Dateline: June 13, 2007.
When I began a virtual training course to become a virtual assistant, it was a day that changed my professional life forever. I had previously been exposed to the title “Virtual Assistant” through my friend and mentor, Patty Benton of JERPAT Training and Coaching. <www.virtualvacoach.com>
Coming from an education background, I felt the need to learn all about the industry. Patty was right there with a contract faxed to me for signature and I was on my way. Patty’s “Failure is NOT an Option” course was an eye-opening experience to say the least! She helped me find my way into the industry and cracked the whip when I needed it. It took me four months before I signed my first client. (I even copied my first check and filed it in my VA Portfolio!)
I knew, after taking Patty’s course that I needed to learn so much more. I decided that since I didn’t have many clients, I would spend my working hours at my desk and learn, learn, learn! I began attending teleseminars (about 3-4 a week) and signed up for a volunteer position with the Virtual Business Group <www.virtualbizgroup.com> as the assistant editor of the quarterly newsletter. I also joined some Virtual Assistant Organizations and began following the Yahoo Groups, participating whenever I could. I knew I had to get my name and abilities out there, and was looking for the least expensive ways to accomplish that.
I’m not going to say I had instant success, (I didn’t) or that I didn’t have days where I wanted to give up and just be an employee again. I wound up supplementing my loss of regular income by substituting as an Elementary Teacher 4-6 days a month. Once I’m in the classroom, I have a blast with the students. The teaching community and camaraderie I miss tremendously. I was on the fence half the year trying to decide if I wanted to go back to the classroom full-time, or continue the challenge of building my own business.
I felt overwhelmed, frustrated, and the bills kept coming. Not only did I have to change my persona from employee to business owner, but I had to keep reminding my family that just because I was home, didn’t mean I wasn’t working. I sat at my computer from 7:00 AM until 11:00 PM almost every night. On Saturdays, I devoted half the day to learning a new skill. I did manage to stop on Saturday evenings and Sundays, as those were devoted to me and my family.
The hardest part of starting my own business was learning discipline and self-motivation. I had to schedule my time and motivate myself stick to it. I was awed by some of the well-known names in the industry and wondered how they managed to get so much done while I was floundering in nowhere land. I thought, by my being home that my laundry would never get backed up and the dishes would always be done, but I had a lot to learn. (Don’t bring your white gloves to my house!) I thought I would be able to grow a vegetable garden, (it failed) all I managed was half-eaten shoots and weeds. We have wild rabbits and they loved my gardening efforts. I began to feel like a failure.
That was almost a year ago, and I must say, a few things have changed. I have increased my skill set, become confident in my new skin, and am on my way to a successful practice. I absolutely love it when VAs, who are even newer than me, want my advice, which I am always happy to provide. Opening my business taught me that it takes more than a computer and a dream to become successful. It takes a lot of hard work, brainstorming new ideas, learning new tools, and help from others who are farther down the road than you to help.
