Why is that when things are so hectically busy I long for a quiet time to start that new project or idea and then end up starting it anyway because I can’t wait? It often means I’m on my computer till midnight to get it up and running, and then not being able to switch off my mind when I finally go to bed. And then when the quiet time does come (usually between Christmas and New Year, or just before the end of the financial year when people don’t want to spend any more money) the ‘new project’ (like revamping my website) is already done and I scratch to find other things to do. If you’re like me, I bore very easily, and I like to keep busy, busy, busy.

So, where is everyone? All having their break away from work and I’m the mad one still at my computer every single day.

Reality is I’m addicted to the thing, and the web, of course. So it is a good time for exploring, reading, experimenting – things I don’t get to do when I am really busy. And another reality is that everything I learn I end up using for clients anyway, so it is not time wasted. It is just not income-producing time – although the end result usually ends up converting into a new income-producing service ).

It was one of my clients really that got me on to blogging. They wanted me to explore the option for them after reading a newsletter from a well known Aussie speaker/internet guru. That was several months ago and the one thing that has become clear to me is that ownership of the blog is really important. That is, the owner is the one that should really be doing the posting – although I can happily set up the directory listings, the blog pings, accounts, subscription lists, and all the rest of it (I’ve been learning heaps!!!). But it’s the actual posting that should be done by the owner. The article at SmartBiz certainly makes that clear with well-known names such as Suzanne Falter-Barnes and Denise Wakeman (they’re well-known if you’ve been spending a fair bit of time on the web reading about Blogs and also self-promotion, that is) being quoted in the article.

So, I must say, I think this is time that’s been well-spent and hopefully, very soon, the stats for visitors to this blog will reflect that. If you haven’t noticed (yet), I have a survey to the right of the page now, and a subscription list if you want to be kept informed of updates and new posts.

Oh, and by the way, if I don’t post again in the next day or two, Happy New Year! KMT.

Why would you use a Virtual Assistant?

Consider the following:

1. You want or need regular or ad-hoc administrative support but don’t have suitable office space, a spare desk, a spare computer, the relevant software, or perhaps you just highly value your space and don’t want to share it.
2. You can’t afford to pay for someone xx number of hours a week as well as their superannuation, taxes, workcover and other insurances, and leave loading.
3. You don’t want to give someone else the key to your premises if you’re not going to be around.
4. You don’t want to be tied down to certain hours a week because there is someone in your office or on your premises – it will make you feel stifled.

But:
1. You do want to make sure the work is done by someone who knows what they’re doing.
2. You don’t mind what hour of the day or night the work is done, as long as it’s done.
3. You don’t mind paying for the time the work takes, but you don’t want to be paying for downtime when there’s no work to be done.
4. You do want to have access as close to you as your computer.

And the list goes on.

All of the above and much more are good reasons why having a virtual assistant work with you in your business is a good investment. A VA is generally someone who has been in the corporate world for some years and has experience and good training behind them. There are a number of good training organisations online that are bringing VAs through the graduation process. VAs are generally well versed in the use of the software they offer services in, and are used to wearing more than one hat at a time. VAs aren’t secretaries, although many do provide that type of service. Some may specialise in industry specific support, such as Real Estate, Public Speaking, Medical, Legal, Engineering, Association (not-for-profit) management and so on. Some may be specialists in particular software packages or services such as desktop publishing, website design and management, database design and management, event management, audio and digital transcriptions, and so on. Some are all-rounders, some are specialists in one area. But whatever your need, you can be sure that there are many virtual assistants out there that could provide you the relevant support.

How do you find them?

Well, there are around 16 virtual assistant networks globally and then many individuals not listed with networks as well. It is estimated there are around 2,000 virtual assistants currently. See Entrepreneur.com article…. http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,316200,00.html. The Alliance for Virtual Businesses website lists most of the networks at http://www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com/vaorgmain.html. Some of the network sites allow you to peruse their members’ services, others require you to fill out an RFP (Request for Proposal) or Job Request which is submitted to their members to get back to you.

Now you know a little more it would be worth exploring some of these sites, check out case study examples (see http://www.vadirectory.net/casestudies.htm) of how VAs have been used and then start thinking about how your working life could be made easier if you had your own personal VA to support you.

