Today I have an article from a successful UK based Virtual Assistant
When I first started out as a virtual assistant, more years ago than I care to remember, there weren’t many other VA’s around and therefore not much competition. Nowadays, a sizeable proportion of the clients I take on have worked with at least one other VA in the past. When I ask what differences they notice between how we work and what they have experienced in the past, it is often commented on that what they like more than anything is that we work as a partnership with our clients, being proactive in their businesses and looking for opportunities for them and suggesting ideas, as opposed to those VAs that just sit and wait for work to be delegated to them.
So how do we achieve that distinction? Part of it is the mindset. When you make the leap from being an employee to a sole trader or business owner you will quickly realise that if you sit around and wait for work to be delegated, you won’t get very much of it. At that point you learn to make yourself an active member of your clients ‘team’ very quickly or you will soon start to flounder.
To give a great impression straight away it’s important to ask the right questions at the first meeting with your potential client, before they sign up. You need to ascertain where you can be most useful to them. What are their weak points? What work they have to do that they continually put off either because there is no time or because they don’t enjoy it? Find out what their plans are for their business. What do they want to achieve?
Once the client has come onboard you need to maintain the momentum with scheduled meetings as an ongoing process both with regular and ad-hoc clients. By having detailed monthly catch up meetings, either in person or by telephone, you can identify what is coming up in their calendar and how you can help them by sharing some of that workload.
For some really great documents to help you with initial client consultations and ongoing client reviews, take a look at our New Client Template Pack and Client Management Template Pack.
For more detailed information about how to conduct a client consultation, download our Podcast on Client Consutation here.
Copyright 2008 by Justine Curtis
About the author
Justine Curtis is the director of her own successful virtual assistant business My Virtual Assistant which is now recruiting a team of virtual assistant licensees and founder of The UK Association of Virtual Assistants (UKAVA) which offers free resources and information to its subscribers – sign up at http://www.ukava.co.uk. Justine is the author of Setting Yourself Up As A Virtual Assistant and is proud to be able to pass on the benefits of her vast experience of the VA role to aspiring and progressive virtual PAs as a co-founder of the VA Success Group.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Friday, 12 February 2010
Bank Phishing Schemes
Having just received two more of these phishing emails I feel compelled to blog about them.
In the interests of those who might not know the term phishing, it's the label given to those emails that you receive purporting to be from someone they aren't. For instance in this case my bank, claiming that my account was being accessed by a third party and that ownership was in doubt. They usually include a link or form that you need to fill in and send back. The problem is that they're really not from who they claim to be.
Usually the easiest and best way to tell if the emails are real is to look at the spelling. In genuine communications I've received from my bank via email the spelling and grammar has always been pretty perfect.
The phishing emails have spelling and grammar that would leave most First Graders pulling their hair out at how bad it is.
If you have any doubts about whether an email is authentic or not please contact the sender and ask before you click on any links.
Having had a bank card cloaned a couple of years ago I can tell you the trouble and inconvenience of having to try and resolve the matter is truly astounding. Certainly it could have been made easier by my bank if they'd given me all the information that I needed right at the start rather than in small bite size pieces.
I truly hope that none of you are or become a victim of the phishing exercises.
Otherwise I hope you all have a super weekend.
In the interests of those who might not know the term phishing, it's the label given to those emails that you receive purporting to be from someone they aren't. For instance in this case my bank, claiming that my account was being accessed by a third party and that ownership was in doubt. They usually include a link or form that you need to fill in and send back. The problem is that they're really not from who they claim to be.
Usually the easiest and best way to tell if the emails are real is to look at the spelling. In genuine communications I've received from my bank via email the spelling and grammar has always been pretty perfect.
The phishing emails have spelling and grammar that would leave most First Graders pulling their hair out at how bad it is.
If you have any doubts about whether an email is authentic or not please contact the sender and ask before you click on any links.
Having had a bank card cloaned a couple of years ago I can tell you the trouble and inconvenience of having to try and resolve the matter is truly astounding. Certainly it could have been made easier by my bank if they'd given me all the information that I needed right at the start rather than in small bite size pieces.
