Ask
The Master
June 2008 - Volume 7/Issue 3 |
Professional Development
It
has been a few months since I have been able to write my newsletter.
After 5 years and over 60 editions I really am okay with this today.
Why you may ask? Because over the past couple of months I have been
intently focusing on my professional development.
In This Issue
(Click on the links to go to that question.) What can I do
to improve communication with a client?
Building a Multi-VA
Business
The Multi-VA business has become a popular alternative for Virtual
Assistants and the clients who hire them. It's a business model
that provides Virtual Assistants with a solution to turning business
away and offers clients a wider selection of services, skill sets
and shorter turn around times.
Now you can learn how to build a Multi-VA business, bringing together
a team of talented VA's to expand your business and it's potential.
This 4-week advanced course covers every aspect of starting, managing
and avoiding potential pitfalls associated with being a Multi-VA
owner. Participants must be a graduate of the VATP (or any another
VA training program) or have been in business for a minimum of 2
years.
For more information visit http://www.vatp.ca/info/multiva.html
or send an email to multiva@vatp.ca.
Complacency
As a successful or new business owner we sometimes tend to put
our professional development on the back burner. We become complacent
and comfortable with where we are or too caught up in the building
of the business to work on ourselves.
This is fine for a period of time, no one is saying you need to
be in a constant state of upgrading, however, it's important not
to stay there for an extended period of time, like years! With ever
changing technology, new ways of doing business and niches opening
up you can get behind the eight ball pretty quickly.
In addition since who we are plays such a big part in the success
of our business it is also my belief that we need to keep working
on our personal growth as well.
The Signs
So how do you know when perhaps you need to work on your professional
development? Here are some of the signs you may be experiencing:
- You find you are not stretching and growing with your clients
- When someone mentions a new technology you go "Huh?"
or "I've never heard of that!" (and it's been out for
years!)
- You have to subcontact out work because you are unfamilair with
the technology required
- You are using older versions of software programs
- You feel like a "newbie"
- You find you are restless, irritible or discontent with your
business/clients/work
- You live in fear that the one big client you have will not need
you one day
- You are out of touch with the general VA community
- You haven't taken a course in over 3 years
- You haven't attended a VA conference in over 3 years
What To Do?
Quite frankly...get off your butt!
Schedule time each week to jump into a VA forum, upgrade your software
program, get training on new or upgraded software, sign up for a
newsletter, hire a coach, work with a mentor, take a course, attend
an event, volunteer in the VA community, find new clients, find
or change your niche, implement better systems and processes, do
some business planning, set goals, get counselling, network your
office, declare your intentions to the universe...but do something!
After all you are the only one who can ;-)
You have a choice, a fork in the road if you will, to either stay
where you are or ignite the passion that brought you here in the
first place. Will it be easy? Probably not, but nothing worth fighting
for usually is, but keep fighting anyway. You and your business
are worth it!
Brought to you by
Virtual Strategies
and the Virtual Assistant Training Program
Making dreams reality!
www.vatp.ca
info@vatp.ca
1-604-483-3740 |
|