What SBA Loans Can Help Virtual Professionals in April 2020

What SBA Loans Can Help Virtual Professionals in April 2020

Do the SBA Disaster Loan programs apply to me as a Virtual Professional?  As a Freelancer?  As an independent contractor?   Yes!  

Here’s a quick lesson on the programs as of April 10, 2020 but more importantly…. financial learning and business structure you NEED to know as a business owner.   Watch this and learn some of the seemingly scary stuff about LLCs and S-Corps and Payroll and Loans and Cashflow.

 

 

SBA WEBSITE:   sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options

WHO IS THIS FOR?

SMALL BUSINESSES:

Are you a small business (LLC, s-corp, 501c3) with less than 500 employees?  

—->  You qualify for PPP or EIDL $10K Advance or EIDL  (but you cannot apply for ALL of them)

CONTRACTORS:

Are you a solopreneur who pays receives 1099s from clients for tax purposes?

—->  You can apply for PPP on your own.  (It’s fuzzy whether or not your clients can claim contractor $ as payroll)

What is PPP (Paycheck Protection Program)?

  • A forgiveable loan (i.e. like a grant) for up to 2.5 times monthly payroll
    • Also applies to rent, utilities and some other details
  • You must use the money towards those items – they will “verify” in some way after the fact
    • i.e. you need to show a financial statement that shows you paid payroll during this 8 week period
  • If you don’t use it for that purpose but it rolls into a 10 year, 3-ish% loan, no payments until 6 months from now
  • Must apply thru a bank!  (details below)

What is EIDL?

  •  Emergency Disaster Relief Loan
  • Application process is only online thru the SBA website
  • There is an EIDL Loan Advance that is super simple, $10k, and forgiveable whether or not you get the EIDL loan
  • The EIDL loan is for up to $2 million for businesses payable at a low interest over 10 years
    • You can receive a bigger EIDL loan potentially than a PPP which is why you want to consider doing this depending on your business situation

 

What do I recommend you do strategically as a Virtual Professional?

If you are a debt free business (s-corp, LLC, etc):

  • Apply for PPP AND the EIDL Advance.
    • it’s not clear if you will get both but likely there is a number they will cap you at.
    • Use the funds as intended for payroll (You will be asked to report how you used it)  Then do smart things with your cash reserves such as invest ahead for new programs, expansion

If you have business debt:

  • Apply for PPP and even the EIDL Advance.
    • Use the funds as intended for payroll (you will be asked to report how you used it and will pay interest if not used for payroll)
    • If there is extra, use it to pay off high interest debt. The PPP money if not used for payroll (and other approved expenses) is no payment for 6 months then rolls into a very low interest (i.e. 3%ish) 10 year loan.  Very inexpensive money that helps keep your business afloat!
  • **OR** if your business is operating with multiple full time employees and in the multiple 6 figures —> talk to your business advisors about the full EIDL option (and apply for the $10k advance right away)

HOW TO APPLY:

  • (watch the video)
  • EIDL Advance is fast and easy only thru the SBA.gov website
  • PPP requires working thru a bank.  
    • I suggest a local bank where you have a personal relationship.  (big banks are struggling to process the apps)
    • Applications started April 3 and already over $120billion of the $350bill+ has been applied for.  
    • Application details took me about 2 hours to prepare this information for my bank:
      • Completed Application (Attached)
      • Payroll Expense Verification Documents to include:
      • o   IRS Form 940 and 941
      • o   Payroll Summary Report with corresponding bank statement
      • o   If a payroll summary report is not available, employee pay stubs as of 02-15-2020(or corresponding period) with corresponding bank statement and breakdown of payroll benefits (vacation, allowance for dismissal, group healthcare benefits, retirement benefits, etc
      • o   1099s (if independent contractor)
      • Trailing twelve-month P&L

 

BUSINESS STRATEGY LESSONS FOR NOW AND FUTURE PLANNING:

  1. PAY YOURSELF OFFICIAL INCOME!   If you have not been paying yourself an official income you do not qualify for these.  Ouch!
    • Do not fall into the trap of writing off everything as a business expense to try and avoid taxes. There are some really smart ways to do that once you are above a payroll threshold that’s appropriate for your business
    • If you do not pay yourself payroll….. you may not qualify for a car loan, mortgage re-fi etc.  This is fine if you are married but …. life changes quickly, especially when we face crisis like this.  
      • LESSON:  Pay yourself payroll and build up your credit score so you can be individually financially strong

         

  2. Have a relationship with a good local personal banker(s)
    • I suggest both a large bank and a local credit union.   It seems old fashioned but personal relationships can make a difference in your loan approval rate.

       

  3. Be in a position to have good credit to acquire loans.  
    • This is *very* cheap money that can help you keep your business afloat and grow it.  Good credit scores are important.
      • Think twice before skipping your mortgage payment during this crisis.  Pay everything you can on time.

