In this episode of The Collective Podcast, hosts Shane and Kyle, joined by special guest Justin Brough, an originator and key figure at Cyberbacker, discuss the practical applications and benefits of utilizing virtual assistants in business operations. They share their personal experiences, insights, and tips for effectively leveraging VAs to enhance productivity and business operations.

03:27 - Viewing VAs as Remote Staff

08:06 - Scalability and the Evolution of Entrepreneurship

09:01 - The Mindset Shift for Entrepreneurs

11:27 - Struggles and Misconceptions about Hiring VAs

21:50 - Cultural Differences and Bonuses for VAs

24:08 - Upcoming Webinar on VAs


Takeaways:

Virtual assistants (VAs) should be considered an essential part of your business team. Treat them as remote staff members rather than just contract workers. This perspective fosters a stronger working relationship and increases their commitment to your business goals.

As an entrepreneur, adapting to the evolving business environment is important. Leveraging remote staff, like VAs, can help you scale your business more efficiently. Embrace this shift to stay competitive and responsive to market demands.

Effective delegation and project management are key skills for working with VAs. Learn to delegate tasks appropriately and manage projects systematically to maximize the productivity and effectiveness of your remote team.

Offering bonuses and incentives, such as the 13th-month bonus, can greatly enhance the performance and loyalty of your VAs. Recognizing their hard work with additional compensation can lead to higher motivation and better results.

Quotes:

"You can have the best virtual assistant in the world, but if you can't delegate, communicate, and help manage projects, it's not going to work well."

"This should be the year that you finally step back from doing everything at a, at a poor level and step into just being really what you're good at because you are important."

"One of the things that we pride ourselves on, at least here in Cyberbacker, is we find the best talent throughout the Philippines. In order to do that, we have to offer them great stuff."

"The reality is, my importance has shifted. My time has shifted. My energy has shifted. My focus has shifted. And things that weren't required of me before are now required of me. A big piece of that being delegation, project management."

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/

In this episode of The Collective Podcast, Shane and Kyle, along with special guest Dan Smokoska, explore effective LinkedIn strategies for content creation and engagement. Dan shares his unique point system for meaningful online interactions and the importance of a well-crafted LinkedIn profile.

03:25 - The Power of Engaging on LinkedIn

06:47 - Intentional Design: Building an Audience

10:09 - Providing Value and Building Trust

13:58 - LinkedIn: Industry Conversations and Referrals

23:13 - Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

25:39 - The Rise of Video Content on LinkedIn

28:01 - Authentic and Relevant Engagement

Takeaways:

LinkedIn excels as a platform for industry-specific discussions and high-level referrals. It’s an ideal space for connecting with peers, sharing knowledge, and building relationships that can lead to significant business opportunities.

Engaging with your network on LinkedIn through likes, comments, and direct messages is more impactful than merely creating and posting content.

Be deliberate in curating your LinkedIn connections. Focus on engaging with individuals and groups who align with your professional goals and can benefit from your expertise. This targeted approach ensures your efforts are directed toward those who matter most to your business.

Treat your LinkedIn profile like a sales page. Ensure it clearly communicates who you are, what you do, and how you can help your audience. A professional photo, a compelling banner image, and a well-crafted summary can significantly enhance your profile’s appeal and effectiveness.

Quotes:

"Are you providing value? And if you're doing that, it's going to help what you create to be seen by more and more and more people."

"If I had to choose one or the other, create content or engage consistently on LinkedIn, I would go with engage all day long. You can blow up as a company or as a salesperson by just engaging with the right audience.”

“When they click on your name, they land on your profile. And if your profile is not really intentional about who your audience is and what their pain points are and how you solve them... then they're not going to use you and they're going to jump off that page."

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/

In this first episode of The Collective Podcast, Shane, Sean, and Kyle get real about why it’s key to be yourself everywhere—yes, even on social media. They talk about using social platforms not just to share, but to build genuine business connections. Listen in as they share personal experiences and give some straightforward advice on keeping it real online and offline.

00:01 - Introduction and Authenticity

06:42 - Different Perspectives on Social Media

13:57 - The Benefits of Leveraging Social Media

27:17 - Closing Thoughts and Leveraging Social Media

Takeaways:

Incorporating personal interests and aspects of one's life into professional interactions can enrich one's professional persona and make interactions more engaging.

Even if personally disliking social media, recognizing and utilizing its professional benefits can yield significant advantages in business contexts.

Using personal anecdotes effectively during presentations or in content can create a more engaging and memorable experience for the audience.

Transparency in how you communicate, particularly about dislikes or preferences, can foster a more honest and robust dialogue.

Quotes:

" What's your primary use for social media? Are you just consuming? Are you engaging? Or are you posting things to just feel good? "

" I'd rather just read a book than look at what I feel like are shallow representations of people's lives. "

" What people have to understand is the outcome drives the motivation to be consistent, to do the actions. “

" Social media may be therapy for some, a headache for others, but it's undeniably a powerful business tool. "

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/