Seva Call is now open for business here in St. Petersburg, Florida; but we’re not just hanging our shingle, we’re topping it off with a halo too! People of Sunshine City will soon discover how we can make their days even brighter. Our miraculously efficient virtual concierge service will bring St. Pete’burgers a little bit of peace after their next storm, or any other service need that may arise, before the clouds even break on the horizon.

“St. Petersburg’s residents know how difficult it can be to find the right service professional among their 244,769 neighbors,  I can’t wait to show them a better way,” says Seva Man.

St. Pete Has A New Service Angel!

Rather than spending hours finding, researching, and calling area professionals; or, bending backwards to make time for a service appointment, residents can complete a simple form with their needs and availability. They will then quickly get up to three calls from top-rated, area professionals, who can do the work they need at a time they want. “We check consumer ratings through sites like Yelp, Google Reviews, and others to ensure the quality of the local businesses you have to choose from, while still saving you the time and energy of researching on your own”, explains co-founder Amandeep Bakshi. Ensuring security and saving time: Seva Call is sure to be St. Petersburg’s guardian angel!

One thing we can’t help you with is finding the best fish sandwich on the pier, but apparently you can’t swing a palm leaf without hitting a great seafood spot! So, calling all saints: if you want your next tree removal, trash pick-up, automotive repair, or other service provider to call you in minutes ready and able to work around your schedule, go to www.talklocal.com and fill out a request.

The staff here at Seva Call has been deeply affected by the explosions that occurred  today at the Boston Marathon. Like everyone else, many of us have been contacting our friends and family in and around the city of Boston to ensure that they are safe.

You can follow the details of the Boston Marathon Explosion on any news outlet’s website:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/15/177349725/apparent-explosions-rocks-boston-marathon-finish-line.

We hope that you are safe at home with your loved ones in this time of confusion and fear. Our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their friends and family, and the entire city of Boston in the wake of this tragedy.

This week, when you create a service request and enter #4Boston next to your name, Seva Call will donate $1 to the One Fund Boston.

– The Seva Call Team

Written by Dallea Caldwell

You know what they say, “Idle hands do the devil’s work”. They also say, “The Devil is busy”. So, what do idle hands do once they’ve started doing the devil’s busy work and have become decidedly less busy? Well, rather than send you spiraling into the abyss of circular logic, we at Seva Call want to ensure that even though we’re saving you time and energy when finding the right helping hand for your everyday service needs, there are plenty of other things your hands can do. After they enter your location, service need, and click for us to call, that is. So, without further adieu, here is a hand full of ways to keep your hands full while waiting for the call from a local pro.

Your Moment to Seva

Twiddle: Feel free to twiddle your thumbs. You may seem a little high-strung for doing so since the wait time to find area pros doesn’t get any shorter, and life is pretty short too. But, hey, go for it.

Wrestle: More fun than twiddling your own thumbs is twiddling someone else’s — if you call thumb clotheslining a competitor before locking them in a thumbhold for the win twiddling! Spend the first 30 seconds drawing luchador masks on each competing thumb for even more fun.

Tap A Diddy: Find a clear space on a table. Test tap various spots to see where variations in the grain of the wood and hollowness of the structure create complexities in the sound. Then, go all Drum Hero. Table drum standards include “Real Love” by SWV and “The Other Way of Stopping” by The Police. Have a friend drop some dope rhymes on the one as well, if you’re feeling it, of course.

Crack: No, I mean your knuckles, silly. It’s great for releasing pent-up aggression from calling a million dead-end business listings before finding Seva Call.

Air Boxing: Also great for releasing tension. When you deliver the air that knock-out blow, be sure to raise your fists into a V for victory gesture, jog in place, and make the ‘H’ sound to simulate a large cheering crowd that adores you, the undefeated Light-Wait Champion of the World, (pun intended).

Tweet: Better yet, tweet us! Employ the old noodle to craft the most awe-inspiringly clever, Shakespeare-quality, 160 characters the world has ever seen. #MomenttoSeva

Manicures: Snip those overgrown tips with some clippers, and then zip the emory board across them for a smooth finish.  Guys, you can do it to. It is called a MANicure, after all. When the ladies say they want a handsome man, they’re not talking about your face, if you know what I mean [see: wink-wink, nudge].

