July 2010

Member Event: Rejection Prevention: 3 Tips for Selling Your OBM Services & Landing the Ideal Clients

by Tina Forsyth on July 28, 2010

Date:  Thursday, August 12th at 12:00pm Pacific / 3:00pm Eastern

Savvy entrepreneurs watch their dollars closely as they build their business and strategize for the future.

While most business owners already understand the services that virtual assistants provide and are familiar with the fee range for those services, it’s a different story for the new arena of Online Business Managers.  The fee difference from VA to OBM can be difficult to swallow so it’s your job to help them understand how your services will facilitate an entrepreneur reaching the next level of business growth.

But you can’t do it by just telling them all of the wonderful reasons for working with you or you’ll lose more potential clients than you’ll gain.

Join Carolyn Herfurth, an expert on “sales rejection prevention” as she covers:

  1. The 5 steps to creating your own rejection prevention plan to land the clients you want
  2. Some of the most common mistakes you can make to hurt your sales efforts and how you can avoid them
  3. How to engage your prospect in a sales conversation to eliminate objections

Before founding The Biztruth, a company dedicated to helping solopreneurs avoid sales rejection, Carolyn owned a multiple 6-figure business helping her clients launch nearly 100 businesses. As a serial entrepreneur who’s worked exclusively with other entrepreneurs for the past 8 years, she knows what works and what doesn’t when it comes to running a small business and landing the ideal clients.  To learn more about Carolyn, visit thebiztruth.com.

Call-in information for live call is on your member login page. Missed the live call? Get the audio download on your member login page within 48 hours. If you do not have your password, e-mail us at support@obmconnect.com

If you are not an IAOBM member yet, find out more about IAOBM Membership Benefits by clicking here: http://www.obmconnect.com/membership-benefits


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THRIVE Hiring System Opens TODAY

by Tina Forsyth on July 27, 2010



So, are you ready to stop settling for this frustrating, crazy-making approach to running a business? Are you itching to get back to doing what you love for the people who really need you?

Because the THRIVE Hiring System is finally here.

Learn proven strategies and tools for finding, hiring, and working with support teams that bolster YOUR success – consistently and reliably.

Click here to register: THRIVE Hiring System

We’ve got your hiring needs covered, from soup to nuts…

6 LIVE training calls, including:

  • Team module: Who You Need and When
  • Hire module: Find and Hire the Right People
  • Release module: Letting Go So Your Team Can Support You Effectively
  • Incentive module: Compensating Your Team to Contribute to the Bottom Line
  • Validate module: Building Long Term Relationships With Your Team
  • Expand module: Next Steps as Your Business Grows
  • PLUS 2 “open mike” Q&A calls with me, Tina Forsyth
  • PLUS 1 year of access to the THRIVE Directory & Job Board
  • PLUS a 1-year membership to the THRIVE Community Discussion Board (online)

For just $497, you can END the outsourcing misery for good and start THRIVING as an entrepreneur.

Click here to register: THRIVE Hiring System

Can you imagine? In less than 2 months, you could have a team of professionals who rally to SUPPORT YOU, exactly how you need it.

No more babysitting. No more drama. No more running for cover when something blows up. (Even better … how about no more stuff blowing up in the first place!?!)

Start LOVING Your Business Again…

Because when you have the right team in place, living that 6- or 7-figure dream no longer seems impossible but very realistic.

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Do you have a business or a hobby?

by Tina Forsyth on July 23, 2010

Up until about 2 years ago I would say that I had more of a hobby than a business…

I’ve been “self-employed” since 1999, working online for many years as an Online Business Manager for my clients and doing a few other things here and there. And then a couple of years ago I decided that it was time to branch out in a bigger way… I wanted to help other people become Online Business Managers.

I remember the moment where I made the decision to write my book – I was very clear that it was a turning point for me. If I was going to write this book and start truly helping others become Online Business Managers then I was going to need to actually “create a business.” There was no turning back.