I truly hope that none of you are or become a victim of the phishing exercises.
Otherwise I hope you all have a super weekend.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
What is Honesty When You're A Virtual Assistant
What is honesty you may wonder. Well in the world of the Virtual Assistant it is the ability to admit your shortcomings and areas that are not your core business. You either then need to subcontract the work out or alternatively you need to admit upfront to the client that you are unable to assist them.
I've had numerous calls over the years from clients who have had work done by people who claim to be experts at what they do when in actual fact they aren't. The classic was the one I received today. The client had hired someone to assist in finalizing a tender document to be sent to a government organization. The lady who worked all day for them actually was not as experienced in terms of the needs for the clients as she claimed to be. The client is now left with a document that needs urgent attention with a very tight deadline, the tender needs to be submitted tomorrow.
As a virtual assistant it is imperative to have a network of like-minded people to interact with. This serves a multitude of purposes. It allows for a sounding board on those days when things are falling apart faster than you can pick them up, as well as to celebrate the joys with you. The other useful factor of such a network is the ability to be able to either subcontract or pass on work to people who are better equipped, or have more experience in areas where your skills may be lacking.
If you are in South Africa, or Africa, then there is such a network and what a wonderful group of people there are on it. If you want to join then sign up with TAVASA (http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/tavasa/).
I've had numerous calls over the years from clients who have had work done by people who claim to be experts at what they do when in actual fact they aren't. The classic was the one I received today. The client had hired someone to assist in finalizing a tender document to be sent to a government organization. The lady who worked all day for them actually was not as experienced in terms of the needs for the clients as she claimed to be. The client is now left with a document that needs urgent attention with a very tight deadline, the tender needs to be submitted tomorrow.
As a virtual assistant it is imperative to have a network of like-minded people to interact with. This serves a multitude of purposes. It allows for a sounding board on those days when things are falling apart faster than you can pick them up, as well as to celebrate the joys with you. The other useful factor of such a network is the ability to be able to either subcontract or pass on work to people who are better equipped, or have more experience in areas where your skills may be lacking.
If you are in South Africa, or Africa, then there is such a network and what a wonderful group of people there are on it. If you want to join then sign up with TAVASA (http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/tavasa/).
Friday, 5 February 2010
Never Give Up
OK, now that we’re on our way to achieving our goals don’t give up. No matter what people say about how unrealistic, silly, or anything else about your goal remember that it’s yours and yours alone. If you want it you can make it happen.
There will be the people, many of which may be friends and family, who tell you that you can’t achieve your goal or that it’s unrealistic. While it’s hard to work against such beliefs you need to have the faith of your convictions and stick to your guns.
Ignore the Nay-sayers and those wishing to destroy your wish and keep going strong. Find people of a similar mindset and spend time with them. They will help you achieve your goals, rather than crushing them.
Good luck and I hope 2010 is the year that you achieve your goals.
There will be the people, many of which may be friends and family, who tell you that you can’t achieve your goal or that it’s unrealistic. While it’s hard to work against such beliefs you need to have the faith of your convictions and stick to your guns.
Ignore the Nay-sayers and those wishing to destroy your wish and keep going strong. Find people of a similar mindset and spend time with them. They will help you achieve your goals, rather than crushing them.
Good luck and I hope 2010 is the year that you achieve your goals.
Monday, 1 February 2010
Take Action
Now that you’ve identified, prioritized, and planned your wish, it’s time to start taking action. The law of Inertia that you may have learnt about at school still has an effect on you now. Make a commitment to your goals and plans every day. If you only spend 5 minutes on it today but 15 minutes on it tomorrow that’s fine. The idea is to get yourself moving in the right direction and then the Law of Inertia will take over.
Taking the first step is the hardest but each and every step thereafter will get easier and easier. You need to create new habits in order to achieve your new goals. It takes time to create a new habit so remember to plan time each day for your goals until you no longer need to think about prioritizing the time and you just do it.
