VA Podcaster & Blog Tour

Corrie Petersen
virtualfreedom4you@msn.com

http://virtualfreedom4you.blogspot.com

Hello Corrie and thanks for letting me rest at your blog a minute. This is my fourth stop of the 45 day podcast and blog hopping tour to promote the virtual assisting industry and our convention, scheduled for May 17-19. I must say, hopping around the virtual globe can be exhausting. Let me catch my breath for a second and I’ll be ready to talk about one of my favorite topics, virtual assisting.
Okay, I’m ready.

1. Is it difficult to start a VA business?

Difficult, no more than starting any other business you are passionate and serious about.

That’s correct! Anyone entering this industry should possess passion and a strong desire to succeed. Just as important is to build a strong foundation, develop systems, possess the necessary technology and equipment and have patience. After you have conducted industry and target market research, identified your ideal clients and their associated demographics, etc. (important elements of your written business plan and marketing strategy), and determined your specialty, you will have built the first blocks of a strong foundation for a successful business. Oh, and have an emergency fund to support you during the opening stages of your business – as you begin to market and grow your client base. Some VAs obtain clients quickly, for others it is a slower process.

I’ve not enough time to outline many processes for building a successful business, but this is a start. For a more detailed reply, contact me at va @ the 24 hoursecretary.com (spaces included to avoid spam) with specific questions or visit www.AllianceForVirtualBiz.com, the global resource portal for the VA industry. It contains a wealth of information about the industry.

2. Who came up with the idea of a VA? Well, I’ll answer this question by quoting a message posted, January 30, 2007 on Ryze, by Kelly Poelker, a veteran VA, in response to a lively dialogue on this topic.

“The late Thomas Leonard, who founded Coach U and later Coachville, coined the term “virtual assistant.” Thomas Leonard was a nationally recognized coach and speaker who bought a Winnebago and traveled all over the US from meeting to meeting; and therefore no longer had a brick and mortar building. Kelly interviewed him via telephone and was able to learn the following: Thomas had an assistant whom he had never met that managed his business, and his life, from afar. Since he had never met this assistant, he once referred to her as his “virtual assistant.” From then on he used this term when encouraging other coaches and speakers to utilize the services of a virtual assistant. Before he passed away recently, he had partnered with several virtual assistants — most, if not all, of which he never had the pleasure of meeting face-to-face.”

Kelly goes on to say:

I can tell you first hand from my interview with him that he was not aware that he had “coined” the term although he used it in the context noted above. He was flattered to know that we credited him with that honor. He didn’t even remember who is assistant was at the time that he first used the term. There was no “definition” other than what Stacey Brice ran with after being called that by Mr. Leonard (good for her to take the initiative) and then further defined as she started to educate others and bring attention to the concept. And even then, you’d probably get the argument that Christine Durst and Michael Haaren had the idea before her. But then again, there were home-based secretaries long before Thomas Leonard even thought about taking off in his Winnebago (Air Stream, or whatever it was). So who really was the first? Better yet–who really cares? It’s what we (collectively as a group doing our own little part) have done with it over the years to bring it into existence.

2. Why is it such a good idea to use a VA? Well, it’s really a good business decision that can have economic and physiologic impact. Economically, because by delegating administrative, back office or internet-based duties to a virtual assistant, the client can spend valuable time on income-producing responsibilities, like brainstorming, networking with members of their target audience, creating products, etc., culminating in increased exposure and income potential. Physiologically, partnering with a VA can help eliminate work/life stressors associated with spending long hours working in your business instead of on your business. Finally, you become available for opportunities that you either didn’t recognize or may not have been receptive to because you lacked time to investigate the possibilities. Additional detailed responses were provided when I visited Alicia Foster at www.aliciasplog.com. Stop by and read my replies to a similar question and while there pickup yesterday’s scrambled puzzle clue.

3. What is the cost for attending and participating in the OIVAC? Well, this is a very easy question to answer. The convention is priced affordably, so that anyone can attend, all from the comfort of your home desktop and based on your personal schedule. Individuals may purchase a single seminar – $25.00; 3 seminars – $60.00; 5 seminars – $100.00 or the entire convention – $350.00. So, if you only find 3 sessions you would like to attend, that’s all you have to purchase. And, as an added feature – if you are unable to attend a live seminar, you may still register and view the recorded version anytime during the following week. Imagine attending a convention that is available a week after its official last day! We’ve made it so convenient, it doesn’t matter where you live or your time zone; seminars will be accessible with just a click of your mouse. The schedule is located here and registration here. Note: Seminar registration closed May 15, 2007. No exceptions.

In addition to a superb list of speakers (See Speakers profiles), the convention will consist of free and open to the public Exhibitor Halls, networking, workshops, and our annual Awards Ceremony, which is scheduled on Friday, May 18, 2007 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EDT (New York). At the Awards Ceremony, the Thomas J. Leonard Virtual Assistant of Distinction and Janet Jordan Achievement Awards will be presented to deserving Virtual Assistants. In addition, we will announce the winners of the Scrambled Puzzle Contest associated with this podcast and blog hopping tour, and bask in the camaraderie generated by the global virtual assistant industry. Download a Scrambled Clue Puzzle Board here.

Well Corrie it’s time to move to my next stop, Heidi Richards and the Virtual Womans Day blog. Heidi is president of Women’s e-Commerce Association, International (WEcai™) whose mission is to “Help You do Business on an off the Web™”.

I haven’t forgotten today’s scrambled puzzle clue. By the way, I’ve received a few emails from individuals saying they’ve solved the mystery phrase – which is impossible because we have clues for each of the 45 days – and are using only one letter from each mystery clue to form the winning phrase. I believe the VAs just wanted joke with me. Well, I suggest podcasters, readers and bloggers continue with our travels – because no one can solve this puzzle from just a few stops – right Laurie? Here’s clue #4: ieccrtpa

About Sharon Williams:

Sharon is the Chairperson of the Alliance for Virtual Businesses and OIVAC, and president of The 24 Hour Secretary an administrative, secretarial and internet-based marketing support services company. She is the 2006 recipient of the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award and co-founder of Virtual Business University an e-learning university for enrollees wanting to step towards their greatness.