If you've been to any time management courses or seminars, or have experienced business coaching, you'll know that it's important to set aside time to work ON your business as opposed to working IN your business. When you first start out you probably spend 95% of your time working on your business, making plans, developing systems, trying things out, creating stationery, designing a business card and so on, and the other 5% on the small client base you've begun to grow. But, somewhere along … [Read more...]

The VA I mean. Even we need to make preparations for looking after our businesses when we take some time off. So here are some suggestions to help you plan your break. Notify your clients at least a month out, earlier if possible, so they can get any important items to you, or so you have time to source another VA to support them whilst you are away. Remind your clients again 2 weeks out and then a week before via email - even then you'll still get last minute stuff the day before. But … [Read more...]

On various VA forums I often see (newer) VAs seeking services for use in their business that are cheap or free. Whilst there are programs and services out there that don't cost a great deal to obtain, the reality is that a lot of what you source for your business is going to cost you money. Remember you are running a business. That any expenses you incur on behalf of clients should be billed accordingly. Or, if you purchase new software so you can service a particular client, look for ways to … [Read more...]

I recently received an email from a woman who is thinking about become a Virtual Assistant. She'd tried her hand at a couple of businesses and had found it hard going and then was offered a good job and took it. Much later she discovered the VA industry and wished she'd known about it before. She has since been offered fulltime work by a man who wants her to become his VA and she wrote to me for advice. I had concerns about this possibility for her and below is my response which I hope will … [Read more...]

Do you set New Year's Resolutions? I found that often the resolution wouldn't have enough meaning for me and would get forgotten in the busy-ness of life. But some years ago I got the idea to start setting goals for the year - part of ensuring my business plan would get reviewed and actioned. I probably read about it somewhere and started to do this each January. Last January (2007) I set aside a whole day to think about what I wanted to do and to set goals that met both personal and … [Read more...]

The end of a year and the start of a new one will often lead people to think about what they want to do for the next 365 days, or in this case, 366 days with a leap year in 2008. It's at this time of year that I hear from many who would like to leave their corporate jobs and come home to work, so they can be with their family and get a better work/life balance. Sometimes they email me before deciding to join my team of VAs and others ring because they want to hear a 'real' voice before making … [Read more...]

Frequently I see new and experienced VAs seeking advice at the forums for things that probably should be obtained elsewhere. In particular, advice that needs to be sought from Accountants - the VA's accountant. And if they don't have one, they better do something about that very quickly. Discussions regarding the type of business to set up (i.e. sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, bonding, etc), whether or not to register for an ABN (Australian Business Number), GST or other service taxes … [Read more...]

At this time of year people are naturally looking to see what changes they will make for the New Year. I often notice an influx of new people entering the Virtual Assistant industry and one of the things they do is start sending messages to the VA forums they've joined that they're open for business and seeking work. But they really are promoting to the wrong audience. Most forums are about learning how to operate a VA business and how to work with clients. Some of the forums do provide … [Read more...]