The VA industry on Radio 4 Women's hour today

Today I have both listened to the Radio 4 Woman's Hour podcast which discusses the Virtual Assistant industry and interviews 2 VA's who influenced my decision to become a VA, Emma Walker and Justine Curtis, and read Maggie Berney's (of Maggie Berney Office Services) thoughts about it here. I want to support what Maggie has said in response to Dr Brendan Burchall's comments in particular and extend them somewhat as it felt he was being very patronising to VAs as business owners.


Firstly we are not shut up in our home offices all the time, as Maggie says, we meet clients, each other and regularly attend networking events otherwise we wouldn't have any clients in the first place. Also we communicate rapidly, instantly and often (well in my case massively, you'll already know that if you follow me on Twitter!!!) using social media. It may not be face to face most of the time but it is conversation of both business and chit chat as well as being members of varying support forums and groups for our industry. Like Maggie I am also a member of VASG which offers support, business opportunities, collaboration and chat.


My second issue is that his comments regarding the marginalisation of 'people like this' and that we will find it hard to re-enter the work place seem misplaced and based on the really aggravating assumption that we are all dabbling in business around our other (often family and children) commitments. Speaking for myself I am a mother with young children and yes the flexibility of being a VA based at home is very desirable BUT it does NOT mean I take my business any less seriously. In fact I take it more so than my old day job. I am more driven, more willing to work into the small hours to make my clients businesses successful and exceed their expectations than I was when I was employed. I have a passion for what I do and the sector I cater for that drives me and means I have exacting standards for the quality of my work. Flexibility is desirable but does not equal a less committed business owner.


I have no desire to reenter the workplace but should I choose to I hope that a prospective employer would view someone with the ambition and organisational ability to start and run their own business is a damn good prospect! It demonstrates vision and self belief which will benefit their company.

I think Maggie has sufficiently covered his remarks about needing to employ somebody to entrust them with confidential information and work! Suffice it to say that his statements are misplaced and he is more than welcome to connect with UK VAs further if he would like to conduct some more up to date research!!!

Help!! Need more clients to feed my shoe habit!!!!

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will already be aware of my..um...slight shoe problem. Its starting to border on an obsession! Firstly there were these

then

and the latest edition is these amazing creations from Irregular Choice...


Now they're not cheap and I have to pay the tax man too. Plus I have 2 children to clothe and feed so I should start reminding myself why I became a VA in the first place...and it wasn't to buy shoes!!!! (Well, not really anyway!).

I became a VA so I could work with people who are as passionate about the arts, good design and creativitiy as me. To have flexibility to work around my children and to utilise my expertise and organisational abilities and learn new skills. To be more in control of my own destiny and earn some money whilst I'm about it all.

But the shoes are sooooo lovely!!!!!

I need more clients so I can justify more shoes! Can you recommend me to anyone, really....please??? You see I have my eye on these....

Is Second Life old hat now, or still worth exploring??

I was chatting with some fellow VAs on our skype support group the other day when the conversation turned to Second Life. One other VA and I have used it previously, I've let it slide as a 'more for recreation rather than business' kinds'; thing whereas she has taken it forward. In the end an off forum messaging conversation took place that culminated in a meeting in SL between us (well our avatars!) and it has made me re think my preconceptions.

What I consider a bit passe is being taken up by businesses and utilised as a way to have an office space in which to do business, that is not tied to a real world geographical location. People are making money in there, real money too not just Linden Dollars!

Her ideas are forming, and despite my initial reticence (and the fact I REALLY need to practise making my avatar move around some more!) I want in!

I know we are moving toward web 3.0 but don't discount 2.0 technologies just yet. Its another skill I have to offer my clients that I hadn't really thought about before and which sets me apart in my skill set.

So if you want to connect with me in Second Life, just let me know.

Researching away....

I seem to be doing quite a lot of research at the moment. One lot of Market Research and another on copyright holders of texts that are to be used (hopefully, subject to obtaining permission!) in a book.

I rather enjoy searching the internet and libraries to find out things, the more unusual the more interesting in my opinion! I have previously also found copyright holders to images which I think has been my favourite so far but that's probably just my Fine Art background coming out.

Its an interesting process and never straightforward. You have to find essential information, extrapolate what you need from large amounts of...well, gumph!...and then present it to the client in an understandable format. It can be a bit disheartening when all the hours of trawling you've done condenses down to 1 side of A4 but if it contains everything needed and saves your client those hours then it's actually a great piece of work well done!!!

Wimbledon is bad for my business!!!!

I am spending way too much time being sucked into the tennis...and not just Andy Murray making me shout at the TV until 11pm at night!!!! I am something of a tennis fan but particularly Wimbledon!

However, this does mean that my precious and limited time to work on R&R VA Services slips away whilst I scream about first services rates etc! And this is a problem shared with a lot of people who run their own businesses. The evenings are when we work on our business and not that of our clients, but we all need a break sometimes. I got into being a VA partly to improve my work life balance so dealing with the guilt of not working on my business for a few nights is a little challenging.

I have to remind myself that this is what I enable other people to do and if I don't recharge my own batteries occasionally I'm no help to them either. Plus me screaming at the TV really does seem to make a difference to his game........honestly!

Researching that potential client

It's what I'm currently doing as I have a couple of meetings coming up in the next few days with potential clients, checking out their websites, newsletters, Facebook pages etc...gleaning enough information to sound informed at the meeting. But also it gives me an idea of what they may need from my services.

It always pays to go to meetings prepared why not have a VA do the research for you and save some time :)

Time management......remember yourself!

It has to be considered....planning! Yep we all know we need to do it,we do remember sometimes and we know we should do it more.

I'm in the process of working out a schedule for myself to ensure those regular jobs I need to do for my own business actually happen, it's all too easy to put them aside when someone else wants to pay you for your time but they are important.

And then there is also the inclusion of time off!!! I can hear you gasping from here but we all need the odd evening to ourselves...if I don't have some time with my family and some sleep quite frankly you won't be getting the best service from me, trust me!

Facebook business page

I'm just in the process of setting up my R&R VA Services Facebook fan page. Won't be in time to get enough followers to get my vanity facebook url but it will be good for business!!!

I'll let you know when it's up and finished and you can all come and massage my ego by becoming my fans hehehe!! I can always create one for you too!

That guy who knows everyone....

I met him today...or at least one of those people. I used to work for one as well. If you needed anything cultural, social or political he had the contact. Today's guy was on a much more business and practical level and it got me thinking, part of a VAs role is something similar to that. To know who to put you, the client, in touch with when you need something done. Or to at least know someone else to ask if they know the right person or company.

And today I met someone else!