         

  4. Keep your books officially up to date – Your future self will thank you!
    • If your books aren’t up to date, it can be very stressful to try to pull this together quickly.  (i’ve been there in the past!)
    • A good accountant will have your Quickbooks cleaned up and all you need to do is pull the report (mine even sent it to me ready to go!)
      • Hot tip for Virtual Professional Bookkeepers!
      • If you want to learn to be a Virtual Bookkeeper or improve your game in that space checkout LoriMercerCTO.com/bookkeepers
  5. Have good cashflow + business savings for 3+ months
    • Just like we are taught to have a personal savings, our business should have this as well.  
    • Just think….. if I had $##,#### money in my business account right now, how different would I feel?

NEXT STEPS:

Do you qualify?

Get on it!  This process is going to be slow and tedious as banks adapt.   As one of my co-working advisors said “It’s like the wild wild west for a money grab out there”

Do you need guidance on starting or growing your Virtual Professional income?

Go to GoVirtualProfessional.com for the most up to date resources during this rapidly changing market!

Virtual Work Mentoring

Ways to Help April 2020

ACCESS THE FILES SHARED IN THIS VIDEO

Virtual Work From Home As the ONLY Income

Virtual Work From Home As the ONLY Income

 

I left you hanging in the last post.…….. 

I’m heading into 2019 as a single mom on a single income…..and that is my Virtual Professional business.

What?  Yes it’s a bit nerve wracking on one hand.  But soooooo empowering on the other.

(Here’s where I get vulnerable.  Really vulnerable.)

For all of 2017 and 2018  I operated my business in the midst of major life turmoil.  Lost my father to cancer.  Separated from my husband.  Walking my daughter through significant treatment for anorexia.  And graduating my oldest and moving him across the country for college.

Here’s the good news (for me and for everyone out there running a VA / Virtual Professional business.)

I made it.  And so can you.

I didn’t just make it, I once again hit six figures.

(in revenue, not profit, not salary…..there was a lot that I outsourced just to keep myself physically well and mentally healing.)

It wasn’t until the kids went back to school in August that I was able to put my focus 100% back into my business.  And in 4 short months, I was back to my “normal” levels of Virtual Professional revenue.

My divorce was final on Dec. 26th and I entered 2019 100% financially responsible for myself and my 4 kids.

There is no fall back income.  No space to take a season off.   

All benefits of working from home that had been agreed upon in our marriage and were so helpful for the care of our 4 kids, are now gone and it’s all me.

What would you do differently in your business if your family was 100% relying on your income?

That’s quite a question.  And while I’ve always been a serious business builder, there are some things I’ve approached differently as a result of this change.

Cash flow is more important.  Delayed client payments can really throw a wrench into things.   Having more cash reserves also helps us work from a place of strength instead of a place of desperation and worry.

Selecting clients who respect your boundaries and time constraints is also essential.  While there are some days I can work later and longer, there are days that it’s all on me to get the kids somewhere and I can’t have emergency client work cropping up at those times.  (Hint:  clients 3 time zones away can have the best intentions but in all practicality, just isn’t right.)

Thinking about the longer term picture has also allowed me to select clients and projects that lead towards longer term, more sustainable business.

These are more “advanced” topics in the virtual professional space for sure.  Even if you are just getting started, I like to be transparent with what’s ahead.

I am still 100% a believer in this client-services business model.

I still see more work available than there are VA’s to take on.

It’s still the business model I am pursuing even as a single mom.

Share with me…..what’s the biggest thing holding you back from starting or growing your VA / Virtual Professional business?

(It could be the topic of my next email!)

If you’re ready to rock-n-roll, my best fast track trainings from 2018 are available in this training bundle at a special price only thru Tuesday.   It’s the lowest priced training package I’ve ever offered.

Because…….Our email list has been LIT UP since the holidays.  Hundreds of new people signing up since then.   It’s clearly time for a change.

These are the videos you want to watch if you are just beginning your VA business…… or if you are stalled and discouraged and want to reset with a fresh mentality (and be inspired knowing it can be done even if you are the sole breadwinner.)

Here’s to the women that are taking this Virtual Professional mountain with me!

Parenting Through Slow Suicide:  Adolescent Anorexia

Parenting Through Slow Suicide: Adolescent Anorexia

{This is a different kind of post for my blog. It’s personal. And vulnerable. And 1000% related to how moms juggle life and business.
It’s also full of a new passion to bring awareness to a secretive topic. At the end, I share my thoughts on how we maintain our businesses when we are facing such crises in our homes. Skip to the end if you need to know that part ASAP. I’m grateful I do run my own business. Otherwise, I would have been fired from my corporate job because of all the time I’ve needed to care for my family over the past couple of years.}

The past few months we’ve been waking up everyday to slay a dragon. It’s name is Anorexia Nervosa.

That dragon analogy I learned from another parent in the eating disorder clinic where we’ve been spending 20-25 hours per week since early December.

Shocker right? My daughter doesn’t “look” like she has anorexia. (and if someone utters those words we understand it’s simply coming from a lack of education and awareness.) Forget all your preconceived notions form photos of Angelina Jolie in the grocery checkout line.

Also, please don’t say things like “She just needs to eat.” or “Can’t you make her eat?”