Shadow Puppets: Especially if you have kids, creating a fun short story with your hands and a flashlight is a great way to pass the time. Just keep it brief so they won’t be too disappointed when the first of the electricians calls.

Read Palms: In 90 seconds, you will receive a phone call from an area professional who knows your problem and wants to help. Look, you have a long lifeline connecting you to more area professionals in seconds. See, it’s easy!

Whatever you do with your hands, it will sure beat dialing number after number or scrolling through infinite online listings, and consumer reviews. So, enjoy your moment to Seva and we’ll have one of your top-rated, neighboring pros talk to you very, very soon.

PS… These suggestions also apply if you just have a really slow internet connection!

Written by Dallea Caldwell

Written by Dallea Caldwell

Procrastinating by reading about procrastinating — how meta.

The biggest obstacle twiddling its thumbs between you and your goals is procrastination: your innocuous tendency to go on dilly-dallying when you should be diem carpe-ing.

We Procrastinate for Lots of Reasons:

– To put off unpleasant experiences in favor of immediate gratification.

– Because we have a natural bias towards underestimating the value of longer-term consequences/rewards no matter their actual importance.

– A lifetime of experience has reinforced indulging for the moment and narrowly dodging major consequences by rushing to action at the last minute.

Of course, even if you ace every exam with last-minute all-nighters, procrastination still has its consequences. 20% of people consider themselves chronic procrastinators, a group which sees higher rates of:

          – Insomnia

          – Compromised immunities

          – Strained relationships with those that rely on them personally/professionally/academically

Why Procrastinate When You Can Accomplish?

Fortunately, behavioral scientists have thought of a few nifty tricks for hitching your wagon back on track so that you can pull out of Procrastination Station.

          1. Start a to-do list.

          2. Break big tasks into smaller actionable items.

          3. Prioritize with the least pleasant or more daunting tasks first.

          4. Create a reward system for accomplishing smaller tasks.

One great strategy is called the Pomordoro Technique: for every 25 minutes of uninterrupted effort, reward yourself with a snack and a 5 minute break. This satisfies your need for immediate gratification while keeping you focused on achieving your goals.

And remember, if you were studiously searching the web for a service provider when aimless web surfing captured your attention and held you hostage for hours; go to www.talklocal.com, enter your to-do list, and procrastinate all you want for the next 90 secs or so. Before you know it, you will have talked to a local professional who will get the job done. A great time to start that reward system!

Written by Dallea Caldwell

Tonight, at 9:23 EST in the historic Georgia Dome: The Louisville Cardinals take will on the Michigan Wolverines. Most of the TalkLocal team will be cheering on the sidelines, but one shrewd bracketologist’s NCAA pick could win it all.

Co-founder Aman Bakshi declined to publicly disclose which of the competing teams he predicted to take the win in our office competition. Our current and developing relationships with community members and fans on both sides makes the admission a conflict of interest. However, according to sources, Bakshi reportedly has a chance of closing out the NCAA championship prediction season with a flawless victory- pending the results of this final game.

“I focused, I trained, and I gave it my all. They ask me: ‘Is it in the wrist? Is it the shoes? No, in the end… it’s about what’s in here”, Aman explained, pointing to his chest in a heartfelt gesture.

Aman credits his success to his strict diet of gummy bears and regular exercise: knee bends into his seat,  reaching for chips, and running his fingers across the keyboard at 64 words per minute.

“He has an impressive ability to aggregate the opinions of sports announcers and pass himself off as a Bracketology Nostradamus”, quipped Gurpreet Singh  bitterly.

The co-founders, including Manpreet Singh, (who frequently practices his jump-shot while cheering crowds and the sound of the buzzer ring in his head), wanted to clarify that it’s not how you play the brackets, it’s how you gloat when you win that matters. At press time, Aman Bakshi is rehearsing his emotional victory. He plans to bend to one knee, head lowered, before raising a finger toward the sky, a single tear streaming down his cheek.