Affirmations are a great way to help you meet your goals. It really is simply telling yourself the same thing every day until it becomes a reality. Work on your affirmations as often as you need to each and every day until they become true.
While your wishes and goals are your own and personal there is no reason why you can’t get other people to help you achieve them. Not everyone has the same skill set and resources at hand, so feel free to ask and accept help in achieving your goals.
Taking the first step is the hardest but each and every step thereafter will get easier and easier. You need to create new habits in order to achieve your new goals. It takes time to create a new habit so remember to plan time each day for your goals until you no longer need to think about prioritizing the time and you just do it.
Affirmations are a great way to help you meet your goals. It really is simply telling yourself the same thing every day until it becomes a reality. Work on your affirmations as often as you need to each and every day until they become true.
While your wishes and goals are your own and personal there is no reason why you can’t get other people to help you achieve them. Not everyone has the same skill set and resources at hand, so feel free to ask and accept help in achieving your goals.
Friday, 29 January 2010
Making a Plan
OK, so your wish is ready, it’s presentable and is something you’re committed too, now’s the time to start making the plan to achieve it.
Brainstorm your plan in a similar way to how you brainstormed your wish. Write “What steps do I need to take to ______?” at the top of the paper and then keep asking yourself the question and writing the answers down until you have exhausted all ideas. Now take the steps and if necessary break them down into smaller steps. This will help make your goals seem more appealing and be much easier for you to achieve them.
Remember the deadlines otherwise your plan and wish are meaningless. Remember though that the deadlines need to be reasonable. One your deadlines are set then you need to set milestones so that you know how well you are doing meeting the target of making your wish come true.
OK, now move all of the information to your daily calendar so that you can schedule the work in. If you know your deadlines and goals, it’s easier to make a firm commitment to them and set the plan in motion.
Now that we’re making progress, identify your limiting factors and identify the way to work through them.
The next step is to schedule the progress report. You don’t have targets and deadlines at work without having to report on their progress so why allow it to affect your wishes. Some of the questions to ask yourself include:
1. Have I met the milestones I planned to meet since my last progress report?
2. Do I need to change my plan to reach my milestones?
3. Do I need to change my milestones?
Brainstorm your plan in a similar way to how you brainstormed your wish. Write “What steps do I need to take to ______?” at the top of the paper and then keep asking yourself the question and writing the answers down until you have exhausted all ideas. Now take the steps and if necessary break them down into smaller steps. This will help make your goals seem more appealing and be much easier for you to achieve them.
Remember the deadlines otherwise your plan and wish are meaningless. Remember though that the deadlines need to be reasonable. One your deadlines are set then you need to set milestones so that you know how well you are doing meeting the target of making your wish come true.
OK, now move all of the information to your daily calendar so that you can schedule the work in. If you know your deadlines and goals, it’s easier to make a firm commitment to them and set the plan in motion.
Now that we’re making progress, identify your limiting factors and identify the way to work through them.
The next step is to schedule the progress report. You don’t have targets and deadlines at work without having to report on their progress so why allow it to affect your wishes. Some of the questions to ask yourself include:
1. Have I met the milestones I planned to meet since my last progress report?
2. Do I need to change my plan to reach my milestones?
3. Do I need to change my milestones?
Monday, 25 January 2010
Making Your Wish
Just like the genie in the lamp, every person has the ability to make their wish come true. All they need to do is decide on what you really want and then wish for it, just as you would if the genie in the lamp was giving you the wish. Do you find yourself drifting from week to week wondering why other people seem to have it so together and you don’t. If so, then the only thing you need to think about how you are making, or perhaps not making, your wishes.
Now you’ve decided that you want to make your wishes come true, you need to decide what it is you really want. A great way to achieve this is by brainstorming. Not the sitting round the table with a bunch of colleagues trying to come up with ideas but rather try a different approach. Write your question down on the top of a blank piece of paper, and let your subconscious mind take over.
What ever comes into your head, write down on the paper no matter how strange, odd, or weird you may think it is.
