Archive for the ‘Working Virtually’ Category

I am a notebook user. In fact, outside of my backup systems, I use a notebook computer exclusively. I haven’t owned a desktop computer since sometime around 2000, 2001. (speaking for myself, Dy, not OffAssist as a whole on this one).

Keep that in mind when I tell you that even when traveling, I have almost NEVER used my notebook in the position required for IBM’s new patent to have any relevance in my life.

See what I mean here.

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Enjoy and Happy Summer!

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Even if it it’s not June 21st yet, the official start of summer, it is definitely summer time here at OffAssist.

Yea! Barbecues, swimming, vacations… Cries of, “I’m bored!” ringing in the ears of work-at-home parents all over the country! We work at home to spend time with our kids, at least partly, but there is no denying that working from home gets a lot easier when they are school age.

With the work part of work-at-home in mind, here are a few sites we’ve rounded up that have either great ideas for entertaining the kids or look like good places to let the kids explore to give you a minute or two to meet those deadlines.

Work-At-Home Mom’s list of 15 Quick Activities to Keep Kids Busy While You Work

Great kid, not-so-great handwriting? Give ‘em some practice. This site lets you create your own handwriting worksheets, including cursive!

Funology – Science and fun with both online and offline activities for kids (of all ages!)

I’m sure we’ll have more as summer progresses and the team gets more and more desperate to be both “working” and “parent”.

Happy Summer! Now, go out and play!

I first read about New York’s “Amazon Tax” in April, when it was still waiting to become law. Now that it has, the online retail giant is fighting back.

Check out the first article at Gizmodo. It’s old enough now that it has TONS of interesting reader comments, too.

Then check out the update at Ars Technica.

This is a bad, bad thing. As a service professional providing intangible intellectual property (writing and editing) most of what I do is not subject to Texas sales tax. If I have to worry about New York (or any other state) wanting me to collect taxes on their behalf, well, it’d be bad. Numbers are already not my forte and you’re going to make me keep track of MORE?!?

*sigh*

Just to satisfy my inner conspiracy theorist, does anyone know if there are any major small business accounting software firms based in New York? I am sure widespread adoption of this type of law would be a boon to them!

PS -

Did everyone else out there know that you are supposed to report online purchases to the IRS on your taxes? Dude! Turbo Tax so does not have that in their taxes-for-the-befuddled questionnaire!

OffAssist’s May 2008 newsletter is up and can be found HERE. You can always SIGN UP or view the ARCHIVES.

Since I don’t usually post to the blog when it’s published, I thought I would. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Dy Larson, who forgot to mention all the blogging she does for me as well. I will admit that computer geek, business and bookkeeping news isn’t exactly the most exciting thing in the world, but she makes it less painful for my little blog

So there. Thank YOU, Dy. You rock.

The server upgrade went surprisingly well after a few initial hiccups on the first day and we are up and running! Woo hoo!

If you are one of the people who was having problems with the server, remember, Tom, our IT genius, really likes brownies

I’m so not ready to leave work-wise and have at least 25 things on my “to-do” list that I have to get done, but I fly out on Tuesday afternoon for the IVAA Summit. People have posted on a few forums and now I’m finally starting to be excited. I’m glad because so far I was excited, but I was more like “whatever”. I’ve been walking around in a semi-fog over the past few weeks. Turning over the Presidency reins on 4/1 was wonderful, but time-consuming and add that to the insanity that is tax season plus a child having some issues with bullies in school (all fixed), and I’ve just been feeling pretty wrung out.

BUT I’m almost caught up with work, have a new team member (wow, there’s 8 of us now that work pretty regularly!), and things seem to be settling down again.

I will try to send some pics to Dy or Tom to post like I did last year.

In the meantime, Tom is coaching our daughter’s soccer team and I’d better start getting everyone going. It’s going to be a busy weekend, soccer, friend’s birthday party, AND trying to finish up some work so I can leave without working while I’m there!

See ya in Charlotte for those that are going!

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Okay, I confess. A lot of this goes beyond my ability to understand since while I am a virtual assistant, I don’t interact in any of the big virtual worlds.

I tried Second Life and, well, it was slow and kinda boring–if I want a virtual life that can be as tedious as the real thing I’ll play the Sims I don’t play any MMORPGs, and, even during the brief period when I did, I would never dream of spending real money on virtual stuff, beyond the monthly game fee.

Instead, I refer you to this spiffy physorg.com article about taxing profits made in virtual worlds. From what I can see, it is mostly aimed at Second Life, since most of the money in the MMORPGs goes to offshore “gold farmers”, but what do I know?

As long as they stick to gaming, we’re good. I am a little leery of the implications of taxing virtual activity since, well, I both work and get paid virtually. I pay income tax and self-employment tax, if they add another tax, well, that would be bad.

High end online retailer redenvelope.com may well be going the way of high end brick and mortar retailer the Sharper Image. I’m always sad to see a business close up shop because, as a business owner, I know that someone is behind the scenes watching their dream die and wondering how it came to this.

Check out the story at TechCrunch.com for more info.

It’s after midnight Eastern time – April 1, 2008. That means that I am no longer the President of IVAA. Wow. After 365 366 days, I am “free”. Wow. So…. now what? My desk looks like a tornado hit it, trying to get everything done and over for the incoming President. I have smatterings of stuff to be scanned and filed. Emails from CPAs needing clarifications. Emails from clients. Emails from friends wondering if I’m dead.

I’m not even sure where to start.

I’ll figure it out in the morning.

I’m so grateful for my family and my clients, who stood by me and supported me while I did this. Yes, there were times that both sets were asked for patience but I think for the most part I juggled it pretty well. No one seemed too worse for the wear (although my kids were excited when I told them I’d have more time now).

I am also grateful for the wonderful people that work with me here at OffAssist. I have amazing team members. Without them, I could have never done this.

BUT… the point of my post was not this meandering stuff… I just wanted to say that I have had one of the most interesting, profound and important experiences of my life. I have met amazing people, served an absolutely extraordinary membership and had a grand time.

While I’m here, I think I’ll brag a bit. Under my tenure, IVAA increased membership by over 32%, increased the dues for the first time in like 10 years (without people having a conniption fit), completely reworked the website into an up-to-date sharp looking piece of useful and informative marketing, and so many other things. I didn’t do them alone, I had an amazing board, and I am so proud for everything we have accomplished.

I will continue to volunteer with IVAA. I believe in that organization and I believe in the VA industry.

What a great year.

Now, I’m ready for a break

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