Of course, if tonight’s game motivates you to play more than guessing games, visit TalkLocal.com to find a personal trainer who will make you feel like a real champ.

Who do you think will win?

Seva Call is rolling through Tampa, Florida, and its caped crusader Seva Man isn’t here to see the sights. He just borrowed [read: stole] the Ybor City Trolley, kicking off anyone with a camera and a pack. Breaking out of the tourist trap, Seva Man intends to show native Tampanians a side of their city they need to know.

How Does Our Launch in Tampa Help You?

All you Tampanians who think you know your city reasonably well, try finding a last minute roof repairman from the eye of a rainstorm. You’ll find that you and everyone else is calling the well-advertised, well-search-engine-optimized, or prominently listed companies, so of course they’re booked, and you’re stuck calling the next. With Seva Call, you can connect to up to three available service professionals to address your various needs in minutes. No research needed. No numbers to dial. With a few details about you, your schedule, and your problem, Seva Call can find that illusive service professional you could have spent hours searching for, “You’ve been to the Soho District, welcome to convenience central- and it’s everywhere you and your computer are, Tampanians!”, says Seva Man.

So, maybe the grand theft trolley was a bit unnecessary. Fortunately, www.talklocal.com can help Seva Man find the lawyer and bail bondsmen he’ll probably be needing soon. As for you, Tampa, just go to www.talklocal.com to find and speak with the highly-rated plumbers, electricians, H-VAC specialists, dentists, and auto repairmen you won’t find in cyberspace. And, if you’re a local business looking for a boost in customers – go ahead and register – it’s free!

Seva Man is thrilled to have arrived in sunny Miami, Florida where the one thing you’ll never need us for is finding the party, it’s practically everywhere! Sun, sand, and palm trees- it doesn’t get any better than this. Or does it?

If the 85,000 or so local businesses are any indication, Miami residents need the same things everyone else needs- except of course a working heater or a shovel. Nor do most people need as many bathing suits as they do pairs of socks. The point is… the clear blue skies may be deceiving but car trouble, un-vaccinated puppies, and cavities happen everywhere, including Biscayne Park and Little Havana. Not to mention the fact that every now and then in Miami a tree might find itself on top of the garage. Such are the times when Seva Man comes to the rescue and makes life better.

What Is Seva Call?

Seva Call is a virtual concierge service that saves you time and energy by matching your needs, location, and availability to service providers in your area.

No more hours of research — we do the research for you.

No countless phone calls — matching professionals and businesses call you directly!

“We help get help — fast, and from professionals you can trust”, says founding president Manpreet Singh. With only a few basic details and in a few minutes, you can hear from up to 3, highly-rated, local professionals ready to serve you on your time! So, go to www.talklocal.com to find your friendly, neighborhood fixers, fast! Se habla espanol!

Written by Dallea Caldwell

(BRWeb) In response to growing demand for a simple way to find and connect with the “right” romantic life-partner to fulfill everyday cuddling needs, Seva Call proudly presents our new Match-Making service category!

Avoid the Hassle Of Meeting Real People!

Local singles typically spend years browsing dating profiles and texting different people before finally settling down into a serious relationship. With Seva Call, you need only enter your location, unfulfilled romantic longings, and the time when you are loneliest and most desperately needing companionship. In minutes, Seva Call’s algorithm instantly connects you to three, local, eligible bachelors or bachelorettes. Our system will only match you with singles who know your deepest fantasies and most irritating quirks, and are ready to settle with you — so long as you don’t snore too loudly.

“I was tired of the bar scene, then I had a Vodka and Redbull. After I got my second wind, I used Seva Call, which instantly connected me to somebody, anybody who would have me!”

                                                                                                     – Margaret Doe of New York, NY

How Does It Work?!

Seva Call filters area singles and selects the “right” match for you based on percentage of body shown in Facebook pictures, credit score, the number of times his or her car tires have been slashed by a bitter ex, and other quality assurance indicators. We then provide you with their phone number, home and work address, and social security number before proceeding to call them incessantly until they return our call… which we then route back to you.

