Our Runners are Entrepreneurs

August 17th, 2010

In case you missed it last week, check out our appearance on The Today Show.  The angle was supporting folks who are unemployed with a flexible way to make money on the side.  The reporters wanted to know if more Runners are getting involved during this ‘down economy’.  The truth is, that when we launched TaskRabbit in September 2008, it was the very beginning of this recession.  We have never known anything different, and we are happy to provide a flexible options for those in between jobs.

What’s even more interesting is the notion that in any recession or tough economic time is when entrepreneurs are born, and we are empowering our Runners at TaskRabbit to be entrepreneurs - in charge of their own schedules and work environments.  We’ve even got some very exciting functionality queued up on the product side 100% focused on this notion, so stay tuned!

Take super star Runner Briana B, who just opened her own retail shop in San Francisco called Urban Bazaar.  An active member of the Etsy community, Briana, is leveraging her special skills and passion to do something that she loves.  She is one of our top Runners at TaskRabbit, further underscoring how our Runners are entrepreneurs.  Go Briana, and go Rabbits!

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First Round Capital joins the TaskRabbit Team!

August 16th, 2010

We are thrilled to welcome First Round Capital to the TaskRabbit Team.  They’re joining existing all-star investors FLOODGATE Fund (formerly Maples Investments) and Baseline Ventures, who have teamed up before with much success, and we are honored to be supported by this prestigious group of smart and savvy investors.

Invaluable help from Ann Miura-Ko of FLOODGATE and Steve Anderson from Baseline has been crucial to our growth in Boston and recent launch in San Francisco.   With the inclusion of the partners from First Round Capital we are set up to expand even farther, even faster.

Did you see us on The Today Show and Wall Street Journal?  Wow.  We’re still riding the wave of excitement and we’ve been besieged with the same question, “When is TaskRabbit coming to my town?”  From Chicago to Austin, and Orlando to Seattle, we’ve heard from every corner of the U.S., and we also heard from folks all over the world too:  from South Africa to China and Germany to Melbourne.   We hear you and remember, rabbits are really good at multiplying quickly, so stay tuned!

As TaskRabbit’s founder, I am touched knowing that TaskRabbit is resonating with so many people around the world.  I started TaskRabbit a couple years ago in Boston when on a dark and cold night I ran out of dog food and just knew there was someone who would be happy and willing to help me, if I could only just find them.  Now, with TaskRabbit in two cities and planning on expanding to other major cities soon, it seems that not only was my vision spot on, but there are people all over the world who are looking for similar help, and lots of people wanting to help them. Go rabbits, go!

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The Virtues of Hiring a Virtual Assistant

July 26th, 2010

Before TaskRabbit, it was difficult to efficiently outsource tasks that required physical presence, but that does not diminish the value of virtual assistance. The world is increasingly online — including your grandmother now that Facebook hit 500 million users — and so is your to-do list. You don’t have to reside in the Boston or San Francisco areas to live smarter by shifting some of the burden to a computer-savvy Rabbit.

The Lost Art of Thank You Notes

Perfectionism, combined with the fast-paced modern lifestyle, can make it easy to forget your manners. Now that everyone you know can see how much fun you’ve been having via your Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare activity, it’s more awkward than ever when you realize that a month or two has passed since a family member or business associate did something really awesome for you and the gracious thank you note you had planned fell by the wayside. Maybe you got married and invited an overwhelming number of guests. If you’re embarrassed that all the time you’ve spent typing has diminished your penmanship, try Paperless Post. If you simply can’t find the words or time, enlist help.

Throwing a party

One of the best ways to get the word out and determine head count for a party is through online invitations. There’s a plethora of potential services to use: evite, Socializr, Facebook, and our favorite, Pingg. Bounce party theme ideas off a Rabbit and have them wade through the hundreds of templates in each service to assemble the best invitation to impress your friends. If you want to go the old school route or have a particularly formal event, we can sift through paper invitation options as well. How about hiring a party planner Rabbit? You’ll be able to relax and enjoy your party as much as your guests when you leave the work of tracking down temporary furniture like folding tables and chairs or researching venues and caterers to the pros.