Once you’re ready to start set a time limit and keep writing for that period of time, whether it only is a minute or whether it be 10 minutes. Don’t stop writing down your thoughts until the time is up.
Don’t critique any of your ideas right now, just write them down. Your subconscious brain accepts criticism as badly as most people do.
Here is a great question to start your first brainstorming session:
What would I really want from life if I were absolutely, positively certain I would get it?
OK, now you’re ready. Go brainstorm, don’t worry about how you’ll accomplish everything on your list just write them all down. You can worry about the “how” later.
OK, so now write for at least 2 minutes. You can break the question down into areas for work, home life, hobbies etc. If you struggle to keep writing for 2 minutes, just change the answers down, changing a word here or there, or reordering the answer, but whatever happens don’t stop writing until the 2 minutes are up. If you’re still full of ideas after 2 minutes feel free to keep writing.
Once you’ve brainstormed you now need to prioritize what you have written down. A great way to do this is to number each item on the list. Now taking just the first two decide which is more important to you. Now compare the First Choice and compare it to number 3. If your First Choice changes so be it. Continue down the list one idea at a time until you get to the end and have your First Choice.
Now you need to find your purpose. If you don’t think you have one, you’re wrong! Even if there is nothing else, then your purpose is to find your purpose.
Now you’ve decided on your First Choice, identified your purpose, the only think left is to pay the price. Whether it is a figurative or real price you need to pay it to set your cause and effect in motion.
Now to make your wish presentable. Write it down, but be specific. Set yourself a time limit to meet the goal, and remember to make sure that it’s reachable. Only wish for what you can control, don’t wish for something that you have no control over or it won’t come true. Make sure that what you’re wishing for is what you really want, not something you don’t want. Make the wish emotional, start with something like “I choose”. Add the emotion to it, be brief and believe in it. The lastly take action to make it happen.
Now you’ve decided that you want to make your wishes come true, you need to decide what it is you really want. A great way to achieve this is by brainstorming. Not the sitting round the table with a bunch of colleagues trying to come up with ideas but rather try a different approach. Write your question down on the top of a blank piece of paper, and let your subconscious mind take over.
What ever comes into your head, write down on the paper no matter how strange, odd, or weird you may think it is.
Once you’re ready to start set a time limit and keep writing for that period of time, whether it only is a minute or whether it be 10 minutes. Don’t stop writing down your thoughts until the time is up.
Don’t critique any of your ideas right now, just write them down. Your subconscious brain accepts criticism as badly as most people do.
Here is a great question to start your first brainstorming session:
What would I really want from life if I were absolutely, positively certain I would get it?
OK, now you’re ready. Go brainstorm, don’t worry about how you’ll accomplish everything on your list just write them all down. You can worry about the “how” later.
OK, so now write for at least 2 minutes. You can break the question down into areas for work, home life, hobbies etc. If you struggle to keep writing for 2 minutes, just change the answers down, changing a word here or there, or reordering the answer, but whatever happens don’t stop writing until the 2 minutes are up. If you’re still full of ideas after 2 minutes feel free to keep writing.
Once you’ve brainstormed you now need to prioritize what you have written down. A great way to do this is to number each item on the list. Now taking just the first two decide which is more important to you. Now compare the First Choice and compare it to number 3. If your First Choice changes so be it. Continue down the list one idea at a time until you get to the end and have your First Choice.
Now you need to find your purpose. If you don’t think you have one, you’re wrong! Even if there is nothing else, then your purpose is to find your purpose.
Now you’ve decided on your First Choice, identified your purpose, the only think left is to pay the price. Whether it is a figurative or real price you need to pay it to set your cause and effect in motion.
Now to make your wish presentable. Write it down, but be specific. Set yourself a time limit to meet the goal, and remember to make sure that it’s reachable. Only wish for what you can control, don’t wish for something that you have no control over or it won’t come true. Make sure that what you’re wishing for is what you really want, not something you don’t want. Make the wish emotional, start with something like “I choose”. Add the emotion to it, be brief and believe in it. The lastly take action to make it happen.
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