After keeping this sneaky and secretive disorder to ourselves for the past 3 months, my daughter is finally at a stage of her treatment that it’s ok to share. In fact, sharing with everyone now is easier than figuring out to whom we’ve already explained the complex eating schedule, lack of participation in sports and missing school days.

It’s timely too since this is officially Eating Disorder Awareness week.

So first of all, some education. Here’s an official website full of info: https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/anorexia

You want the short shocking version? It could have killed her.

Her body was in the process of shutting down. Anorexia is slow suicide. We were clueless. And it has a lengthy, regimented recovery protocol that Maya may need to follow for the rest of her life.

Here’s my short official version:

  • Anorexia is a brain disorder.
  • It is not something a person chooses.
  • It has genetic and personality ties primarily which are pushed by environmental triggers (everyone wants to know “why” and that’s the best answer)
  • It’s defined simply as any restriction of food of any kind and / or excessive exercising
  • It does not define the person. We still have our Maya but sometimes it’s the eating disorder talking to us instead of her.
  • It’s a disorder of the brain that is curable, especially when treated aggressively in adolescents

Here’s what our life has looked like the past few months:

  • Structured meal plans, 6 times a day, from a licensed dietitian
  • Me making and serving ALL of her food because any contact with food prep / grocery shopping even, is an unhealthy trigger for the noisy thoughts in her brain
  • Monitoring all meals and food intake, because eating disorders are so sneaky and will try to convince her to hide, discard and lie about what food she has / has not eaten
  • Encouraging her to eat food that literally does not taste good to her (the disorder changes the taste buds)
  • Teaching her digestive system to accept food again (think of painful your muscles are when you haven’t used them in awhile and start to exercise again. Same thing but her stomach muscles instead.)
  • Enforcing “supplements” and other consequences (bedrest) when food is not consumed completely and in the timeframe required
  • Endless appointments at the Children’s Hospital Eating Disorder clinic since December 6th. (partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, psychiatrists, medical doctors, therapists, dietitians.)
  • Inability for her to sleep through the night.
  • Making sure she isn’t secretly exercising at night.
  • Reminding Maya over and over that it’s the eating disorder telling her lies about her body, her weight, her talents and gifts in this world.
  • Navigating broken friendships, careless words from people who don’t understand and figuring out who will be the “safe” people in our life we can trust during this sensitive time.

How did we get here?

(Everyone wants to know why.  So do we but truly, we may never know.  Fact is we are here, may be forever, and so we take this trial and look for the blessings in it.)

All summer we admired and praised Maya for her work ethic and discipline around her work outs and healthy eating as she reached for her goal of making the high school soccer team.

(Looking back, you know we questioned how we missed this and if we were part of the problem.)

At points, I felt she wasn’t eating enough, and her brother noticed as well, and we tried to educate her on proper calorie intake for the amount of exercise output. She appeared to be complying. And she took an extreme interest in shopping for and making her own food. She also became very interested in very work out techniques, strength training and fitness equipment. Her dad beamed for having a girl who wanted to be strong. Awesome right? Nope. A sure sign of an eating disorder I now understand.

I knew something more serious was going on around late October when Maya confessed to me her obsessive thoughts about food and calorie counting. She was scared. She didn’t like that she couldn’t stop these thoughts.

Naively I thought we could fix this by reading a couple of books, praying and getting into a counselor.

By the time we finally found the clinic at Children’s Hospital and had our assessment on December 6th, here’s what was going on with Maya physically:

Her body was shutting down. She had been restricting herself to 500-800 calories a day since June. She was constantly cold because her blood was focused around her core organs. Her heart rate was only 50. She’d been light headed and passed out a couple of times. Her digestive system was not working (I’ll spare the details but how would you feel with only 3 bathroom events in over a month?). Her female cycle had stopped. Her hair was falling out. One by one her body systems were shutting down. And she had been playing soccer in this condition as recently as a couple weeks prior. She was severely malnourished and her brain was affected as well because it simply couldn’t function.

We could have lost her to heart failure. Or suicide. That’s how serious this disorder can be.

Now here we are, 3 months later and part way through the battle and ready to share. This article is therapeutic for me, and approved by Maya. Because, for me as the mom, how did we miss this? How many other parents are missing this? (I *need* to reach you all!)  How did her coaches miss this? (multiple athletes from our school system are receiving treatment at the same clinic.  I don’t blame.  I just *need* coaches to know.)

I’m good and angry at it now. There are not enough tools. It was barely mentioned in her freshman health class this past fall. And her AP Psych teacher told me she is going to add some resources I shared to her curriculum. None of the parent meetings for all the expensive travel sports we play have EVER mentioned this is a risk and something to watch for in people who are intensely focused on athletics.

The therapists at the clinic are desperate to get the word out to pediatrician offices – who are so quick to treat for food allergies (encouraging the fear of food, deeming it the enemy). Or to simply medicate for depression and miss this completely.

I am convicted to get this information into a nutrition program for all middle and high school coaches to share with athletes and parents.

If there’s one thing you all need to take away from this, it’s how we talk about food.