Online presence

Effectively organizing text and photos on a web page can make a big difference when you’re trying to launch a business, rent out a property, or display a menu. Not everyone knows how to put together a quick web page, but our techy Rabbits do. Even those who are creating their own sites can benefit from usability testing. If you want to clean up some images for your existing web site or to improve your confidence on social networks but aren’t ready to shell out for your own copy of Photoshop, lean on a Rabbit who already has it. Maybe your business needs a blog to keep your customers engaged but you’re feeling bogged down by all the work it takes to keep generating new content. Let a Rabbit do your research or create a few stock posts to use when there isn’t anything particularly newsworthy to share.

Online Dating

Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek and champion automator, was once challenged to outsource his online dating, and you know what? It worked. Maybe you’re shy or aren’t sure how to convey yourself in a way that is most appealing to the opposite sex. This is exactly the type of situation that calls for a third party proxy. A Rabbit who is detached from your personal embarrassment will have no problem getting you out there. Leave it to your matchmaker Rabbit to create your first profile, manage and maintain profiles on multiple sites, pre-screen other profiles according to your criteria, or even schedule dates at designated times. All you have to do is show up and be your charming, delightful self.

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Creating an Effective To-Do List

July 20th, 2010

To-Do lists…they can make life more manageable by helping us remember everything we need to complete. The catch is that To-Do lists can be a nightmare to properly create and manage. All too often we scribble an idea here or there and have a pile of To-Do notes rather than an organized list. Creating and keeping a proper To-Do list can help you to complete your tasks in a timely manner, relieve stress, and open up free time. Here are some tips for creating the best To-Do list for you.

1. Know what works for you. How you create and use a to-do list should be tailored by your personality. While many people use online organization tools, others still prefer to keep a physical list on paper. What you choose should reflect your daily routine and preferences. If you’re not online often, it may be best to continue carrying a list with you.

2. Use action verbs. Using actions verbs will help motivate you to take action and organize your To-Do’s. By categorizing your list with verbs such as “to buy” and “to contact,” you will have a better idea of tasks that you can consolidate and complete together.

3. Make time in your schedule. Make sure that you set aside time in your schedule to organize your To-Do list and chip away at tasks. You need to make time in your life to work on your To-Do list so that it doesn’t accumulate to an unmanageable level.

4. Limit yourself. When you have a long list of things you need to complete, it may be tempting to put the list aside rather than tackle a seemingly never-ending job. If you limit yourself to three or four tasks in a day, getting things done can become a part of your routine. Designating a specific amount of tasks to complete can also help you to feel accomplished when you are done rather than feeling overwhelmed by what is left.

5. Share your list. If you use an online To-Do manager, share it with loved ones who many be willing to lend you an extra hand.

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Finding New Passion in Your Free Time

July 16th, 2010

If your everyday routine feels a bit too monotonous, try something new. It’s important to find something, indeed, many things, to be passionate about and it can be an effective way of adding a new dimension to your life.

The old guidance counselors’ exercise used to determine one’s profession is a good place to start; if you had enough money saved to not work, what would you do with yourself? If your answer is “watching baseball all day,” then you should be a baseball writer. This exercise is clever, but the crux of the issue is to determine the answer to the middle part of the question. Tim Ferris, author of the Four Hour Workweek, recommends outsourcing the chores and tasks that get in the way of doing the things you really want/need to do. If you do this and are left with more free time to engage in activities or pursuits that would give you joy, what would those things be?

The answer could be broad, like “I would take more time to read,” but what would you read about? Revisit a book you read in school; chances are reading, say, Dickens at this point in your life would be a different experience than when you were in high school. You may discover (or rediscover) a passion for reading.

Try becoming well-versed in a subject that you have no prior knowledge of. You could become an expert on environmentalism (hello, is this BP? I have some choice words…) Love music? Delve into a new genre of music you’ve never tried to enjoy before or become an aficionado of music history.

Free time rules! Learn to cook a gourmet meal, take voice lessons to sing in the shower better, take painting classes to capture that view out of your window, take up cycling; it doesn’t matter what hobbies you have or decide to pursue; what’s important is to have them at all. You will find happiness if you discover new endeavors to drive you.

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Never Fear – Stress Relief is Here!

July 13th, 2010

Stressed? Worried? You’re not alone! Almost everyone in America is stressed about something- a recent poll suggested that 8 out of 10 Americans are stressed solely by the economy! If you are feeling under pressure these days, use this 5-step guide to getting your life on track.

1. EXERCISE- Ignore your inner-laziness! Exercising pumps up your endorphins, making you feel happy. Take a 30-minute jog or bike ride and forget about your stressful day. It’s relaxation through movement. And with exercise, comes a great bod- so you’ll feel better about yourself inside and out!

