Since starting my Virtual Assistance (VA) business in May 2006 34 weeks pregnant with my third child and daughter, I have had someone send me their resume unsolicited for subcontractor work and numerous emails from people who had read my profile on Business Mums Network or seen me post on a couple of forums, asking me how I got started, what did I do to get my first client and what can they do to be as successful as me?
Well for starters, I signed up my first client before I considered starting a business never mind a Virtual Assistance business. I can hear you now, pfft Kylie, that can’t be true… but it is. I was 34 weeks pregnant, restless and wanting a change (maybe I just needed to nest for the new baby… I think I was bored, there is only so many times I can watch daytime TV while the kids are sleeping and not want to throw something at the TV). I needed something to exercise my brain but I also needed to be home with my kids. I didn’t give birth to them to put them in care and have someone else raise them for me. So I had a look in the local rag and found someone advertising for a “secretary/bookkeeper, 10 hours per week, must have own laptop” and instantly thought “that’s me!” So I rang the phone number and applied for it. He took one look at my belly and asked me if I wanted to do it from home? Hallelujah, yes I did.
So what did I do then? I started researching and trawling the internet because surely there must be more people like me working from home providing administrative and bookkeeping support! And you know what? I found this whole industry of people out there, some of which have been successful in their businesses for over 13 years. We even have one of our own trailblazers in Kathie Thomas from A Clayton’s Secretary who started the first network of Virtual Assistants on the internet in Australia in 1996. And guess what newbies and lurkers? She coaches and mentors newbies who want to learn about the industry and how to start a VA business.
The first thing I did was Google Kathie Thomas. Who was this lady? Are the claims on her website true? But I have to pay money to be a member of the network; does this mean it’s a scam? Ladies and gentlemen, Kathie Thomas is no scammer! Kathie Thomas has been a Virtual Assistant for over 13 years, and I was so inspired by her story that I joined her network and then I started her VA Trainer program. This program helped me so much in changing my mindset from an employee to that of an entrepreneur. I have the technical skills necessary to provide a high quality service to my clients, I have management and small business owner experience, but I knew nothing about the Virtual Assistance industry and without this course I would never have been able to fill in the blanks without wasting a lot of time and effort.
My challenge to those out there who are thinking of starting a Virtual Assistance business, make sure you do your research. Make sure your business plan is complete because let me tell you, it’s hard to know where you are going, what your goals are if you don’t know where you have been. Visit Kathie’s VA Trainer program website and the A Clayton’s Secretary website. You will find a whole wealth of information there. And just remember that starting a VA business is hard work and not something for everyone even though you may have a computer and know how to type. Unfortunately it’s not enough and your client’s if and when you sign them up, will most definitely let you know if you are not up to scratch. And what a disappointment that will be.