All food is good food.
(in the right moderation)

We need to stop labeling food as “clean” or “dirty” or “toxic”. Yes yes I know things have changed and I’ve done this before. But it’s being taken to an extreme that manifests in full on eating disorders.

Food is her medicine. A healthy well-rounded meal plan that includes milk (gasp! dairy?) and oreos (gasp! gluten and processed sugar?) and even fries and coke. Because that’s a normalized life…..in the right moderation.

To all my fellow moms who are obsessing over your bodies with instagram selfies and diet shakes, I’m still using duct tape so I don’t unfairly snap on you. I don’t have the right words yet except to know that what WE are doing in the name of “self-care” and “healthy lifestyles” can get so far off track.

Learning to control our urges in any direction (too much or too little) is imperative. (For those of you ready to argue with me about the all food is good food fact, please read more about Orthorexia (https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/other/orthorexia) and reflect on your own habits a bit. I say this because I’ve been there myself and I care about you. We all hate that idealistic B word – balance. Yet there’s wisdom in it.

Every body is beautiful. All food is good food in the right moderation. Restriction is only a short term fix. (Note that on the flip side of anorexia are other eating disorders resulting in obesity that are equally damaging to the body. That’s not what I’m here to share, nor am I versed in it but if that’s you, please check out more resources here. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org)

{Short note to my clients who work in the fitness space, my experience is going to produce some breakthrough thinking for your marketing. We HAVE to look at things differently to get better results. You will get attention when sharing these counter-culture messages and your business will grow.}

So what does treatment and recovery look like?

At our intake visit, I pushed back sobs as the doctors told us they were debating sending her straight to the hospitalization program. For a few reasons, they decided to let us start in Intensive Outpatient treatment. They handed me the schedule and I cried again. These treatments require a lot of hands on from the parents. Because when you treat this aggressively in the adolescent years, you can change those neuropathways in the brain and basically beat the disorder into submission with structure.

So we immediately began. On her 15th birthday. With 8 hours of appointments, orientation and treatment.

Phase 1 is simply getting the body re-nourished again. Food is the medicine. It took us about 10 weeks to get there. Until then, there was little reasoning with that malnourished brain being led by eating disorder lies. We were living with an incredibly moody, unhappy teenager (don’t we all? but this was so different. so extreme. so scary in ways I can’t even put into visible words yet. scary in the worst ways you can imagine as a parent.)

Next, after the body is functioning from a nourished state again within an expected body weight range, you move into a phase where you fight those thoughts. And it’s a long one and requires still the constant vigilance with meals and eating. I’m anticipating another 6 – 12 months of this vigilance assuming we don’t have a relapse. (Yes, I’ve adjusted my 2018 business activities significantly and unapologetically and truthfully, guilt free. Nothing is more important right now.)

There is absolutely ZERO exercise of any kind allowed during treatment.

Some kids sneak in exercise in their rooms at night. For some time periods of treatment, you literally need to be with them 24/7.

We are not yet back to a point to reintroduce any exercise. In fact, even extra walking for example at the mall or an event, requires additional caloric intake…..or to be pushed in a wheel chair to not expend that energy….necessary especially when your metabolic system is trying to reset in crazy ways.

School becomes a secondary priority and for 5 weeks, she did not attend at all. (Praises to her awesome teachers for assisting thru all of this.)

There are new medicines, new ways to talk about food and eating, and a new bond with my daughter that is a beautiful blessing in the face of this challenge.

But why?

Still that question.  I understand.  I’m wielding it from family members over and over.  Many of you have thoughts in your own minds about this. Likely uneducated judgments. I used to be there too.

For a minute, I did blame myself for not seeing it and potentially encouraging bad food behaviors – calling a shake breakfast and a protein bar lunch. Working to eliminate the “toxins” from our food and eat more “clean”. These CAN be contributors with people at risk for an eating disorder.

Ultimately, it is “just” another mental illness, which some people are more genetically and / or environmentally predisposed to. 50-80% of the risk for anorexia and bulimia is genetic. (Trace, S. E., Baker, J. H., Peñas-Lledó, E., & Bulik, C. M. (2013). The genetics of eating disorders. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 9, 589-620.)

We crave to know more of the why naturally so we can get to that root cause and eliminate it right?

Here’s one more shocking (I’ve used that word 3 times in this blog and I’ve maybe never used it before in anything I’ve written) fact for you:

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

(mink, F. E., van Hoeken, D., & Hoek, H. W. (2012). Epidemiology of eating disorders: Incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Current Psychiatry Reports,14(4), 406-414.)

It’s aggressive. And so sneaky.

Did you know there are actually instagram accounts and forums where people with eating disorders will help each other with ways to HIDE anorexia?

(I won’t even share the names but if you suspect your child is struggling, message me and I’ll give you some ideas of what to look for in their instagram account.)

