It was several years ago I began this journey of developing a business at home.  16, in fact, next month.  That time has flown by.  My daughters are all now adults and no longer needed a mum at home but I must admit I have no inclination to go back out into the traditional workforce. I love my surroundings, my comfortable office and the line of work I do for my clients.

However, I know many feel totally overwhelmed when they join the Virtual Assistant industry and have no idea how to start first or where to go for help.  Should they have a website? Should they be joining VA networks?  Which sites should you pay to join without being scammed?

These and a million other questions surface when people are faced with starting their own business – it’s not just in the Virtual Assistant Industry.

Let’s face it. There’s nothing like being supported and encouraged by someone who has already trodden the path you are choosing. There’s value in learning from someone else’s mistakes rather than making your own.  And why should you re-invent the wheel if someone else can share their knowledge and experience?

Enter the VA Coaching Club.  With a monthly call session and teleseminar, including periodic guest speakers, the opportunity to tap into the wealth and knowledge of experienced VAs and access to materials and services designed for the VA industry, it makes good sense to join.  There is a monthly fee but it’s not high and you’re not locked into a time period.  We’re also establishing a forum just for members of the coaching club and also the VATrainer course students.

If you’re new to the industry, either just starting, or been around for awhile but need some help, then why not explore the VA Coaching Club for more information?  Make sure you check out the webinar lineup of speakers – we have some great topics being covered.

Written by Kathie Thomas - Visit Website

Filed under: Professional Development, VA Coaching Club | 1 Comment »

One of my VA team members is going away overseas on a holiday soon and she was keen to find out what I did to protect my business and my clients when I was away last year for a whole month.

I was able to share with her what I did, how I outsourced the work and ensured my clients were happy and any lessons I’d learnt during that exercise.  Fortunately I’d been away on leave before, for shorter stints, so have learnt along the way the things I need to set up and do prior to going on holidays.  You almost need a holiday just from the extra work involved in ensuring all runs smoothly in your absence.

I am always happy to give advice and share my own experiences to help other VAs.  What have you done this past week to help someone?

Written by Kathie Thomas - Visit Website

Filed under: Project 52 | No Comments »

Recent posts at a VA forum has made me wonder just how much do Virtual Assistants (and other self-employed) value the importance of their own self education.  It is oh-so-easy just to quit and give up and move on to something else if it doesn’t work out.  When in reality, if people were just prepared to take the time to learn and listen from others who are more experienced, they may well succeed.

To quote one long-term VA from the forum:

A lot of VAs have started and quit early because they just don’t have what it takes to work for themselves. I believe you have to have the “I will not take no for an answer” attitude to want to work from home and be successful at it. By having this attitude, you will find the means to get what it takes to stay in your home-based business.

Another responded with:

I would have to agree with Linda. Being successful as a VA means you have to not only work on getting more clients but diversify and educate yourself to do more and improve.

Which prompted a further response from me because that last sentence hit the nail on the head.

Here!  Here!  I agree, which is why I’m always perplexed as to why there aren’t a lot more VAs attending conferences or events designed to help them improve and educate themselves for better businesses.

I’m running a conference here in Australia in March for the VA industry and although we do have bookings they are only half what I was expecting. Why is this I wonder? Does no-one value the importance of self-education?

And so I raise this question here.  For those who want to advance in this industry and learn from their peers, and learn about things they can do to grow their businesses, why don’t they take the opportunity to attend events when they are organised?  IVAA runs their Summit, OIVAC has an annual online convention and we have the Australian VA Conference in Melbourne next month.  And there are more held in the US and also an annual event in the UK.

I encourage all Virtual Assistants – new, intermediate and experienced, to consider that these events are put on to assist you in your businesses and give you the opportunity to learn from others in a condensed period of time. I guarantee you will go away enthused, encouraged, motivated and ready to move to the next level.

By the way, it’s not too late to book for the AustralianVAConference (AVAC) – which is being held on 12/13 March in Melbourne.

