Last year I wrote about two different situations where the VA community grouped together to help one of its own. One was when a VA shared on her challenges and others rallied round to help her. The other was when I, myself, was going through a family tragedy and so many once again, rallied round to support me and let me know they were there in my time of need. Well, another need has been highlighted by one of my team today and it relates to the Victorian bushfires that most of the world now … [Read more...]
Will you be attending FoVA?
The Forum on Virtual Assistance will be held at Niagara Falls in Canada June 2009. This will be the second event run and it promises to be an exciting event for the industry with many well known VA leaders in attendance participating in discussions, running workshops and supporting the event. I'm excited to be one of those leaders who will be attending. My first visit to Canada! And I'll get to meet for the first time face-to-face so many names I know really well. Can't wait to see them … [Read more...]
Being a Virtual Assistant in these economic times
You would have had to have your head underground or off the planet, not to know what's been happening in recent times. And everyone's thoughts are about tightening their belts and wondering about their jobs or their businesses. In the VA forums discussions have turned to whether business is increasing or decreasing? Many have reported the former and it's been good to see this response. Why is this? A recent article at Farifax's SMH site talks about how support staff are usually the first … [Read more...]
Will you be our 1,000th member?
In April 1996 I began the southern hemisphere's first online network of its kind, originally as homebased secretaries and then we adopted the term 'Virtual Assistant' as we saw it take hold worldwide and recognised that what we were doing was exactly that - providing virtual assistance to clients all over the world. Being based in Australia meant we weren't originally visible to the northern hemisphere but that has changed over the years and today we have a membership that spreads to 15 … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistant Forums – great resources
Over the years I've watched the Virtual Assistant forums grow and evolve into really active, useful sources of information, resources, lists of all sorts of things, great communities for connection. Many hold folders of links where members can list sites that have been really useful to them in their businesses or with samples of brochures, contracts and all other sorts of materials that have helped them in business. The forums have become a hub of very useful information discussing all manner … [Read more...]
Should I be paying someone to get work?
This is a common question amongst VA forums and one that many new VAs ask. And somewhere along the line, the thought and responses have become slightly skewed with responses like 'you should never pay for getting work'. Whilst on first sight this appears to be a sound response, I believe you need to look at this much deeper before answering with a 'yes' or 'no'. For example, the site you've visited - is it a membership based site that offers many benefits to its members? If so, and the … [Read more...]
My heartfelt thanks to the Virtual Assistant Community
It's kind of ironic that my previous post is about the support VA communities provide. Because only one day later our darling Miriam, aged 24, died whilst her father and I were away in the country. We rushed back home as soon as we heard. I'm not yet ready to resurface to all the forums. Her funeral will take place next Monday here in Melbourne, Australia. We have family with us from around the country and they'll stay on for a few more days thereafter. But I did want to let everyone know … [Read more...]
VA Communities provide support
Today, on our forum at 'Virtual Assistants International Group', a member shared some challenges she was having in getting her business off the ground. This wasn't a rare comment, we've had others say similar before; they've come to seek help. What was really special, and important, is the way the community rallied round to support and encourage this new VA during her time of feeling fragile and unsure. That's what I love about our industry. The way everyone gets together to encourage, … [Read more...]
Forum on Virtual Assistance June 2009
All Virtual Assistants are invited to the next Forum on Virtual Assistance (FoVA) next June in Canada. Even more exciting because I am going too! I was thrilled to be asked recently to present a workshop and facilitate a forum at the event and I accepted. But to give you the details direct from the organiser, please read on! Extraordinary plans are being made for FoVA ’09 and I can tell you that we have an incredible program shaping up for you! Mark your calendars! FoVA ’09 will … [Read more...]