What parents should look for…. (I’ll share a few interesting unhealthy eating behaviors)

  • Dresses in layers to hide weight loss or stay warm
  • Is preoccupied with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting
  • Refuses to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates, etc.)
  • Excessive use of napkins
  • Micro-chopping of food
  • Focus on eating only “clean” (right? some of you are going to lose your mind when you read this!)
  • Refusing sweets
  • Reasons to skip meals
  • Skipping breakfast
    • (innocent…we all do it but do you know if they’re eating lunch? Maya was only eating a reasonable dinner with us on many days…and only on days we actually ate dinner as a family which is approximately twice a week.)
  • stomach aches
    • (you know my first thought? oh you must have a gluten or dairy allergy. what should we cut out? Wrong. So freaking wrong. Don’t get me started.)
  • Maintains an excessive, rigid exercise regimen – despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury
  • Withdraws from usual friends and activities and becomes more isolated, withdrawn, and secretive
  • Seems concerned about eating in public
  • Has limited social spontaneity
  • Fainting
  • Feeling cold
  • Hair loss
  • Depression, self-harm and high anxiety.

The full list of symptoms is here: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/anorexia/warning-signs-symptoms

That list may scare you. Perhaps it even triggers some warning signs for your own unhealthy relationship with food? I saw it too late. In hindsight, she was doing so many of these things and we chalked them up to “normal” teen behavior.

Here’s what I’ve learned after 12 weeks and counting of being at the eating disorder clinic on average 4 – 5 days a week.

Us parents are in this battle together. I’m grateful for the bonds we have inside the clinic that are confidential, raw, vulnerable and exhibiting parenting strength we never knew we could muster.

Good things can go bad in kids who are prone to eating disorder. For example, training hard out of determination to make the high school soccer team. Then, being around a bunch of calorie-counting upperclassmen that have a stronger influence than they realize with their words.

Or starting a work out program with a team mate to gain muscle. The team mate does great. But your child’s obsessive thoughts become an eating disorder monster from following the identical routine.

The Eating Disorder convinces these kids they are not skinny enough (and if you ask them what their goal weight is, they irrationally don’t have one because they feel they will never be skinny enough).

Eating disorders thrive in smart, high-achieving, perfectionistic students and athletes.

There is no stereotype of course but runners, soccer players, dancers, gymnasts, etc, have surrounded us in this program. Straight A students, some of them already committed to collegiate sports.

It takes a good thing – a desire to achieve and perform well – and twists it into completely irrational thinking.

If you have 10 minutes, this TED talk is the best description of what an eating disorder biologically does to the brain.

 

Support for coaches…..

I want to help you. A few of Maya’s coaches don’t even know this yet. They don’t know they coached her through complete seasons where she was barely eating.

I’m working on some resources and a plan to circulate them through our school district at a minimum.

How has this changed my view on our diet-obsessed culture?

Mostly I’ve bit my tongue and kept my hands away from the keyboard. The nicest way I can say this is that we’ve got some serious issues and I’ve been right there in that race with you all (bullet proof coffee, paleo diets, the vegan green smoothie phase, Shakeology and yes an advocare regimen of countless pills.) In case you wondered, now is 1000% not the time to come at me with why your pink drink or other magic potion is “different”.

I believe we’ve all been fed a pile of lies. And this post is not big enough to dig into that.

Where do we go from here?

A few requests straight from the heart of the one fighting this battle head on, my daughter.

  • Don’t give me “pity eyes”. I’ve got a curable sickness and want your support.
  • Don’t talk about food and dieting around me. (And please clean up your own eating habits.)

And requests from this mama who’s weary but stronger now as a result:

  • Catch this when they are young. Before they are on their own in college and beyond. (It’s considered “curable” in adolescents.)
  • Reach out to me if you need support. Please don’t hesitate. Support groups seem few and far between even in a large city like we live.
  • Reconsider your own views around food, dieting, exercise and what it means to be “healthy”. We are setting examples for those around us.

Now, for those of you who normally hang around here looking for online business advice, entrepreneurial wisdom or to start or grow your own work from home business….. you need to hear this.

To support my daughter, I had to cut my work back to 15-20 hours per week. What does that even look like and do to a business?

The message out there is hustle.  Find the time.  Your business grows as much as you put into it.  (I don’t subscribe to all those philosophies anyhow.  It’s always been a family first thing for me.)

How do you navigate your business when facing a family crisis like this?

A few reflections (because we are still in the trenches)

 1. A whole new level of Flexible

Virtual professional / freelance work is rather flexible.  You can flex not just work times but also flex the type of work and clients you take on and don’t take on. I intentionally did not take on certain types of projects and clients in this season.

2. Pick good clients

From the start pick good clients.  Most of my clients are other parents.  Most of them are Christian believers and we pray for each other’s businesses and families.   So when crisis comes, we adapt and adjust with grace and understanding.  (Since we are coming out of the darkest valley, I do now have 2 client spaces open for March & April)

3. Do only the essentials (you’ll figure that out quickly)

Drop the “shoulds”.  Stop following other people online who don’t have children (and stop comparing yourself to them!)   This is a big chant of mine anyhow that’s become so apparent in this season.

4. God will provide.

Plant seeds throughout your years of business. They will bring a harvest when you most need it.

