1. What are the things you do that drain you of energy? We all do things we really enjoy and that energize us. We also do things that tend to drain our energy. 

2. What are the things you do that don't directly increase your profits? You know -those tasks that have to be done in a business but don't directly bring in income. 

Once you've identified the things that drain you of energy and that don't directly increase your profits, you're ready to call in professional help. A virtual assistant can take on those tasks, leaving you with the tasks that you feel energized about and that contribute directly to your bottom line. 

But what's this about contributing more? Most service providers, such as consultants, coaches, therapists and others, realize their business is all about making a contribution. They are focused on helping individuals develop, grow, change, and improve. 

Any business owner can increase their profits by gaining new clients. The key here is to approach this with a new mindset. Instead of focusing on gaining new clients to increase your business, focus on contributing value to others. The increased business and new clients will come. 

Think about how you market to your clients. Is your focus on what you do and what your services you provide? The key is to focus on our prospects and clients, on their needs, who they are, what challenges they face, and what benefits they will receive by using your services. 

Marketing now needs to focus more on building relationships. That's why we've seen an increase in businesses using social sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. This is a way to begin building relationships and providing valuable education to prospects. Use these sites to provide resources and referrals. Be involved and participate in a meaningful way. Building relationships at these sites can build trust and at some point you'll find people asking more about what you can do for them. 

Another way to contribute is to write articles and reports, such as this one, and distribute them freely. They not only increase your credibility, they give your prospects valuable information and a way for them to learn more about you and your services.