I was listening to someone speak recently about recruitment and how people who apply for jobs think they’re suitable for a role, but would the employer actually think they’re eligible? I had to think about that. ‘Suitable’, according to the Collins English Dictionary means ‘appropriate, proper’. ‘Eligible’, according to the same dictionary means ‘fit, worthy, or qualified’.

How often do we hear about someone who has decided to become a VA because they have a computer, internet connection and know how to type? (I have heard of some that couldn’t even type – just tap the keys). In this case they have the appropriate or proper equipment to operate a VA business. But, how fit, worthy and qualified are they?

It is true that there is much ‘on-the-job’ learning in becoming a VA but it is becoming considerably easier today because there are so many who have already trodden the path, and can help hold the hand of a newer VA. I don’t mean telling them what to do every step of the way, but I do mean that through the various VA forums and networks there are always willing members keen to give you pointers to help you in the right direction. And then there are a number of VA trainers and coaches today, and some institutions that have been established to give qualified training for this particular industry. Check out Essential Tools for VAs on the menu of this blog for a list of VA groups. And if you’re interested in training, shoot me an email for details.

So, if you’re planning to take this new journey, are you suitable or eligible for the VA role?

… my home address that is. I’ve just had a phone call on my home number (which is separate from my business number these days) with a guy asking for me by name and asking if I had a business here. I told him yes, but I haven’t used that number for about 3 years. He then proceeded to ask if he could check my details for a new business directory website being developed. New – but they have been given old information?

No, that wasn’t the case. Turned out they had only my personal name, my home address and my home number. Nothing about my business at all. I was horrified. I’d never advertised under my personal name and home address in all the years I’ve been in business – always my business name and my postal address. So, how did these people get my details?

Well, the website is owned by a newspaper group, which also owns a number of local newspapers. Seems that since I had advertised with them sometime ago, they thought they could add my details to the website – WITHOUT my permission.

Let me explain. The advertisment was to find homes for rabbits and my name and my phone number had been given. They only had my home address because they wanted a ‘real address’ other than my postal address before placing the advert. At no time was it ever indicated that information would go on a website. And if the local newspaper was handing over details for a new business directory – why were they also handing over details for advertisements that were placed that are not business related? I was starting to see red. The poor consultant was apologising profusely and agreeing that he would seek to get it removed immediately. 30 seconds after he hung up his manager was on the phone to me – at my business number, which I’d given to the young man. He also was trying to work out how it happened and then also agreed that he would get it removed with written confirmation to my postal address – not my home address.

I then proceeded to look up the number for the local paper in question, was told to ask for the Classified Advertising Manager and spoke to his assistant. I told her I had a complaint. She immediately asked if it was in relation to the website by name and I confirmed. He’s out at lunch but will (supposedly) call me back this afternoon. My thoughts are that they’ve been getting other complaints also.

If there are privacy laws in place, what on earth makes a newspaper group think they can just place all their clients’ contact information up on a website without permission? And why hadn’t they separated out business clients from private clients first? There’s a difference between placing the advert up there (that’s if I’d been asked, which I don’t believe I had) and putting all my contact details on a site that I didn’t know existed before today. Goodness knows how long it’s been up there, but I’m not happy about it. Will be interesting to see what transpires. If you live in Victoria, Australia be aware that this could also happen to you. KMT

privacy laws, permission, business directory, advertising

I was having a chat with a client yesterday and mentioned I’d recently won an Executive Portrait Package. I’d been planning to get a new photo done for sometime and now something was going to be done about it!

But she was concerned it might be one of those promotions that draw you in to spend lots of money and that the photos might not be exactly what I had intended. I was able to assure her all was well but then related a story of photos I’d had taken for my first anniversary (gift of paper) for my husband many years ago. They were glamour shots and whilst not pornographic and were very tasteful, they’re not the type of photos I would show everyone

I related to my client how my husband so loved the photos that he scanned a couple of them and put them into his screensaver on his desktop computer – all very well until someone comes to my office to see me and then sees me as his pin-up girl on his computer! I asked him to take them back off again.

One day, back in 1997 I was working with the Meetings & Events industry and assisting with a large event at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. At that stage I didn’t own a laptop so borrowed my husband’s to use for the event. I’d prepared a PowerPoint presentation for that day. I set the whole thing up, tested it, then walked into another part of the hall to set up the nametags. When I came back into the presentation room there were a number of people there with their eyes fixated on the projector screen. You’ve guessed it! There I was, in a lovely piece of brief night attire up on this massive screen. I was so embarrassed! It is funny to talk about today but on that day, it certainly wasn’t! I couldn’t get over to the laptop quickly enough to switch off the screensaver and then profusely apologised to my clients – they seemed to be rather amused.

