The first of August was a Sunday, and it was very easy to spend the time getting my post ready for this challenge. Today is Monday and a day that I need to spend on fee earning tasks. As a result, this post will be much shorter.
Best laid plans and all that
I had planned to dedicate an hour to this blog post. That included writing, recording and posting. However, I had a few issues. The first was that my keyboard suddenly stopped working, and I had to figure out what was wrong. I couldn’t type the letter D. You would be surprised how often you use that letter. I discovered that another program I was using had appropriated the letter D to create a Sticky Key.
I also needed a template to create this post and with Microsoft being as good as it is, somehow there was a change to my computer system which meant the OneDrive’s synchronisation had stopped. Not only that, the icons were missing from my tool bar. This has meant that I had wasted half of my allotted time for this post on repairing that link. Come on Microsoft, let’s try to make things easy for end users.
All of this took time. That is precious time that meant I didn’t do any billable work. When working out if you should call in an expert and leave it to them there is a very simple calculation you should do:
Your hourly rate v their hourly billable rate (including VAT if necessary)
Back to Me
I run two businesses, one called www.mypavirtualservices.com and www.publishmystoires.com. If I am honest, I think of them as the same business, it’s getting administrative tasks and providing my clients with an easy way to get those tasks completed. I prefer the publishing side of my businesses as I love to provide my clients with a product they can touch, something they are proud of and can pass on to family, friends and/or making a living. With a hand on my heart, I am a massive voyeur, and I love finding out about people’s stories, their past, and how they have become the person they are today.
Tall Poppy Syndrome
Today, I must also complete my billing as it’s the first working day of the month. This is one task that I used to hate doing. I was not alone; most entrepreneurs hate billing. Often this is because of the accounts software package they use. Justifying the service or product they provide and the belief in themselves and their business. This has to be one of the hardest mindsets that an entrepreneur has to overcome. I have known some business people keeping a photo of their children on their desktop to remind them why they are working so hard.
Follow the Money
I passionately believe in the service I provide. I passionately support my clients and want the best for them, but it is akin to asking someone for money. I have a client whose life mantra is “Follow the Money” and a mantra that I have now followed.
Learning Points
If your IT breaks down, you could try to fix it yourself, but work out your hourly rate to see if you are saving time and money or just being procrastinating.
Invoicing is part of your business and a vital task, cash is king. Without it you can’t put food on the table, so invoice as soon as you can. On your invoices why not add information about another product or service you provide, it’s easier to sell to your existing customers than to find a new one.
Be proud of your business, tell everyone.
Writing My Memoirs – 31 Day Challenge – Video and Blog Posts
Welcome to-Day One of my self-imposed blog / memoir challenge to record the daily activities of a business owner and entrepreneur. The trials and tribulations that I go through. I will be honest, frank and to the point. Running a business is fun, annoying, stressful and the best job I have ever had.
I thought I would put some personality into my first blog post of this challenge and record a video of me speaking to camera, to introduce myself. Thinking it would only take a few minutes as I didn’t want the video to be over 3 minutes long. It took forever, OK not that long but to get the video recorded took an hour and a half, to do a minor edit to two hours and then posting and writing this blog post took an hour. So four and a half hours for a few words and a three-minute video.
I thought I would put some personality into my first blog post of this challenge and record a video of me speaking to camera, to introduce myself. Thinking it would only take a few minutes as I didn’t want the video to be over 3 minutes long. It took forever, OK not that long but to get the video recorded took an hour and a half, to do a minor edit to two hours and then posting and writing this blog post took an hour. So four and a half hours for a few words and a three-minute video.
Why does a video recording take so long?
First, I needed to put some colour in my cheeks. I had just woken up and looked as if I was at death’s door. So on with the slap (or make up if you prefer). You would think this would be a straightforward task. Being a woman, we should all know how to apply makeup and look a million dollars in 60 seconds. I rarely wear make-up so had to turn the bathroom upside down to find the little makeup I had. My bathroom is now a complete and utter tip. My make up is so old I had to put it in hot water to loosen it so I can use the foundation and mascara. Before anybody tells me, yes I know you should change your make up every three months. But the reality is we don’t.
Looking good on camera?
After experimenting with how to apply the said makeup, I haven’t done it for many years. I finally settled on brown eyeshadow a bit of lipstick and foundation. I forgot to put blusher, which was why I started the entire process. Claudia Schiffer: I am not, but looking human and able to face a camera, yes.