Sounds funny to say, but even though I’d been self-employed for many years up to that point already I didn’t actually feel like I owned a business… for the simple fact that I never looked at myself as a business owner. I was just doing something I loved, working for some great clients and enjoying the freedom that came alongside having choice in my work. It really felt like more of a hobby – something I was doing for fun but didn’t have any big vision or purpose behind it.

I wasn’t taking my business seriously, or rather I wasn’t taking MYSELF seriously as a business owner, and so things were essentially flat lined – not bad, not great, just good. I quite honestly got to the point where I was bored – I needed to either step it up or shut things down (and I’m sorry, but going back to wearing pantyhose isn’t an option for me).

And for me, stepping it up meant embracing the fact that I own a business.

So what makes something a business vs. a hobby?

Now I certainly don’t claim to be the expert here, but a few of the things that have made the difference for me are:

  • Why are you in business? Is it just for you or are you looking to make a bigger impact? For the longest time my business was just about me – I wanted to work from home so I could have freedom/flexibility in my day for me and my family. And this served me for many years. However once my girls got a bit older and the family stuff settled down I started to get the itch to make a bigger impact via my work… my business became bigger than just me.
  • Have you invested in a coach or mentor to help you get clear on strategies to build your business? Or are you just winging it as you go? Until I hired and started working with my own coach last year I never saw the possibilities of what my business could be. I’m a FIRM believer that if you truly want to make an impact on the world you need to have a coach to help you here – help you define your business, set goals, keep you accountable, kick your butt when needed.
  • Do you have the right business structures in place? This one is a BIGGIE, and something that my friend Alexis Martin Neely illustrates beautifully in her LIFT Manifesto (which is required reading imo – get your copy here). If you are in business you need to get the proper structures in place – taking care of the legal, insurance, financial and tax side of things. These are the things that many of us dislike and/or try to ignore… and if we aren’t careful they could truly make or break our businesses.
  • Are you willing to hire the help you need? Or are you trying to learn and do everything yourself? I know many folks who try to save money and do everything themselves – this is impossible if you want to grow a business. Not only will you run out of time (especially as things grow) you will not be able to do a good job of everything… and your business will suffer for it. You need to be willing to invest in getting the right team in place (which of course is what the THRIVE Hiring System is all about).
  • What do you call yourself? For the longest time I told people I was self-employed… and then a couple of years ago I started saying that I owned a business. At first it felt kinda funny, almost like it didn’t fit? But I knew I wanted to be that person – someone who owned a business – and now I am. :)

What else do you think makes something a business vs. a hobby? What has your journey been like? Curious for your thoughts on this…

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Building Your OBM Brand

by Tina Forsyth on July 20, 2010

Date: Tuesday, July 20th at 10am pacific / 1pm eastern

Do you stand out from your competition? Do you have a unique branding and positioning platform that attracts prospects to you? Are you implementing PR and marketing strategies to build your brand and business? Or are you just “yet another” OBM business, that is lost in a sea of similar offerings, hoping clients will choose you? In this teleseminar you’ll learn branding, marketing and PR strategies to ramp your business and generate the revenue you desire.

In this info packed one-hour teleseminar you’ll learn:

  • What IS branding (and ISN’T)?
  • How to translate your brand to all the written, verbal, and visual communication you develop
  • What are the key components of a good Press Release?
  • Where can you deploy your Press Release online?
  • How can you optimize your Press Release so it gets found in online searches?
  • How can you approach the media with specific topics to generate interview requests?
  • How often should you contact the media and what should you be saying to them?
  • How can you write articles, and where can you deploy them, to get more exposure for your brand?
  • What are some social media tips/strategies and useful resources you can use to generate clients and awareness for your business?

Lisa Orrell, The Promote U Guru: Lisa is an in-demand Branding Expert, Marketing Consultant and Business Coach, who works with small business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, entertainers, speakers and authors. She has 20 years of experience and has received over 75 national and international awards for marketing excellence. Plus, Lisa is also the author of 3 books and a professional speaker. Based on her expertise, she has been interviewed by, or written for, (partial list): ABC, MSNBC, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, NY Times, TIME, BNET.com, WomenEntrepreneur.com, and countless others! To learn more about Lisa visit: www.PromoteUGuru.com. Follow her blog, and join her online (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) by visiting her main website!

