information about some of the hottest topics in social media!

Here’s to a great day!

Nibbling away -

Sundi

The running monologue in our minds runs at a staggering rate of 500 words a minute!

Wow!  I actually said it out loud I was so surprised.  Think how long it took me to say it out loud compared to if I’d simply thought it!

I know I’m my own worst critic.  I’ve also been around long enough to realize my self-think gets me where I am, not where I actually want to be.  Isn’t it horrible to think we can do that to ourselves?  Just think of what a great source of income the Inner Critic is for coaches of all types!

I’m going to try some new self talk.  Call it my Half-Year Resolution.  Ok, we aren’t to the half-way mark yet.  How about the Self Improvement Goal for May?  Yes, you’re right.  I missed that by a few days, didn’t I?  Alright, it doesn’t have to have a name because I’m not going to wait on one.  The sooner I do this the better.

I’m going to start with the toughest one first…rejecting social ideals.  Saying no is a big one for me.

There are times my accommodating scores are off the chart and I know this.  For example, when I answer the phone during a time I’ve been deep into finishing a big project.  I get distracted by the ringing phone and answer it with the intention of wrapping up the call quickly so I can get back to where I’m centered.  The next thing I know I’ve said yes to just about anything the caller wanted and by the time I get off the phone I’m so distracted by what I’ve committed myself to I can’t get back to work anyway!

Here comes my Inner Critic beating me up about why I answered the phone, why I agreed to anything and, finally, why I can’t get back to work.  Wouldn’t it have been easier to reject the initial social ideal that I need to answer the phone simply because it was ringing?

The second thing I’m going to work on is balance.  Yeah, I know.  That word is probably the most over used one around!

Look at it this way though…If I focus on stopping the negative comments I’ll always be concentrating on the negative comments because I’m trying to stop them.  Isn’t a better way to achieve this actually by concentrating on positive comments and injecting them when my self talk expresses a negative one?  That way I’m following up the negative with a positive.

With this train of thought about half my 500 words a minute will be positive.  I’m half way to every word running through my head being positive.  Even if I never make it the other half way I’ve surely reached a healthier place than everything being negative!

That’s it.  Two small steps for me.  What two small steps can you take to help shut down (or up) your Inner Critic?

Nibbling away -

Sundi

Although I’ve hit the three month mark for my blog I haven’t been motivated to write the usual “What is a Virtual Assistant?” post.  There are many out there so it seemed a little redundant!

Why reinvent the wheel when there are many great ones already out there on the road?  Oh, I meant there are many great blog posts out there explaining what a Virtual Assistant is so why should I rearrange the words?

Instead I found some wonderful folks involved in the Virtual Assistant industry and I’m going to let them spin it for me – in a very fantastic and articulate way!  These peers go way beyond a simple definition…

Liz of E-Works Office Services wrote 5 Reasons Why Your VA Should Be Contracted On A Retainer.

Amy of Virtual Services 4U blogged about the VA title in Virtual Assistant? Virtual Problem Solver – VPS?.

Kimberly from JK Virtual Services shares her social media spin through Virtual Assistant to the Rescue.

Susan at Having A Virtual Advantage discusses Successful Delegation.

Diana of Virtual Word Publishing says Wake Up and Partner with a VA.

If you still feel the need for the definition of a Virtual Assistant then check it out at Wikipedia.

I haven’t done the whole “get to know me post” either.  If you are looking for info about me then check this out!  Should that not quench your thirst then fill out the swank contact form at bottom of that page and I’ll answer anything you want to know!

Nibbling away -

Sundi

I’ve shared with you in the past how to protect your passwords by using passwords unique to you and difficult to decipher.  Stopping with your online safety isn’t actually enough though!  Identity theft doesn’t have to start online.  Here are some tips to protect you in other aspects of your life too:

• Set passwords to protect your digital devices – especially if you have personal information stored in your devices!
• Design high quality password and pin numbers.  (Again, go here if you need help with this!)
• Get yourself a shredder!  There isn’t a single one of us who manages not to get pre-approved credit cards in the mail at least once a week.  (If you don’t please share how you managed that in the comments!)
• Lock your mailbox!  Just because it is against the law for some schmuck to rifle through your mailbox doesn’t mean he won’t do it.  We have a post office box inside our local post office and don’t even have curbside mail as an option since there isn’t a box installed at the end of our driveway.
• Every month when you pay your bills take a minute to check your online accounts for suspecious charges!
• Don’t mail checks.  Yes, I know.  If you live slightly rural this may be a problem.  Although I’m in the big city all the time we live rural.  Our itty-bitty water district only accepts checks.  Can you imagine! In order to minimize I started paying lump sums every three months.  At least I’ve tried to minimize the activity if I can’t stop it completely!
• Check your credit reports annually – you know this is F R E E right?
• Don’t provide personal information unless you initiated the contact.  If a company you do business with calls you then they already have your account number and anything else they might need!  I mean, they called you, right!?
• Do all that techie stuff…If you don’t know how then find someone who does.  I’m talking about all the firewall, antispyware, antivirus and browser security stuff.
• Shop with reliable online companies.  Look for secure online purchasing before you enter your credit card number.  It is even better if your credit card protects you but remember just because it claims to protect your doesn’t mean the process of being protected will be easy!
• Finally, reduce the number of ways schmucks can get access!  If you pay your bill online anyway, why do you need to receive a paper copy of your bill or invoice?  (Besides, online invoicing and billpay are so much better for the environment!)

 Hey, be safe out there!

Nibbling away -

Sundi

I can’t imagine how confusing it would be to start on part 3 so why don’t you go back to part 1 and part 2 if you haven’t see them yet?

Yeah!  Part 3…The End!  I mean the end is here after you finish this step…I didn’t mean you could stop right now!

Remember the whole “never alphabetize” part of this?  We’ve arrived!  All you organization-challenged will love it!  It is one of my favorite things about File Don’t Pile: A proven filing system for personal and professional use.

First, confirm the masters!  You should have a master file for every stack or container.  Each master file should have a different color designation.  In your filing cabinet, behind the master file, in numerical order, are the supporting files.  (I use the term “filinf cabinet” loosely as you may have a tote or file box.)

Second, seek and ye shall find!  If you’re in the office supply store and you want fancy-pants resume paper you go to the paper section, right?  If there is more than one section of paper you skim the signs at the end of the isles until you come to specialty papers. Then, you find 100% cotton in cream with a water mark, right?  The same goes for this filing system.  Pull out the master folder for paper and skim the list until you come to “018 – 100% cotton, cream, water mark,” put back the master file and flip through the support files to folder #018!

Third, everything has a place!  If you want to file something new just reverse the steps.  Pull out the master file for binding supplies, go to the end of the list, next to the first blank number write “2 inch, white, lockable D-ring,” and replace the master file.  Then, pull out a blank coordinating support folder and write in the number you used followed by “2 inch, white, lockable D-ring.”  To file it, put it at the end of the color coordinated support files for the binding supplies section.

Fourth, check me out (aren’t you the organized one?)!  Your master folders could include active clients, archived clients, vendors, staff, bills, warranty or electronics, and taxes.  Depending on your niche and how detailed you choose to be the possibilities are endless.

[Hint]  What about that “misc” container?  When you have everything else filed, go through it again.  Maybe you realized now there was duplicate stuff you’ve already filed.  Or you might know exactly where to put something now because its proper home is clear to you.  Yeah, perhaps you’ve reached your tolerance threshold and you just want to dump the whole container in the trash!  As a last resort, put it in the top of the closet somewhere and come back to it another day.

There you have it everyone!  Not only have I used this system for myself but I’ve set it up for many people.  The feedback I’ve gotten has been positive and, especially for the organization-challenged, the system is easy to maintain.  If you have any questions I’d be happy to help you out!  The book is even a reasonable investment at less than 10 bucks.

As a final note this system can be as neat or as sloppy as you want it to be but as long as you follow the master folder and support folder system it is still organized!  Being the ESTJ I am, I prefer printed labels with colored bars across the top but a pen and marker directly on the file folder is equally effective.  Also, if you go in tab placement order your file titles are always visible as apposed to going hap-hazard when filing alphabetically!

Nibbling away -

Sundi