Location, Location, Location
I then had to find a location to record my video. I tried my spare room, the kitchen, the living room, even the bathroom, all to no avail. In the end I went into my office and spent half an hour moving furniture around trying to find a backdrop that would look suitable for a video.
I know the video to the side of this narrative doesn’t look like a superb background. But it was the best I could do with the location I have. I will not go out and buy a green screen and it took long enough. As you can see from the photographs, my office is now a complete and utter tip. Once the video was recorded, or I should say during the recording of the video, my dog was barking, so this version is version two.
If you could see my stance while recording the video you think I was going to cause physical damage to myself. I was half bending and doing a sideward squat to get in shot. How these bloggers do it daily I just don’t know. It must take them hours to set up before they can actually publish a video. I’m not sure I’m going to spend over an hour every time I record one. I need to get on and actually do some billable work.
The reason behind writing this memoir
The idea behind this blog is that I want to show people everybody has a story to tell, no matter what you do and how you do it. There are different reasons people want to write memoirs.
My learnings from this exercise
Don’t reference something from a different video and assume it has been watched.
Writing My Memoirs in this blog is a very personal blog for me, Julie Farmer. It is here for two reasons:
Why am I writing my memoris in a blog
To show that everyone has a story to tell, has mishaps, amusing anecdotes, and information.
Writing your memoirs does not have to start at birth. It can be from a certain point in your life, expressing a hobby, thoughts, feelings. It is about the message you want to portray.
I currently have a column in a local magazine where I write book and podcast reviews. The tone and language are very formal, business and professional. This blog is not formal. It is about me, a business owner, a female entrepreneur and from the heart.
During the day, I am a Publisher, of people’s memoirs, poems, and stories. I also provide support for individuals and small businesses who need someone who can do things. This blog, in some cases, will be me venting, will be me passing on some learnings that I have received and hints and tips for me to remember. On the whole, this blog will be about me. A record of my business from now until retirement.
The Plan
The plan for today was to come into the office and write a personal blog post for Forget Me Not. I had allocated one hour for this task from 9 am to 10 am. The plan also included creating a sub-domain and branding the blog page. Then I planned to ‘get on with my day’. Well, that was the plan!
On the way to work, I had a phone call to say that the internet was down in the office and needed to be sorted right away. Not a problem, I said, I am 5 minutes away, and we can then get the internet fixed. Upon arrival, I was greeted with anger and frustration for the staff involved, as only IT can make you. For some unknown reason, a misbehaving computer will always make people angry. That anger will be taken out at the only person people think can fix it. That is me.
Before I had turned on my computer, I had another client on the phone wanting me to create a new email account from the domain name I had purchased for him on Friday. He also wanted an email account set up and added to his computer. A unique signature with the company registered address and company reference number. The only problem he doesn’t know the address or any detail of the new company. A search of Companies House will garner the information required, and this needs to be added as a matter of urgency. He arrived 10 minutes later, computer in hand. Explaining it will take time, as I had other imperative tasks to complete. He left his laptop, stating he will return in 48 hours.
Finally, I opened my computer. I had another client wanting two documents rebranded, ready to be sent to their clients. But, again, this needs to be done by 10.00.
I also need to buy some paint from somewhere for a client and arrange a contract for gardening. I live in the middle of the country.
The date in context of world events while Writing My Memoirs
Today was also the launch of the new news channel GB News. I wanted to see how this news channel treated the news and watch their unbiased interpretation. What a palaver that turned out to be. I thought the best way to get the channel would be to download the Sky app. No luck. The sky app only shows Sky News.
I decided that I would locate their website. No luck. In the end, I had to log into YouTube and searched for #GBNews. A Telegraph report was suggested. Clicking on that video was an introduction to the new channel, with no mention of the website. They did, however, show a Facebook icon. I open Facebook and found their Facebook page, they had put their website address there. For your information, it is www.gbnews.uk/ if you are interested. I plan to have the channel on in the background while I am working. This will make a change from LBC.
My dog, who always comes to work with me, demanded that she go out to the loo. As every dog owner will know, the hurriff and bops are relentless until they get their own way. Taking her out, she pulled on her lead, which resulted in me spilling my coffee all over my new dress. And to add insult to injury, I have no more milk until lunchtime when I venture out to Tesco, so no coffee for me!
The WordPress website currently won’t load any images or accept any posts. It is now 9.37 am, and I am voting to restart the day.
Writing My Memoirs – 31 Day Challenge – Video and Blog Posts
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