No, I’m not going to show you the picture! But I do hope that you learn from my lesson, and check what’s on the screensaver before you take it out of your home or office and use it elsewhere. The few minutes it takes to check it (or switch it off) could save you some major embarrassment! KMT

embarrassment, pin up girl, screensaver, meetings industry, virtual assistant

I was privileged to be asked to contribute to a new book which was launched recently in the US. The book is called “The Business Mom Guide Book” and it is filled with stories of ‘moms’ in different locations who have developed successful businesses at home.

The book was put together by Terilee Harrison and I received some copies last week – they were long awaited! It’s a well put together book, with easy to read snippets so you can read it in small chunks, as time permits, and covers all sorts of things such as Pursuing Business and Family Visions that Intermingle, Maintaining Focus in Business and At Home, Making Time For Yourself, Setting Boundaries, Handling Emotions and heaps of other things.

I have copies available from my bookstore for $20.00AUD plus postage. Or, if you’re in the US, you might want to go to The Business Mom for your copy. KMT

Articles on becoming a VA that is. I’ve noticed an explosion of articles on different publications promoting how ‘easy’ it is to become a VA. Have a computer, have internet connection and voila! You’re a VA! If it were that easy, we’d all be doing it!

There also seems to be a growing number of courses to do, to learn how to become a VA and I encourage you, if you’re planning to take this path, that you do your research and assure yourself that those providing the courses have got the credentials to do so. This means some years of experience behind them, perhaps accreditation through one of the VA certifications out there, and maybe even membership of a recognised coaching organisation. Participation in a VA network or two wouldn’t go astray either. It’s important that those teaching you the ropes, have ropes that are connected, so to speak!

There are a number of established VA sites that list the courses, networks, certifications, etc available in the industry and these are worth visiting and monitoring as you build your knowledge for developing a VA business. Some of those sites include these below:

http://www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com/

http://www.work-the-web.com/

http://www.virtualassistantbusiness.com/

This is not to say that these are the only sources and there are many creditable sources out there – I just want to encourage you to do some research – good practice for your new VA business – clients will have you doing research for them sometime! KMT

virtual assistant, VA network, VA certification, VA course, VA training, VA training

My previous post about lists prompted a discussion amongst my team and one mentioned how she’d been approached to do a joint venture with a company, which all sounded very good, until she was asked to hand over her list so the other company could contact all those people. She refused and I can’t blame her. My response was this:

I’ve had clients ask me the same thing. It’s interesting you know – I was in a discussion on another forum yesterday and one of the VAs there had been asked to do something for her client which was morally wrong. The majority of the people responding were advising her to ditch the client and stand firm for her reputation. The latter I agreed with but the former I didn’t. The reason being is that I really do believe that some people don’t even know or understand what is morally or ethically wrong, i.e. they see so much of the ‘grey shades of life’ on TV, in the papers, in books and magazines, that it becomes a normal and ‘accepted’ way of life and unless they have had a strong moral upbringing that has definite boundaries, they just don’t think about it (And ‘morals’ can differ across cultures too). I thought perhaps her client just needs to be educated – as I’ve had to with a couple of my own clients. They didn’t get angry with me but were surprised at my response and asked my reasoning – when I explained, they understood and never approached the matter again. However, on occasion, I will promote something for someone via my list – but it’s me doing it, not anyone else.

And then last night I was speaking to a lady from Austrade at a networking event and we were talking about a similar thing (probably why I felt prompted to write my new post this morning) and I suddenly realised that I actually have access to probably 20,000 people or more on various lists I manage for clients. But it’s never occurred to me that I could do something with them for my own reasons – simply because I don’t think that way. It wasn’t until the Austrade lady asked me about whether it had ever crossed my mind, that I realised that ‘no, it hadn’t’.

So, asking someone to share their database so others can have access to it, to do whatever they want, might appear to be a reasonable request and a case of ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ but it goes a lot further than that. You’re suddenly giving over your list to someone else’s reputation – and who knows what that might be? Ivan Misner discussed a similar point when speaking at a cocktail function in Melbourne a few months ago. He was talking about when we refer people to other businesses – we’re giving our recommendations and a little bit of our reputation. It’s an important thing really. KMT