Author Archives: Lisa McDonell

Lisa is the owner of 'The Brainy Gal - Virtual Assistant' offering technical services to small businesses and resources for V.A.'s. She is a happy wife, a cool Mommy to a trio of girls, health food junkie, mediocre soccer player, and self proclaimed "Brainy Gal"

Cheese, Cheerleaders and Chugging (Green Smoothies)

We all do better when people are watching.  It’s true.  In your business,  a coach or mastermind group is priceless in keeping you accountable.  And in life, we always work out harder at the gym when we know  that cute boy is watching us. Allow me to be a little bit self-indulgent this week and…

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Vision Boards: Totally Rock? Or are they a Crock?

Ta-dah!  I’m sharing the Vision Board I made a year and half ago. Those who know me well will probably wonder if my blog has been hijacked by crazy people because as a general rule, I’m not very into ‘Woo-woo’.  I like science and facts and reality.  BUT I’m also willing to try new challenges…

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An Evening with Oprah Winfrey

If I’m willing to admit my age…I have been watching the Oprah show since I was 15 years old.  I would come home from school (she was always on at 4pm), turn on the TV and see what Oprah was up to. So it was a HUGE thrill for me when my husband surprised me…

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I Want to Write a Blog…I Just Don’t Know What to Write About

Blog Ideas

I want to write a Blog…but I just have no idea what I could possibly write about. Does that sound like you?  Are you vigorously nodding your head yes?  Fear not, my friend, you are not alone.  Since I began coaching Virtual Assistants and working with online entrepreneurs, this is something I hear time and time again….

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Why Starting with Low Rates Doesn’t Work

When navigating the jungles of the Virtual Assistant world there is one common trap that many a great Virtual Assistant falls into.  It is a trap that I myself have found myself in and had to claw my way out.  And I want to be sure that YOU avoid it.  Want to know what it…

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Do You Have What it Takes to be a Virtual Assistant?

Let me ask you a question:  Do you know how to use Microsoft Office? You just said “Yes”. I’m not psychic…here’s how I knew that: Over a BILLION people use Microsoft Office (in other words, EVERYONE) Which is precisely why I get that annoying twitch in my eyelid every time I visit a Virtual Assistant website…

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Do you Think my Life is a Disaster?

I find it funny when other Virtual Assistants and online professionals approach me to ask: “How do you do it?  How do you balance work, kids, husband and life?”  The absolute truth?  I don’t!  And I truly believe that nobody does.  Don’t let all those perfect lives you see on Facebook fool you (we all,…

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Not Another Valentine’s Post

Tomorrow is cupid’s big moment:  Valentine’s Day!  Have you been receiving a flurry of emails surrounding the Valentine’s Day theme this week?  Prepping heart-centered newsletters for your clients full of love and romance?   It’s no wonder:  Marketers and Bloggers alike are famous for using holidays to launch creative campaigns.  Did you remember to mark…

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A Marketing Slap in the Face

Today I want to talk a little bit about a Marketing tactic that doesn’t work:  Insulting Your Prospects.   Well duh!  It sounds pretty obvious – you shouldn’t make your potential clients feel dumb, right?  Well let me share a recent experience I had that felt more like a slap in the face than an…

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Keeping You and Your Business Healthy

Lately it seems that everyone around me is sick and sniffly, whining and wheezing, coughing and complaining (with the odd stomach flu thrown in).  Getting a cold, or worse, the flu can be devastating for a Virtual Assistant.  For many of us there are no co-workers to pass daily duties off to.  In other words,…

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