5. Follow a financial system (I like Profit First).

Have a game plan where you have back up savings in the event you are unable to work for a season.

6. Drop the guilt and be with your family in need.

It could be easy to mega-stress load and try to keep up with everything.  But what your family needs most is the BEST you.  Calm, confident, caring and on top of it.

7.  Don’t stop self-care.

The #1 cause of relapse for eating disorders? Parent burn out. We are simply exhausted from the treatment protocol and begin to cut corners. The eating disorder sneaks back in wherever it can.

8. These seasons bring insights that can be game changers for your business

One bright light through all of this is since my client load is smaller, I’ve been able to really pour into my How She Quits Community and launch a new membership community.

B-School launch happened throughout this time period and I intentionally set a small amount of marketing I’d do for that (some emails and posts, no ads, no lives, etc.)  And still, the right people were there and ready for it.

Having this break in “normal” work has given me perspective on what I truly enjoy the most in my business.  I am certain I wouldn’t have had that perspective if I had stayed in my normal flow of client work (even though I sincerely enjoy all of my clients!)   This is good news for my clients too because I come to them refreshed and renewed with these insights on our projects.

9. If I was still in corporate, this would be the second time I was fired in a year.

Last year we found out my dad had a cancerous brain tumor and we lost him in 10 weeks.   I spent so much time with him and mom – which is the only way I wanted it to be.  6 months later I’m in eating disorder h-e-double-hockey-sticks.

If I was still in corporate, the stress would have been unbearable. And quitting would have meant instant zero salary.  Instead, I cut back, delegated my team, had lesser revenue but let’s be realistic….I worked 15-20 hours a week max and maintained a 6 figure revenue business (plus a 6 figure non-profit).

Can I encourage you to have a plan B outside of the day job?

If you are new here, I teach that freelance work is the fastest path out of a day job

But don’t drop that dream of building a longer, slower growth online business (blog, author, speaking, online training, coaching, etc).   You can be up and running with your freelance work in 60-90 days.   That leaves flexibility to keep building your passion business on the side.

More info at “start here” and “HowSheQuits.com” or if you’re ready, join us in the Collective.


Now, set all that business talk aside for a moment.  Because you’re talking to a normal, regular, real mom who’d do anything to help her daughter through a battle like this.

For those who are walking this path, I’m praying for you.

 

 

 

Short Time Offer – The Complete Simple Online Business Program for Busy Moms

Short Time Offer – The Complete Simple Online Business Program for Busy Moms

B-School Registration is Open Only Through March 1

As an alumni and partner who believes in the value of the program, I want to extend you a special offer.

For those who register for B-School with me, you have 2 BONUS options depending on your business needs.

  • 6 Months Access to How She Quits Collective Membership Community
    • Including our library of online marketing resources – offer design, naming, funnel design and more
  • Three 1 hour 1-on-1 Coaching Calls
    • March, April and June to carry you through B-School
  • Design of your high-converting freebie offer opt-in (copy, graphics and freebie naming and content outline)*
    • *If you need implementation help, we’ll offer discounted implementation hours too
  • 6 Months Access to How She Quits Collective Membership Community
    • yes, including our resource library
  • 6 Weeks To Clients VIP Edition (our premier course for becoming and growing your Virtual Professional busines)
    • Includes your own Professional Website + Hosting
    • 1-on-1 strategy calls
    • Complete Course Access
  • Verified Virtual Professional Training Center

Is B-School for me?

Are you seeking a structured, proven system to rapidly learn good online marketing AND business strategy?  Then yes.   B-School teaches high quality lessons in an efficient, easy to learn format.

It is for:   anyone wanting to run an online business – coaching, consulting, blogging (we’ll make a business out of it for you!), online courses, memberships and any service based work such as – virtual professsional services, web design, VA, copywriters, graphic designers, social media managers, book keepers, etc.

Are Lori’s bonuses for me?

I offered 2 bonus options, depending on your type of business.   My philosophy comes from 20+ years of business strategy and over 10 years in the online marketing space working with big and just starting baby brands.   If you have questions about that, just ask.

If you want to start or grow your VA or Virtual Professional business, the 6 Weeks To Clients track is perfect for you (and includes a website – hello!)

If you want to move into online course / info product or other coaching options, then our new How She Quits Collective PLUS my 1-on-1 coaching including a funnel design, is the right bonus for you.

Can I do B-School at a later time?

It’s only open once a year.  Which is right now.  I’m not into pressuring people into doing anything.  It has to be the right timing.  But honestly, March – April is a GREAT time to dive in. While the new year is fresh, goals are still in eye sight, and summer hasn’t side-swiped all your free time.

Is the price worth it?

Loaded question right?  This is a $1999 program.  Not the cheap by any means.  And a scary number to commit to for many!   This is one reason I offer my bonuses like I do.  It basically makes it a 2-for-1, a BOGO, an unbeatable offer to get my programs as well as the amazing B-School.

If I didn’t believe in the ROI (return on investment) of this program, I would not be a partner (there are currently only 2 things I respect enough to be a partner for.  B-School and 90 Day Year.  Both game changers in my business.)