Audio Recording (60 mins) | Click Here for MP3

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What would you like to learn more about?

by Tina Forsyth on July 19, 2010

Our video series re: the Top 10 Questions about how to find, hire and work with a virtual team is complete – missed any of the videos? Not a problem, you can check them out here. 

Just to recap we covered:

  1. How do I know who I need to hire in the first place?
  2. What attributes should I look for when hiring someone?
  3. What do I delegate vs. keep to myself?
  4. How to know if someone can actually do what they say?
  5. Where is the best place to find the people I need?
  6. How can I afford the help I need?
  7. How to know when to fix something vs. fire the person?
  8. How can I get great people to stay with me?
  9. I think I’m a control freak, yipes! What to do?
  10. How can I make sure I’m not settling?

As mentioned in the videos we are putting the final touches on the new THRIVE Hiring System – which is a complete step-by-step program to take you through the hiring process from start to finish (it will open up for registration next week.) 

If you would like to take this further and get this team thing figured out once and for all let me ask you… 

What would you like me to cover in this new program?

Just post your comment below or send me an email if you prefer. I want to make sure to include as much as possible for you to get the right team in place. 

Many thanks!

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Video #10 – How can I make sure I’m not settling?

by Tina Forsyth on July 16, 2010



Welcome to the tenth video in our Top 10 Question series re: how to find, hire and work with a virtual team. (Click here to access a list of all videos and to sign up for email notification of new videos)

Today’s video answers the question:

How can I make sure I’m not settling?

There is a difference between being a control freak and having high-standards for your business. Get real with yourself re: what level of support you really want and need – and call your team up to those standards.

Questions? Thoughts? Pings? Aha’s or eek’s? Please share via comments below…

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Video #9 – I think I’m a control freak, yipes! What to do…?

by Tina Forsyth on July 15, 2010

Welcome to the ninth video in our Top 10 Question series re: how to find, hire and work with a virtual team. (Click here to access a list of all videos and to sign up for email notification of new videos)

Today’s video answers the question:

I think I’m a control freak, yipes! What to do…?

As the owner of a business I get that it can be hard (really hard!) to let go and let our team take over – and yet we know this is necessary to grow a business, we can’t do it all right? In this video I share with you a few strategies that have worked for me as a ‘recovering’ control freak. ;)

Questions? Thoughts? Pings? Aha’s or eek’s? Please share via comments below…

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Developing Team Relationships

by Tina Forsyth on July 14, 2010

What to do when your new client already has a team in place
by Tiffany Johnson of Vasppro.com

Consider this scenario:

You recently started working as an OBM with your ‘ideal client’ who has a very strong but independent team in place already. You need to learn the business, assess your team and build your client’s confidence in you. Any one of these key components can be a disaster in the making and yet you need to do all 3 and preferably in the first 90 days!

Sound familiar? Well if you have ever joined a 7 figure team for an ideal client, it does. As this is the reality you face from day one. There’s the biz, the client and the team… the good news is you are likely qualified to handle the biz, the client is ready – that’s why they hired you, right? – but the team may not be quite so ready for you to come into the business.

From the team’s perspective you are essentially a ‘stranger’ and they quite honestly may not welcome you with open arms. It’s not that they are purposely giving you the cold shoulder, it’s just that they don’t know you yet and your role in the company may change the flow/structure of how they work with the business owner already (and it is human nature to be resistant to change).

I have been in this situation a few times, and have put a plan together to assist you in developing team relationships for the purpose of creating a climate of lean productivity and personal gratification.

So here are my 3 key elements:

  1. The old saying “folks don’t care what you know till they know you care” is a major player in developing team relationships specifically if you are the new kid on the block. Let me tell you why… if all you are concerned with is the productivity and not the personality you will likely end up with a very rigid working relationship. This type of relationship will not produce quality work, helpful attitudes or that ‘go the extra mile’ philosophy.I always like to start team relationships with an assessment finding out what the skill level of each team member is and finding out what they really enjoy and what they prefer to not do. After the assessment I have a conversation with them about where their business is going what they are learning or struggling with and how I can assist them with meeting their personal goals. This goes a long way in ensuring a healthy relationship with each team member.