I’ve been learning about Blogs for a couple of months now and joined a chat forum to learn more about it (see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ezinesandblogs/ if interested in joining). I want to see the Blog I write to be one that will assist those learning about the Virtual Assistant Industry to understand it better, what it is, how people can become a VA or how a client can use a VA. The chat forums available for VAs are very useful (see http://www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com for a list of VA networks and related chat groups) and assist VAs to learn more about their industry but for many who want to become a VA, it is often frustrating to be told by existing VA members that they need to go through the archived messages or do some reading before asking questions that are asked over and over again. Granted, you have to learn somewhere, somehow, but it can still be frustrating I’m sure.

And for those who want to know how to use a VA and how they can be sure that the VA they’ve chosen is capable of the work they want done, this too can be a frustrating exercise. There are a number of VA training organisations, certifications, etc designed to assist the VA to develop themselves and also to assure clients that they are getting suitably qualified people to provide services for them. That is not to say that a VA that doesn’t have VA certifications or accreditations isn’t suitable for the work you want done – many have come from corporate backgrounds with many, many years of experience in the very services they offer. It is important though, to ask questions and verify or qualify their experiences.

So, it is my plan that this Blog will assist both the wannabe VA and the client who is learning how to use a VA. Consequently I welcome questions – either via email direct to me, or via the comments function on this Blog.

I hope this year was a good one for you and that you are now spending time planning and preparing for an even better year in 2006.

These are my thoughts – Kathie M. Thomas

I have a collection of cards that are meant to be topic stimulators in meetings and I find them great for posts to this blog. The topic this week is: Spirit – Of Adventure & Achievement

What does Spirit – Of adventure & achievement mean to you? To me it means having the spirit to venture forth and try things out, to be willing to have a go at something for the sake of adventure but also for the sense of achievement after that thing is completed. To know that even if you are not fully successful at whatever to the extent of your planned outcome the fact is because you have attempted something, you will have learnt something about yourself and how you managed, and also about that particular thing. You may have heard of the saying that if you aim for nothing you’ll hit it? Well, if you aim for something you might not necessarily reach it, but you will have reached higher than not reaching in the first place. That’s what it’s like to seek an adventure and achieve. We’re all pioneers in some way or another – although some things are far more noticeable to the public than other things. But that shouldn’t matter as long as you know that sense of achievement and can feel satisfaction in having ventured out. So what if someone else has done it before you? The fact is you’ve never done it before and therefore an adventure lies ahead!

In the field of virtual assistance we are all pioneers – the boundaries have not yet been fully defined because it is such a new industry, only a few years old. That means you might hit upon something and how it could be done different to what everyone else has done, or perhaps something new that hasn’t been done… yet. I believe we still have only seen the tip of the iceberg with this industry and there are many exciting things yet to take place. In fact, I know there is because I know of something coming up in the new year. But, I can’t share that yet…….

Anyway, these are my thoughts. Why not share here what your thoughts are on Spirit – Of adventure and achievement?

One of the things I love about networking the most is how relationships can develop. Good friends, good information, good business. Developing a business as a VA requires networking both online and offline. It’s important to get a good mix of the two. Some are so desperate for the ‘virtual’ thing to start happening that they overlook the importance of laying foundations – and often those foundations need to be on solid ground, not cyber space.

Getting in the middle of the networks that your target client base mixes in is an ideal way to start – let people get to know your face and name. It’s funny but people only have to meet you two or three times and suddenly they ‘know’ you and start telling people that they’ve met you if your name is raised in conversation. Relationship building is so important in business and although technically we are virtual operators, the reality is that many of our first clients come through the building of personal relationships – and eventually they refer others to us that become truly virtual. The new clients come on the word of someone they trust (our older client) – again, very much a relationship thing.

For example – I joined the National Speakers Association of Australia to learn about public speaking and to learn more about what a client of mine was doing about 4 or 5 years ago. I ended up getting to know the members of the association, being involved in their association, and today my team supports nearly 40 members of this association around Australia.

Never underestimate the power of networking – you never know where it can lead, who you will meet, what you might get to do. I guess the talk about the ‘old boys’ network’ is very true – often it’s not what you know, but who you know, that can help you get ahead.