2. HEALTHY DIET- Yes, I mean veggies, fruits, protein, fiber- the whole shebang. An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Keep your diet balanced- the more color the better (and I’m not talking about candy). Quick tip: make your salad resemble the rainbow. Need something low-cal and on the go? Small, healthy snacks keep you active. Eat your way (healthily) to a stress-free life! Don’t forget about dessert- it’s okay in moderation, and can keep your sweet tooth happy as well.

3. ORGANIZE -Tossing and turning at night in fear of forgetting to do something? One easy solution is to write things down. Keep a pad of paper and a pen by your bedside- you’ll find yourself falling asleep faster knowing that your to-do list is organized and ready to go. Also, most smart phones come with some sort of App to organize your life. Check out rememberthemilk.com- the moos coming from your phone won’t let you forget to drop off the dry cleaning.

4. DO FUN THINGS TOO!- Weekends are full of the promise of fun activities. It’s summertime, so get some rays at the beach or go to the park and catch up with your favorite magazine. Bored with your usual hobbies? Try some yoga, take an art class, or cuddle up with a good book. Go online and search for free activities happening in your area. The opportunities for fun on a budget are endless!

5. MOST IMPORTANTLY- HAVE A GOOD LAUGH.- Thinking about skipping that drink with some old friends because you just have too much to do? DON’T! Laughter reduces stress hormones and increases the level of health-boosting hormones. It’s also a great distraction- notice how you’re not thinking about your to-do list while enjoying a hilarious story from a friend? Laughter is the best medicine- so “ha-ha” your way to a better day!

Take time out of your day to take a few deep breaths. Making a few small changes to your stressful week can help alleviate some of the pressure you are feeling. And don’t forget, it’s ok to enlist help for those daily chores and tasks.


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Posted in Summer | 2 Comments »

TaskRabbit SF is Hopping!

July 10th, 2010
As you know, we launched our newest TaskRabbit branch in San Francisco on June 19th, and our team of Founding Runners has been “getting it done” for customers all over the city. We’ve been busy in neighborhoods from the Mission to the Marina. Our live activity feed reveals a great deal about current events in San Francisco. Our Runners have served as proxies in long lines to pick up the iPhone 4, and one customer turned to the TaskRabbit community in hopes that its “eyes on the street” would know exactly where to find a rainbow bandanna for last weekend’s Pride celebration.
“The bandanna that was delivered was even better than what I had envisioned,” Customer Deanna M. said. “I celebrated in style without wasting several hours and a whole bunch of gas searching local stores.”

That’s not where the creativity ends. Erika D. helped Sally M. get in shape without even ruffling her rabbit ears by calling her for workout accountability. “I asked her specifically about her workouts — intense yoga session, indoor rock climbing, surfing,” Erika D. said, “and also sent encouraging text messages and voicemails about getting a good night’s sleep in order to complete the workout for the next day.” Resourceful traveler V W. turned to Marlene M. who picked up V W.’s laundry returned it nice and clean before the end of the day.

Devon L.’s first task was a sweet treat: he picked up a delicious box of Specialty’s cookies as an interoffice gift. Some customers are testing the limits of TaskRabbit’s abilities; Jim S. is a last minute kind of guy and posted a task at 6:17 p.m. requiring pick ups at stores across town that closed at 7:00 and 7:30 p.m., respectively. “I honestly didn’t think my task could be done before the stores closed,” Jim S. said, but he was pleasantly surprised when he found everything on his doorstep.

We’re excited to see what San Franciscans can come up with next. Save a parking spot at Ocean Beach on our next warm and clear day? Provide a ride home to a few Giants fans after the next game? It’s up to you, but whatever it is, TaskRabbit can get it done.

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Controlling Your Organized Chaos After a Vacation

July 8th, 2010

By Jennifer Smith

Returning home from a vacation can make you feel like you need another vacation. Managing the pile of mail, voicemails, dirty laundry, and unpacking can easily becoming overwhelming. If you don’t have a homecoming game plan, your house can easily become more disorganized than your bulging suitcase. Follow these steps to save yourself time and clutter when you return home from paradise.

1. Plan for your homecoming before you go on vacation. Make sure that you wash the dishes, run that last load of laundry, and tidy up so that you don’t come home to a pigsty. Coming home to a mess can make you feel even more overwhelmed while coming home to an organized abode can motivate you to keep it clean!