At the end of the day, math is not emotional.   Can you show the math that will pay back the value of this course?   For me, it paid back immediately as I opened a new membership program that raised $5000.  In other years, I’ve invested in programs that brought me 2 new clients, worth $2000 each initially and more over time.    What does your math look like?    If it’s not clear, then consider this a training investment.   A place where you will get highly valuable strategic guidance to save time and money as you design your business.

How much time does this take?

While you can pace yourself, I recommend trying to stay within a week or two of the program schedule to get the most out of it.  Calls are recorded so you can always go back and listen.  With 2 hours a week, you can really get a lot out of this program.  With more, you can get more.

Want to hear more?  Here’s my story of how B-School helped me quit my corporate job (including my intervew with Marie Forleo herself.)

Or you can grab some time on my calendar to talk more.

 

5 Small Mistakes that Cost You Clients (and How to Fix Them)

5 Small Mistakes that Cost You Clients (and How to Fix Them)

Welcome to The How She Quits Show – Episode 2

As a busy business owner who both hires my own VAs and places them with others, I can tell you that good quality VA’s are tough to come by.   I’m not talking about even the whiz-bangy tech skills or the creative geniuses.   I’m talking about a reliable, accountable, going to do what they say they will do kind of person.   Crazy huh?  $20+ / hour is nothing to sneeze at but perhaps there is a misconception in the VA world as to what a business owner really expects and needs for that $20 / hour.   And it doesn’t take a lot of extra time on your part as a VA.

These 5 things might seem small and minor but when done by a VA, they frustrate the client and begin to make them doubt your abilities in other areas.

When these things are avoided, is when you move into the higher pay scale of professional VA services….even if you don’t yet have a ton of strategic skills or marketing talent. Because reliability and thoroughness are surprisingly difficult skills to find these days.

When you can avoid these small things, you become a reliable, dependable, detail oriented VA who is looking to be a partner in business for the long haul.


DON’T: Show up a little late for meetings.

Better late than never just doesn’t cut it in the life of a business owner.  Even if they are habitually late, you need to be there on time.   A few lost minutes at the beginning of a call can really set back the mood immediately.   And, if they are always late, it demonstrates even more how busy they are and must rely on your accountability and willingness to be there no matter what.  A late, busy business owner almost always has more work they can delegate.

DO:  Show up a few minutes early, with all resources ready for action

When you are having meetings with someone who is always on time, it makes you show up better on time!   And when you are having meetings with someone who is always late, it gives you that extra 5 minutes to grab another coffee thinking “oh, they’re going to be late too.”    So just by showing up early and prepared you are subconsciously adding value to your client’s workflow and day.

Showing up ready to work (let’s assume this is an online meeting using video conference) means this:

  • Your microphone and camera are working
  • All the right files are open and ready for screen share on your computer
  • You have a clear agenda of things to talk about —> Busy business owners often want a VA to guide them through the work.  They’ve delegated it and it’s out of mind for them as they trust you will get it all done.

I just had a meeting with my assistant today and I said “I don’t have a lot for you.” and her answer to me was “Ok, good because I have a lot for you.”  That’s the sign of someone who is staying on top of everything and I’ve successfully removed it from my mind.   She was early and prepared and quickly settled my mind that was bouncing in a million directions.


DON’T: Leave small things undone

The devil is in the details right?   Our team has a process each time we enter a new blog like this one.  It includes quite a few steps but it’s clear and easy to follow.   And when it’s time for me to review a post for publishing and I find one of those things undone, it makes me wonder…..are they paying attention to all the details?   How much more should I quality review?  And if I’m quality reviewing this much should I just do the work myself?

Examples of small things I find left undone:

  • Not using agreed upon naming conventions
  • Not moving a task all the way through to completed in our Asana board
  • Leaving a blog post in their name as the author
  • Forgetting to add the right tags to a post
  • Not updating the subject line when an email is prepped
  • (oh this is a biggie that drives me crazy!) Not putting the final files in an organized way, with the proper name, into the shared team folder where we can all find them

DO:  Be a Finisher through every last detail

As a business owner paying $20+/hour, I don’t want to have to go back and check the small things.  That’s why I’m hiring you and not a $3 / hour overseas VA.

It’s such a good feeling when I go back into a project or file a couple weeks later and find things all buttoned up with a neat little bow.   Files are where we need them and easy to locate.  Everything is spelled correctly.  Instruction trails are left behind.   It’s easy to take that work and reuse it for the next task.

As a business owner, I pay you to be my detail person.  Because quite often, business owners, CEOs, founders, entrepreneurs….they are those visionary types of people doing amazing things….but details don’t come easy to them.   Details aren’t their zone of genius, but it is for a VA.


DON’T: Not follow-up

Everything is done from your end.  Whew!   Check that one off.  It has moved onto to the next person’s plate. Do you:

a. Sigh with relief! You’re free!
b. Fret and worry if it’s going to be done
c. Pass it on with a lot of detail and check back in a day or so to be sure the next person is making progress

I see so many VA’s live their day choosing “a” and live to check things off their Asana or Trello list.   But your client isn’t paying you to check things off the list.  I know those red overdue notifications drive you type A’s crazy but checked off lists don’t bring complete results.

