I mean political payoff in a positive way of course!  It’s election time soon (yes, here in Canada too!) and while I always follow some of the issues and make a point of voting, I never have given much thought to volunteering in any way.  Then I read this great post over at Counsel to Counsel and realized there could be so many benefits to getting involved in politics.

For one, I can show my kids how important it is to take action. I want them to know there is no change unless we all work toward it together.

For another, it will be a great opportunity to network with others in my community.  I might make a friend or a business contact, and that would be great!

My political candidate usually does quite well where I live, but victory is never certain and we all need to contribute when we can.  Have you thought about getting involved with politics this fall?

Did that title catch your attention? I sure hope so, because it’s the inspiration for this post, which I’m writing to submit to the Killer Title project over at Problogger. You can check out the contest results on Friday and also check back at my blog on Friday, as I’ll be taking Darren up on his suggestion to post a list of my favorite titles/posts from the competition.

I might have been inspired by the contest, but the content of this post is simply inspired by my passion for my work. I LOVE being a virtual assistant. I love the feeling I get when I know my clients’ businesses are growing. I love showing my clients how easy it is to work with a virtual assistant and I love learning from them about their businesses, their lives and their passions! I also love working in my pj’s!!!

I used to enjoy my job in the “real” world, I was a legal assistant and paralegal for over 10 years. I worked in a couple of different places, made friends and worked hard. I went home at the end of the day and usually didn’t think much more about work after that (until the next morning anyway!) I would never have told you I was passionate about my job then though. I was just putting in my time until the next vacation, the next summer picnic, the next baby and maternity leave.

This past year I started my own virtual assistant business, offering virtual assistance to business owners and lawyers from my home office in Alberta. The work isn’t that different from what I did before. I need more clients to be profitable and I work an awful lot of hours! Still the feeling I get from being my own boss, from interacting with other virtual assistants, bloggers and twitterers (my home office water cooler!) is absolutely amazing. I’m using this newfound passion to develop my business and to help my clients improve their businesses! So if your business needs an injection of passion look me up!

I’m going to try and not work too much this weekend, we’re taking the kiddos to a waterpark and I need to finish getting organized for back to school (Sept 2!!) There’s always time for a little linksurfing and twittering though!!
Here are some links to peruse if you get a chance this weekend – and have a wonderful one!

From MasterMaq – where do we want free Wifi in Edmonton

Ooooh – just found this Alberta Blogs blog and I want to join – will be sending them an email!!

Good reminder from Gavin Craig at Minneapolis Business Lit blog

From Erin Blaskie – discussion of the VA Industry

Great post on capped fees from Law 21

Loved this one from Duct Tape Marketing on Social Media

Over at Build a Solo Practice, LLC is a great inspirational post about becoming an entrepreneur

Virtual Law Practice shares that virtual law offices are really catching on across several states now – yay!

Fluent Simplicity shares a great story about the power of Twitter

This video post from Freelance Parent over at Sparkplugging is a MUST watch

Create a Thriving Business has a wonderful post about how you MUST be online in to truly grow your business

Hope you enjoy some of these links and take care!

I just read a great post at Seth Godin’s blog about NOT following the money. What you say, does that mean? Well Seth was talking about how not everything is about money, that we all do things and make choices based on a bigger picture – the picture that is our whole life, not just our financial package.

I liked that because it certainly is true in my life. I’m not making my career choices based on how rich I think I can get (I don’t think it will happen!), but rather on what I think I will both enjoy and will give me an opportunity to be helpful and hopefully give me some challenging things to do. I don’t think being a virtual legal assistant is an easy choice, in fact I think it may be quite difficult to get well-established, to prove the value of providing assistant services from my home-office to lawyers across Canada and the United States, to keep finding things to blog about even!

But I’m doing something I know is the right choice for me and that is a great feeling, no matter how little it adds to my bank account!

I just read a blog post from Canadian Entrepreneur which reminded me that yesterday was Terry Fox’s birthday. I don’t know how familiar anyone is with Terry Fox (unless you are Canadian like me in which case I’m guessing you are more than familiar with the name!) I just have to share this motivational quote that was on Canadian Entrepreneur’s post:

“I’m not a dreamer, and I’m not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to.”

Terry Fox, 1958-1981
Canadian dreamer. Canadian hero.

We all need to believe in our dreams, and in miracles. Thanks for the inspiration Terry!