Embracing Change: How Technology is Shaping the Future of Work

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Vol 1 Issue 4 June 2024

Hello:

Happy Summer Solstice. We are just past the longest day of the year (here in the Northern hemisphere) and it's just starting to feel like summer.
This month I focus in on AI and how it can boost your business. And the ability to learn new technologies, no matter what your age.
And I reflect on the end of another stage in the lives of my family and our journey into the Kootenays.

Regards,

CEO/Solopreneur
Dragonfly Meadows Virtual Solutions

The times they are a'changin'

Many changes have taken place in the working/office world since I started my career in 1987, LOL!! Think about what has happened with computer technology, the internet, social media, smartphones and many other advances in communications.

I was asked last night whether I saw the use of AI as important in my business. While I don’t believe that AI will ever completely replace human interactions, I agree with Meneske Steward (Marketing Magic) who said, "AI will never supplant the human Virtual Assistant, but those who harness its potential will surpass those who do not." This is a bit daunting for someone my age, but I have come to welcome the opportunities that AI and automations provide for quicker and more accurate service. A few years ago, I downloaded Grammerly, and ran all of my writing through the software to help weed out grammatical and spelling errors. Now MSWord automatically underlines any spelling errors (and suggests correct spellings to replace it with), as I type.

There are so many programs, applications and software packages that can help us work more efficiently. Over the next weeks and months, I will be exploring and experimenting with many to help me in my own business operations. With these new tools, I will then be in a position to better serve new customers and meet their administrative requirements.

I can’t wait to learn!!

Down the driveway: Our commercial trailer leaves for good

Another chapter in the Dell’Anno Family book has closed! Today our commercial trailer drove down the driveway, away from our newest home.

Three summers’ ago, we were thrown into chaos – yet again – when we were told we would need to vacate our home in Silver Creek (a rural part of Salmon Arm) so that the owner’s son could move in. I immediately set out to find a storage unit and there were NONE available. (Keep in mind, this was 2021, right at the tail of the first COVID lockdowns). Next idea…. a SeaCan container…. again, no luck!!! So, it was suggested to me that I purchase a commercial (transport truck) trailer. It is a lot EASIER to move than a SeaCan anyways.

So a trucker friend (thanks Robert) helped me find and purchase a 45’ truck. Little did I know at the time that our belongings would sit in it for two years before we could retrieve it. Thankfully, Julie and Robert also had a large farm yard where the truck was able to sit for those two years!!

Then in late August 2021, I was let go from my job, now also being without a home!! We were able to temporarily reside at the Sorrento Centre (where I had worked) until Christmas of 2021. In December we took the rest of our big items to the trailer, where they would sit for the next two years. We filled a small trailer and our van with the few critical items we still had with us and headed for Ontario to stay with my Mom in New Liskeard.

In mid-March 2022, we packed everything back up and headed for Vancouver Island. I had secured an Interim Executive Director position at a camp about 1 hour north of Victoria, and we had a place to stay with friends in their home in Victoria (thanks Susan and Cheryl). Long story, but even after a year of looking, we were unable to secure adequate rental housing on the island.

Then in April 2023, I began a new job in Nelson, in the Kootenays of south-central, British Columbia. I went back and forth to Victoria – made about 6 trips - for several months until I was able to find our current home. We moved in July 1 and our truck load of belongings arrived mid-September 2023. Now, 9 months later, the truck is empty and rolling back down the driveway to be sold at auction; the end of another chapter.

I am so thankful for all of the friends who helped along the way…. April and Mark who made several trips with their horse trailer to get everything over to the truck; Robert and Julie for all their help with the truck and for storing it; Dianne for keeping all of my plants and ponds at her place until I was able to get back the following spring to retrieve everything; April for bringing a camper FULL of plants over to the island for me; Cheryl and Susan for providing temporary housing for us in Victoria; Tara for offering me a temporary place here in the Koots until I could find us more permanent housing. I am so grateful for each person along our journey who has helped us over the rough spots and so thankful to be settled yet again.

There are so many friendships built and left behind as we move from one place to the other. It is my hope to be able to reconnect with many of you through this process and keep you more up-to-date on our goings’ on.

Thanks for being part of our journey.

I'm Gwen Dell'Anno. I solve one big problem for my solopreneur and not-for-profit clients: I keep their businesses running smoothly.

If you’re looking to boost productivity and focus on what matters most, let’s chat about how I can support you! I offer top-notch administrative services tailored for entrepreneurs and not-for-profits. I have years of experience managing small organizations and can take a wide variety of behind-the-scenes tasks off your plate.

Learn more about my services here.

Schedule a free 30 minute consult with me

You are receiving this email because you agreed to sign up for my newsletter or joined my client list.

Visit me on social media:

MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 136, South Slocan, BC V0G 2G0

Contact me...

MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 136, South Slocan, BC V0G 2G0
PHONE: 236.302.0112 EMAIL: [email protected]
BOOK a Discovery Call with me or ask a question:

https://dragonflymeadowsinc.ca

Your privacy is important to me. I never rent, sell, share your email address - ever!

If you want to unsubscribe, click here.