DO: Handoff and then follow up, especially for your busy business owner.

If the next step is for your client to complete, your work isn’t done.   Follow up with them regularly so it doesn’t fall off their radar.  Suggest another way you can expedite that to completion more quickly even.

If it’s someone else’s turn (a graphic designer, web developer, etc) follow up with them.  You don’t have to know all the tech details to follow up on progress and see how things are going.   This saves a ton of back and forth time for the client themselves.

See the difference there? And it barely takes anymore effort to follow up. It demonstrates that you are a forward thinker, see the big picture and adding value your client will recognize and think “I can’t let this one go. She’s G-O-O-D.”

If you need motivation remember this, the client does not see results until every last step is done, not just yours.  Results are what brings them revenue and allows them to keep you on contract.


DON’T: Make typos and grammar mistakes – You ARE a Detail Person!

Do I need to explain further?  I don’t know a single VA who says “I don’t care about the details.”   All VA’s out there are advertising this skill yet I find mistakes even on their own posts, emails and websites. Yikes!   This one is obvious so let’s move on.

DO: Review every word, sentence and paragraph in every blog post, email and social media post you create

A busy business owner is going to BRAIN DUMP raw creative content to you that isn’t polished (maybe unless they are an author themselves right?)  But I meet a ton of business owners who want you to grab the magic inside their brain and make it look pretty.   This is my dream by the way but I just haven’t found a VA who can totally capture my voice.  But they can polish up raw words into well formatted content.  And that means they better find my typos and correct some grammar mistakes along the way.

This one is easy folks.  If you don’t like this aspect maybe you should rethink being a VA?


DON’T: Not speak up when you notice something

So you’re in there poking around on a website and …. you see their credit card is about to expire or … the wrong link is used … or a reader made a comment about an issue.

Or let’s use this example.

If your task was to audit a library of blog posts to be sure they were all categorized properly, and you uncovered an issue with image formats on each post, what should you do?

a.  Assume your client already knows

b.  Update them automatically without asking

c. Make your client aware, get approval to do the work and finish all the details

C is my preferred answer for VA’s I hire so that I’m completely aware of the issue, their experience to fix it and how many additional hours I’ll be billed.

DO:  Add value by finding other things that need correction or updating

When you can save your client time or money in advance, with just a few extra moments, you’re golden.  This is that level I describe as “reading their mind”.   You truly become invaluable when you know your way around their content and assets and have taken pride in ownership with what you do there.

And, when you do this it’s job security.  You are creating your next project (that’s needed and valuable, not just making up work.)


See how that extra 30 seconds of notifying, noting and following up can completely change the results you bring to your clients?  And in turn, bring you higher rates and income.

There’s never been a better time to be a High Quality Professional VA.

10 Ways to Market Your Business for Free

10 Ways to Market Your Business for Free

Certainly, you can spend Facebook Ad money to grow your following.  But you’re growing it with strangers. Organic growth is slower (usually) but more personal and effective.

Here are 10 ways to share your dream, offer your services and grow your following without spending a dime.

Although Facebook pages are slower to develop than they were a few years ago, having an official Facebook page for your business and not using your personal profile is the professional and expected way to run a business.

Consider this your dynamic, interactive business card. When used interactively with a Facebook group and your personal profile (in appropriate ways), it’s still the platform where all the eyeballs are looking.

#1. Create a Facebook page for your business and link it to your personal Facebook profile.

Your personal profile is used to connect to Facebook groups and yes, people will stalk you and find your business that way. Invite people you know care about your mission to your Facebook page. Stay on mission and post once a day.

#2. When someone comments on your Facebook page posts, invite them to follow your page.

#3. Link your Instagram to your Facebook so you are covering 2 platforms with one post.

You’ll need to do this from your Instagram account on your mobile phone.

#4. Use relatable #hashtags on your Instagram posts.

Comment and like on people in your family for reciprocal follows and likes.

#5. Create a Facebook group and link it to that Facebook page.

Be active in it! Invite people to join your group. Start with a closed group. Use the “Ask Pending Members Questions” feature to learn about your audience.

#6. Create a graphic about your mission & make it the”featured photo” on your personal Facebook page

Utilize the description on your featured photo to talk about your business.


#7. Share, but don’t overshare, what you’re doing in your business on your personal Facebook page.

Make it personal, clear & relatable. Those who care about you will want to know, what you’re up to. And they will all “know someone who needs this” and share it or bring it up to them at some point.

#8. Go Live!

Live video gets more views on the Facebook feed. People buy you and your message. So be you. Be brave. And get your message out there.

#9. Schedule your live videos 3-6 day in advance a Facebook event.

The Facebook event should be co-hosted by your page and your personal profile. Share with your Facebook group and on your pages, on your page and profile, will get the most views. And people will need advance notice to plan to be there!

#10. Get in front of people in person!

Go to networking events, conferences and any live event in your industry. In person, relationships are always more powerful than another like on your Facebook page.