    A small investment of time and interest but trust me has a HUGE payoff in the long run.

  2. Be completely upfront with your communication. Let each team member know exactly what your expectation of their role in the business is and make sure they are completely comfortable with it. If you have a high level VA handling your social media and shopping cart for your client you may think they are happy to do billing collections or follow up phone calls when in reality that is not at all something they enjoy. When someone is expected to do what they do not enjoy they will not be as productive in that area, nor will they exert the same amount of expertise or precision.If you find you have team mates with tasks that do not fit their skills or likes don’t hesitate to move tasks around, even if it means hiring another team member! This is best for the business in the long run and will assist each team member in being able to trust you (you care).
  3. Don’t ask anything of the team you are not willing to do yourself. If you are requesting the team keep their hours in a virtual office, keep yours in there. If you expect a team member to work through the weekend to get a project out, be accessible through that weekend for your team member.

Closing thoughts: As an OBM, you need to understand the Law of the Lid which basically means you’re your leadership ability will determine the effectiveness of the team and the business. If a leader is strong then the possibilities are limitless; if the leader is weak then you hit the LID! So be strong as an OBM, be strong in leadership for your client and your team. Make the possibilities limitless!

Comments, thoughts?

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Online Business Management is a Natural Step Forward

by Tina Forsyth on July 14, 2010

by Linda Horowitz

“I am flexing my strategic and project management muscles for the first time in years.” – Linda Horowitz

When I began my self-employment journey after 20 years in management for a retail chain I really didn’t know where to begin. I knew that I wanted to take my skills and transfer them to potential clients but I did not know how. That’s when I learned about Virtual Assistance, and so I began my career flying solo.

For the next five years, after going through VA Training, a learning curve that has taken me from the brick and mortar world to the virtual business world, as well as developing a base of clients with whom I enjoy working, I still felt something was missing in my personal goal to fully utilize my project management and strategic planning skills.

That is when I came to read the book “Becoming an Online Business Manager” by Tina Forsyth. Still, I was unable to fully understand the term “OBM,” and so I took the Online Business Manager training and ultimately joined the OBM Mentor program.

I now have my first client as an Online Business Manager (OBM). I am looking at my client’s business from a different view than I was before – working the bigger picture, finding the business opportunities, implementing operational plans and working with teams. I feel that now I am truly doing what I had set out to do when I began my business. I am flexing my strategic and project management muscles for the first time in years.

Make no mistake – I may be using skills that are familiar, but the business I am working with is completely new to me. The learning curve is great and it can seem daunting at times as there is much to learn. But it is, at the same time, challenging and exhilarating. Moving back to planning and implementation work from task orientated and administrative work is also taking me way out of the comfort zone that I had built for myself. It has been a while.

Please do not mistake this in any way as a negative commentary on the role of the Virtual Assistant. Absolutely not! Had I not gone through the process of being a Virtual Assistant, I would not have learned about the world of business online, about the expertise that is available, or about the software that can be used. I treasure the support I have received and still receive from the various associations I belong to, and from the colleagues with whom I have worked over the years and I look forward to more. For me, the roles of the Virtual Assistant and the Online Business Manager are explicitly intertwined.

Online Business Management is not an industry preference; it is a natural step forward for the business owner who has developed the need for a business manager. For me it has been a matter choice – of choosing a role that feels right for me within that business.

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Video #8 – How can I get great people to stay with me?

by Tina Forsyth on July 14, 2010



Welcome to the eighth video in our Top 10 Question series re: how to find, hire and work with a virtual team. (Click here to access a list of all videos and to sign up for email notification of new videos)

Today’s video answers the question:

How can I get great people to stay with me?

It’s one thing to find great people, but what can you do – as the business owner – to ensure that they stay with you long term?

Questions? Thoughts? Pings? Aha’s or eek’s? Please share via comments below…

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