By a show of hands; whose mind is so full of daily details that you’re forgetting things – maybe important things, like replying to clients?  OK, put your hand down and read on.

I have hired a new virtual assistant.  And by virtual, I mean not human.  And by assistant, I mean very helpful.  It’s followup.cc .

Is your inbox full of e-mails you can’t get to right now, but you can’t afford to neglect?  Put a followup.cc reminder on it.

Did you promise a client or prospect that you’ll get in touch within a certain timeframe?  Put a followup.cc reminder on it.

You’ll get a reminder email – at just the time you specify – that prompts you to take the next action step toward your goal.

Virtual assistants are lifesavers.

The trail of the toothpaste is a sure indication of how deeply your kid’s bathroom is getting clean.  Inspect the front of the vanity cabinets to see if splatters and spills are being wiped up.  Get on your knees and look for toothpaste left on the underside of the faucet.  Do you find spots on the wall by the sink?  If all of these surfaces are squeaky clean, take heart.  You have an excellent house cleaner.  They are caring for your child’s environment as diligently as you do.

How about you?  What’s the spot in your house that has to be clean before the job is considered done?

Spoiler alert: here it is in a nutshell.

1. If you make more per hour at your job than the cost of the service, it may be worth the money.
2. If you have the skills to DIY, it may be worth your time.
3. When it comes to emotional benefits of spending, it may be worth the money.

Notice the word “may” in each of those statements.  There are considerations which could tip the scales against conventional wisdom.

Watch here to find exceptions to the rules.

Regardless of where you live, these 7 simple tips can help allergy sufferers…thanks Univ. of Tennessee Medical Center!

No worries.  Just call the company concierge.  They’ll handle everything, and your work day goes on without skipping a beat.

“Yeah, but that’s in places like New York,” you say.  “They’d never have anything like that in Knoxville.”

Or would they..?  We are handling a task exactly like that this week.  Tell your boss and co-workers.

Read the full article here

Anticipating Old Number 7 Any Day Now

Do you ever wonder what goes on in a 17-year-old’s brain?

Our youngest son’s friend decided to have some fun with one of our to-do list pads.

We enjoyed his comedic genius so much that we decided to have fun with the blog.  Take note; if you ever plan to prank call someone, never leave a note explaining that you’re going to prank call them.

On the positive side, dinosaurs raised on chicken strips are mighty juicy and tender!

How about you?  What’s the most creative way you can employ the services of a personal assistant?  Tell us here.  We’re feeling adventurous, so the best suggestion wins.

We absolutely enjoy working with clients outside of Knoxville.  Sometimes it’s helping with relocation.  Sometimes it’s being a proxy for someone with ties to the area who cannot be here in person.

One benefit we get is a fresh perspective on trends happening elsewhere that will catch on in Knoxville in 3-5 years.  Here are a few web sites to note if you are traveling to major metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Uber:  better than a taxi.  Use the app to summon a limo to you, pronto.  NYC, Chicago, Boston, DC, LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Paris only.

Zaarly:  an on-line marketplace for goods & services.  Imagine Craigslist cross-bred with E-Bay…  NYC, Chicago, Boston, DC, LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Kansas City, Atlanta, Charlotte and other areas as market penetration grows.

Task Rabbit:  task and errand service by awesome, trustworthy people.  You post a job and Task Rabbits race to get it done for you.  Boston, San Francisco, LA, NYC, Chicago, Austin, San Antonio – coming soon to Dallas, Houston & Atlanta

Exec:  launched February 29, 2012 in San Francisco by Justin Kan, the creator of Justin.tv   Currently beta testing in San Francisco only

Zaarly is the only web site with a presence in Knoxville and Knox County at this time.  The best place to find a personal assistant on-line if you live in Knoxville is here.

28% of American businesses are owned by women. – 2010 U.S. Census

If you’re a female entrepreneur or executive, you know the seemingly incessant demands for your time and energy.  We hope you find inspiration from the Top 5 Start-ups by Women for 2012.

Are you a female executive/entrepreneur like BST’s owner?  Share your story or leave a shout-out for your business here.

Knoxville’s Old City was nearly as violent as ‘Florence and Normandie’ 90 years ago.

When I was a child, a certain intersection in my hometown was the target of racial epithets from my parents and grandparents.  I never understood why.  I never bothered to ask, and no one deemed it important enough to explain.  More on that in a moment…

Today, that same intersection is the gateway to one of my favorite neighborhoods – a revitalized section of town that boasts great restaurants and a bustling night life on weekends.  My extended family celebrated a Christmas meal together there just this past December.  We had a wonderful night!

In my childhood years, few whites would dare venture into this neighborhood.  And yet, I’ve been told tales of how my grandfather once did – and on a regular basis.  Until recently, I had not fully understood the significance.

My grandfather – a jovial, squat man of Anglo and Cherokee descent – carried the nickname “Tojo,” because he resembled the Japanese Prime Minister and General of World War II.  The Tojo from East Tennessee was a journeyman electrician and WWII veteran.  He was probably considered “poor white trash” in his day, but the PC term might be “Appalachian-American.”  I digress.

Rumor has it that Tojo had a black co-worker who owned no car and, thus, carpooled with him every day back in the late 1940’s.  As racial tensions flared in the post-war days, it was increasingly dangerous for an African-American to stand on the sidewalk awaiting a ride.  So, Tojo’s friend would arrive in the pre-dawn hours and hide in a trash can until he heard the Morse code car horn announcing the all clear.

It’s at this point that I confess that I thought it odd and somewhat sad that a man had to hide in the garbage to protect himself.  However, the back story of the KnoxvilleRiot on Central Street and Vine Avenue in 1919 explains a lot.  “Florence and Normandie” evokes memories and emotions 20 years removed.  I imagine “Central and Vine” had the same effect on our grandparents 30 years after Tennessee National Guardsmen opened fire on citizens who were rioting at that intersection.

I’ve always heard the family tale of Tojo and his friend, but I’d never known about the riot in this same neighborhood which perpetuated
a lot of the fear and mistrust.  Maybe history teachers tried to educate me in school, and I paid no attention.  Now that I do know, I have a better understanding of the context and motivation on each man’s part.

I believe ignorance on my part and secrecy from prior generations lead to a continuation of fear and hatred between races.  It’s no longer good enough to answer the question “why?” with “that’s just the way it is.”  I believe every person needs to search for context from history, to take a personal moral inventory, and to resolve to take the lead it comes to reconciling with a neighbor.

To me, a Caucasian, that is the significance of Black History Month.  It’s the revealing of truths, however painful and shameful some may be, in order to increase understanding  – and hopefully lead to a community where all equally enjoy “the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”