2. Make a To-Do list of your post-vacation priorities that need to be accomplished. Planning out what needs to be done will help you plan your time and feel accomplished as you complete each task.

3. Designate a spot to unpack and get to it. Unpacking in one area can prevent you from spreading the inevitable mess throughout your home. Aim to unpack everyday items such as personal care products first so that you don’t have to dig through a pile to find something when you need it.

4. Unpack clean clothes. It sounds overly simple, right? Unfortunately it is all too easy to leave this task for last, which means that your clean clothes will likely be wrinkled and in need of laundering. Put clean clothes away ASAP and send dirty clothes off to the laundry room.

5. Don’t let your vacation end the day you get back. Take off an extra day to get things done around the house so that you don’t return to work stressed and jet lagged. If you get everything done with time to spare, take a seat and organize your vacation photos or brainstorm for your next getaway.

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Posted in Summer, travel | No Comments »

When Spring Cleaning Becomes Summer Cleaning

July 2nd, 2010

By Jennifer Smith

Spring-cleaning. It never seems to happen during spring, does it? Now that summer has officially arrived, our time indoors is likely to decrease while our clutter is likely to grow exponentially. We have a few tips to help refresh your living space so that you have a spick-and-span place to return to after a hot day at the beach.

1. Collect clutter items such as old magazines, books, and children’s toys to donate. Not only will you have more open space, but also you can help out your local library, hospital, or even our troops. When was the last time that cleaning felt so good?

2. Change out seasonal items such as shower curtains, smoke detector batteries, and light bulbs. Consider changing light bulbs to compact fluorescent (CFL) blubs to conserve energy. The change will make an impact on your electricity bill, as well as the environment. That’s a win-win.

3. Organize seasonal items so that winter items go into storage. By going through your clothes, you can open up closet space and sort through items you no longer want. Remember the “love it, hate it, like it” system where items you hate are put into a bag for donation, items you love are organized to go back in your closet, and items you like can be put into storage to reassess when you have more time.

4. Organize and label your cleaning supplies so that you have an accurate inventory of items you need around the house. If a cleaning emergency pops up, you’d be surprised to know how many non-toxic, common household items can be used instead of harsh chemicals. Did you know that you can stop an annoying faucet leak by tying a string around the end of the faucet so that the water flows down the string rather than dripping until you can get it fixed?

5. Keep a daily routine of quick chores to keep the house tidy. If you clean as you cook or get into a habit of recycling magazines as soon as you are done with them, you will prevent disorder around the house and the need to clean it.

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Posted in Summer | 2 Comments »

I Just Called – To Say – I’m Going Green

June 30th, 2010

While it would be ideal to dedicate the next six months of your life (or more) to going down south t0 clean up the oil spill, many of us are not in a

Being green is easy, even for busy people.

position to be able to call out of work/life to do so. For those of you who have busy lives and do what you can to go green, I like to send out a weekly tip or two on some simple ways even the busiest individuals can go a little greener (because you can never be TOO green.)

1. Pick up the phone. Are you headed to the grocery store? Are you stopping by Target later? Do you need to run to the mall? Pick up the phone and ask if your friends/neighbors/family members need anything while you are there. Not only is it a convenient way to get more tasks accomplished, but by having one person go the store instead of five, you cut down on gas consumption and carbon emissions.

Better yet, plan your shopping trips a few days ahead of schedule so that you can let everyone know where you are headed and when. You can pick up your Mom’s milk, your neighbor’s loaf of bread and your buddy’s sugar while you are shopping. That’s three cars that don’t need to make the trip across town. And YOU’VE just gotten a little greener.

2. Buy products that support good causes/ideals. Did you know that Dawn Dish Detergent donates $1 to wildlife conservation? You need dish detergent and you like wildlife. Seems like a no-brainer.

All of the Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products are cruelty-free and Earth-friendly. You need to clean anyway. Why not purchase something that’s better for the environment?

Are you moving and thinking about buying a new piece of furniture? Why not make the effort to purchase furniture that has the green seal of approval? Furnishings made from sustainable materials and non-harmful chemicals are easy to find and if you’re going to spend the money, put it toward chairs, sofas or tables made from bamboo, recycled wood or SmartWood. Check out this list of the top green furniture (Treehugger approved.)

There are easy ways to go green by making tiny changes. In an age where we are all busy, going green does not need to take any extra time or effort. Going green is easy. Staying green is hard. I’m here to make this simple.

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