Addendum:  To clarify, AVAC has a great lineup of speakers and presenters and we do have a good number of bookings – but I am aware there are many VAs here in Australia who have asked for conferences over the years and/or others who have said they’re coming but I haven’t seen their bookings yet.  Would be great to have a really big turnout for our first event.

Written by Kathie Thomas - Visit Website

Filed under: VA Conference, VA Education | 14 Comments »

Each year I like to start off fresh with new ideas, new plans and often new looks. The website I’m thinking about changing but haven’t yet fully decided on that.  It’s a big job. But I have updated my newsletter and had some great feedback on the new look.

Why not pop in to see my latest issue and see for yourself? And if you’re not subscribed, then feel free to do so – I’d love to see you on the list!

http://www.vadirectory.net/acsnewsjan10.htm

Written by Kathie Thomas - Visit Website

Filed under: Technology | 3 Comments »

Update on AVAC – VA Conference

As you know the inaugural Australian VA Conference (AVAC) will be held in Melbourne, Australia on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 March 2010.  This conference is open to all VAs in any location.

We hope you’re planning to join us and meet your fellow VAs face-to-face at this great event.

Have you visited our sponsors yet? They are listed on the website but let me introduce some of them to you here:

Major sponsors:

Anyone who’s been in the VA industry for a period of time will have heard of the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) which is based in the US. They have worked tirelessly towards improving the industry and gaining professional recognition for our chosen vocation. We are thrilled that IVAA have shown their support of our conference. Please do visit IVAA to see what they have to offer to Virtual Assistants in the way of membership and support.

Small Business Servers Australia Pty Ltd (SBSA) is based in Greensborough, which is located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne around 20 minutes from the CBD. They provide professional IT services to a large and varied array of companies and home based businesses all over Melbourne. Their business was created in late 1999, trading first as ‘Shen Solutions’ and then after incorporation in November 2003 the company commenced trading as Small Business Servers Australia Pty Ltd. As we know, VAs are dependent on their computer and internet based systems to be running at an optimum. Please do visit SBSA to see how they can assist with your business.

Arbit Secretarial and Administration Solutions is a Melbourne based Virtual Assistant practice which has been with the A Clayton’s Secretary network for over 7 years. We are delighted that Cheryl-Lee is supporting this conference as a sponsor.

AIOP Vic Division is our newest major sponsor. Kathie and Anita are both long-term members of AIOP (Australian Institute of Office Professionals) and both are award winners with the organiation as well for their professionalism and activity in the administrative industry. We are delighted that AIOP has elected to sponsor our inaugural VA conference. Make sure you visit their site to learn more about what AIOP can do for you on a professional level.

Get your booking in now and mark it in your diary!

Tickets are $170 and include a choice of sessions, morning and afternoon refreshments, a networking lunch and the chance to mingle with sponsors and speakers. For those who cannot attend the full event but would like to attend for one day only, we have this option now available. Just visit the Registration page to choose the booking option right for you.

If you would like to make contact with us, provide suggestions, or want more information, please fill out the contact form at our site and either Kathie or Anita will get back to you very soon.

Written by Kathie Thomas - Visit Website

Filed under: VA Conference | 2 Comments »

Well, how is your project progressing?  Would love to hear about it.

The person I helped this week isn’t in the VA industry but is a budding photographer.  She was seeking advice on a photographer’s forum about a business card she was designing and asked for input.  I and others did just that but what surprised and pleased me was that one of the other members suggested she take my advice as I showed good business sense.  She and I have since been corresponding and she’s been very grateful for it.

I simply see that using my experience provides opportunity to share my learnings with others.  If they can learn from my own failings and triumphs then it helps them move along just that bit quicker… providing they understand the basis of what I’m suggesting or advising them.  It doesn’t cost me much of my time and the experience and learning has been for a lifetime – it’s worth sharing.

Written by Kathie Thomas - Visit Website

Filed under: Project 52 | 2 Comments »