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Loyal To the Bone as Only a VA Can Be

Have you ever heard the expression – “loyal to the bone”? A quick search on Wikipedia says “loyal to the bone” means: steadfast in allegiance or duty.

So why do I preface this post with that phrase, because it signifies an experience I just had that, to me, personifies what partnering with a Virtual Assistant means. Let me expand.

In my world as a Virtual Assistant, last week was “one of those weeks” where you question the decision you made (in my case 3 years ago) to enter the world of the self employed. A situation happened that could have either helped solidify the client/VA relationship I had OR it could have severed the ties.
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Posted by on November 11, 2010 in All Topics, Partnering Benefits | Comments closed

How can a Virtual Assistant help my business?

Virtual AssistantDuring the past few years the term “Virtual Assistant” has become more widespread and people are somewhat aware of what a Virtual Assistant is. However, they don’t always understand how a Virtual Assistant or VA can help them in their own business.

First of all, it must be clear that a VA is not an employee. They are self employed business owners providing various types of services that usually relate to helping other business owners run their businesses smoothly.

Types of Services
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Posted by on October 5, 2010 in All Topics, General, Partnering Benefits | Comments closed

Communicating – Are You Doing It?

Whether we are discussing our personal lives or our work environment, lack of communication seems to be the number one problem many of us have.

When speaking to other VA’s I have heard that a frustrating part of doing business with their clients is their lack of understanding as to how these VA’s can help them. Running into this problem myself I honestly believe it comes down to lack of communication. We must ask the questions that will bring the answers we need to better serve our clients. Have you been clear as to what your needs of your VA are?
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Posted by on April 13, 2010 in All Topics, General, Partnering Benefits | Comments closed

Team Up for Big Results!

Thomas Edison was once asked why he had a team of twenty-one assistants. He replied, “if I could solve all the problems myself, I would.”

Many entrepreneurs these days know the value of having a virtual assistant. But what about multiple VAs? Perhaps Mr. Edison was onto something. Now, I’m not suggesting you go out and get twenty-one assistants, however there is a plus side to having more than one VA.
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Posted by on April 7, 2009 in All Topics, Partnering Benefits, Success Tips | Comments closed

Seven Sure-Fire Ways to Make your Partnership with a Virtual Assistant a Success

So you have taken a step towards truly growing your thriving business and hired a Virtual Assistant, here are seven ways to ensure your partnership will be a success:
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  1. Good Communication
    Since your Virtual Assistant will not have a physical presence in your office, it will be important to establish and follow a good communication plan. Determine whether you would like your Virtual Assistant to contact you with updates daily, weekly, monthly or as needed. When providing your Virtual Assistant with instructions ensure they are always direct, precise and understandable. Also ensure your VA is aware of your preferred method of communication (telephone, e-mail, facsimile, etc.).

Posted by on March 19, 2009 in All Topics, Partnering Benefits, Success Tips | Comments closed

Cultivating Creativity with Your VA

“Success, or failure, very often arrives on the wings that seem mysterious to us.” ~Dr. Marcus Bach

I’m not sure if Dr. Bach ever had a virtual assistant but I like his thought process. Bach made it his purpose to increase his appreciation and understanding for those he had interactions with. This makes me think about how cultivating creativity in business allows open discussions of any and all solutions.
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Posted by on March 12, 2009 in All Topics, Success Tips | Comments closed

Your Virtual Assistant Doesn’t Have to Live Next Door

Whether you have an established VA or are looking to hire one; you must always be thinking forward; what type of work you will assign, how you will communicate the tasks and how the work will be done. You want a VA you can easily communicate with. A VA who can follow directions accurately, written, oral or through an instant message system, is vital to a successful VA-client relationship.
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Posted by on March 5, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips, Partnering Benefits | Comments closed

5 Really Good Excuses for NOT Hiring a Virtual Assistant This Year

Hiring a virtual assistant can help your business succeed in so many ways it’s hard to imagine why anyone would not at least give outsourcing careful consideration. Then again, why take bold and strategic steps forward with your business when you’ve got things like status quo and been-there-done-that to keep you warm and comfy? Just in case you’re running out of excuses though, I’ve come up with a handy little list of trite excuses for not hiring your own VA today.

Print this list off and tape it to your desk. You just never know when you might have to turn down another opportunity to grow:
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Posted by on March 3, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

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