Plus, if your romantic encounter goes poorly, Seva Call instantly canvasses your metro area advertising the heartbreaker’s name and number as a guaranteed means to a “good time”.

Further Match-Making Help

Seva Call raised $1.3 million in alimony yesterday and has launched in 28 major cities, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, and New York; We currently have plans to release an iPhone and Android app, and admit this to be an April Fool’s joke in the near future — if you haven’t figured it out already.

Seva Call is finally here in Jacksonville, Florida! Amazing tourist attractions aside- this is real life made simple; and, like the Winn Dixie  Open, it’s not a game. Car problems, cavities, and tax questions emerge and threaten to ruin the day; but have no fear (you know the rest).

“Seva Call helps you avoid hours of research,  countless phone calls, and long waits when its time to find a local service professional”, Seva Man says proudly. Just by entering a few details, including your location and a description of your need, you can hear from up to three local businesses that are ready to help and already know how.

So if you’re Jacksonville, Florida and need help on your own time, get it in the least amount of time by going to www.talklocal.com. Businesses can register for free as well. Real life made simple, it’s almost unreal!

Written by Dallea Caldwell

Life’s most stressful challenges tend to come with tight deadlines, urgency, and demands for our focused attention. So, we can’t exactly take a leisurely mental spa day to cope. So, how to shake off the jitters before they take you off your game? Here are some clutch, go-to tips for a cooler head that save time and restore energy, so that you can get it together, get in the game, and get it over with already (for crying out loud!).

6 (WAY) Under 60-Minute Stress Management Techniques

1. Strategy: Taking a Deep Breath. Time: approx. 1 second

How: Inhale deeply through the nose, then exhale steadily through the mouth. As you exhale, blink slowly once, and Mona Lisa smile once for complete, maximum, instant, renewal.

Perfect for… Readying oneself for a test of endurance- the big ready, set before GO- time!

2. Strategy: Counting backwards. Time: approx. 10 seconds

How: Take a deep breath and count backwards at a normal pace- preferably using your internal monologue. If alone, you may do so silently to yourself and close your eyes for best results.

Perfect for… Preventing a knee-jerk reaction, enabling you to respond in a reasonable, non-regrettable fashion.

3. Strategy: Sentient Meditation. Time: approx. 30 seconds

How: Mentally immerse yourself in the flavor of a single morsel of your favorite candy as it melts in your mouth, or the aroma of your favorite perfume or scented candle. Imagine in great detail the pleasant things it reminds you of.

Perfect for… a quick mental break/escape when you need to boost your mood.

4. Strategy: Stretch. Time: approx. 10 minutes

How: Turn 10-minute yogi and stretch out those tension-tortured kinks, especially in your shoulders, and back. This YouTube video even has some office/cubicle friendly yoga moves to try!

Perfect for… Relaxing that distracting bodily tension that’s been causing you to adjust in your seat, roll your shoulders, and massage yourself constantly.

5. Strategy: Power Nap. Time: 20 minutes

How: After a restful night, catch some extra zz’s of rejuvenation- even if you have to curl up beneath your desk or rest your head on top.

Avoid this if you are sleep-deprived, as the strategy may exacerbate poor sleeping habits or insomnia. Be sure to set your alarm as well. And, resist the snooze button! Check out the scientifically supported brain-stimulating benefits.

Perfect for… Restoring energy during a lunch break, and improving problem solving skills when confronted with a vexing issue that has you stumped.

5. Strategy: Cardio! Time: approx. 30 minutes

How: Jog, walk, or take the stairs. Cardio exhausts your excess energy for a feeling of calm and renewed focus.

 Bonus: Short-term exercise boosts confidence- which can’t hurt when a formidable challenge is set before you.

Perfect for… your health, of course!

So, before you wander into Worryville and get off track, set aside whatever time you can spare to reduce stress and increase focus. And of course, the TalkLocal Team is here to quickly find pros to help tick off a few things on that “Can’t Possibly Do Myself” list, offer a relaxing massage, or stress busting exercise. You’re already dealing with a million things – stress doesn’t have to be one of them!