I had the fantastic fortune on the way to attend one of the online networking occasions sponsored through the CVAC these days, and no matter the technical system defects and spattered speech patterns, it turned into certainly superb to ‘see’ (and sporadically hear!) my different fellow VA’s.
I see their names on posts asking multitudes of complex questions, and they all sound so stunningly expert and successful that, pretty frankly, at times, I’m awestruck! While I enjoy belonging to this first-rate organization of proficient gals (and guys) for a few days, I swear Y’all speak any other language or in some noticeably secretive code that the simplest rocket scientists or persons from any other galaxy far away can decipher.
I’m a wordsmith… Period. I do not recognize how to do something extra technical than resetting the bloody clock on my PC and microwave after an energy outage. “Bits and Bytes” are a few types of sofa potato snacks it eats up while drooling over the hunks who parade their stuff on “Desperate Housewives.” I understand how to download files – I always do it and hit ‘run’ instead of keeping. This has prompted all varieties of amusement as forever, sooner or later; I’ll uninstall this system I downloaded from whatsupdoc.Com because it’s inflicting my electronic mail address to be sent to a colony of pigmies in Bora Bora who is now filling up my inbox with offers to sell me shares inside their profitable vanilla bean processing corporations. (Does the segment say, “Hey, mon, this deal is good! Sound acquainted to any of you?)
Anyhow, I digress as I keep it regular. The actual factor (and there may be one coming – be affected person humans!) is this – “How to Survive on Mac & Cheese While Starting Your VA Business.” Many more qualified VAs can deliver you with all of the outstanding and essential gear to complete your business’s begin-up phase. I’m here to provide the meat and potatoes you need to survive your first year… And live reasonably sane. So, right here’s my 2.5 cents worth of recommendation, which includes HST, PST, GST, and every other freaking tax which can probably be levied through our government on the way to hold your double-digit discern (Size 12 is quality!) when beginning your VA biz.
1. Clip coupons. Any coupons! Even if you’ve never dined on baked Spam with a honey-mustard glaze, shop that. Seventy-five cent coupon. Rip, tear, snip, and scissor-cut ALL coupons and attach them to your refrigerator with a motivational magnet that announces something like, “Don’t eat a T-bone – keep a cow!” It will make dining on that Spam a lot extra pleasant. Also, keep any/all coupons for more than 1.00 off something! You by no means recognize who you might be able to barter those coupons with to get one you might be capable of using. I’ve found the Gillette guys’ shaving cream to be simply excellent, particularly the gel components. Be a tad cautious, though, as you can fight to use it, especially when you have a person from the male species residing in your home. This applies to their razors as well. Word of warning: Ensure your bathroom door locks from the inside before using these two products. Much safer this way.
2. Walk. Walk to the grocery store with your bag of coupons adequately stowed for your tote-sized handbag. Walking will not simply provide you with much-wanted exercise; it’ll keep on that valuable liquid gold called fuel. When you’re inside the begin-up segment of your commercial enterprise, you will want to preserve as much fuel as viable (aside from that caused by eating the baked Spam) if you move to see capable clients. Just think of how much money you may shop for by taking walks to the shop and dragging home six grocery bags filled with tomato soup, Spam, and top ol’ mac and cheese dinners! Better yet, taking walks will assist you in strolling off that mega energy eaten up from the carbs above. After all, you are now a VA and most probably are sitting for your pc chair (oh – get the ‘barely used’ ones at your neighborhood Salvation Army and use duct tape to restore that broken armrest – you’re not going to want anyways, plus wheels aren’t honestly that large a deal), so that you’ll probably be beginning to see signs and symptoms of that dreaded situation of “BS” i.E. Butt Spreading.
3. Get a VA or other Start-up Business Buddy. Go through the list of certified VAs on CVAC (or some other business discussion board you would possibly belong to), and find one inclined to concentrate on whining, whining, crying, and lamenting approximately something and everything through email and MSN messenger. Try to locate someone who likely has a sense of humor because they will need it while handling you. This is a vital step, as having someone to commiserate with over the shortage of clients beating down your door to avail themselves of your stupendous offerings allows you to hold yourself fairly sane. Check if they also provide motivational tapes, CDs, and many others. Or had been formerly on their excessive college cheer main squad. You’re going to want one to hold your spirits high (instead of you having to rely on spirits to get excessive) and, usually, offer phrases of awareness… Or no longer. Be very picky right here. If they continue answering your email messages telling you they have filed a complaint of IM Stalking, I advise you to stop speaking to them immediately. An exchange of electronic mail money owed might also be an awesome pass here.
Four. Laugh More – Worry Less©. This is the biggie, parents! If throughout your first 12 months of building your commercial enterprise, you could sit down back and feature just one intestine-clenching, tear-wrenching stomach chortle an afternoon, you will make it! If you lose a capability purchaser – tough – it is their loss, now not yours if you benefit a purchaser – way to go! As the antique pronunciation goes, “Don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t puppy the sweaty stuff” or something like that. Believe in yourself and what you do.
You are the best aspect because sliced bread (even if you’re one sandwich brief of a picnic as in my case), and with sheer dedication, the strength of will, and blackmail, you WILL get that first consumer – guaranteed! Make positive to invite for testimonials and post them for your internet site and blog, carve them on a log, and staple brag sheets at the “Articles for Sale” announcement board at your neighborhood grocery store. Hey, they realize who you are, right? You’ve most effectively been strolling there three instances every week for five months now, lugging that folding shopping cart at the back of you and fumbling via your coupon grab on the cashier’s wicket, causing anybody in the back of you to begin muttering below their breath about the ‘fool’ on the front of the line. They’ll most likely be happy to present you with sparkling advice…If you’ll cross-shop elsewhere.
