Can you be a success even if your heart isn't in it 100%?

[beckyf3506 5]

Hello...I've been a member here for several years, but, for various reasons, never started a VA service.

 

I now have a vertigo/disequilibrium problem which makes it impossible for me to drive to a job outside the home, and many times I'd be unable to function at an outside job even if I had one.

 

I do a couple of online income- earning things, but these things aren't enough to support myself, or to bring in even a part-time income, so I'm reconsidering VA work.

 

I have lots of skills that I could offer as a VA, from bookkeeping to general administrative; from writing and proofreading to web design and graphics...

 

It's not the skills that make me hesitate; it's that my heart isn't 100% in it. It might be because it's overwhelming just trying to figure out how to build a business of this type, because I'm sure I could do the work, and have enjoyed the work in the past. My problem is that I'm an artist, not a business person. I don't feel confident that I could develop a successful VA business.

 

The other thing is, my sister keeps telling me that I don't have to be anything like a VA. According to her, I just have to put my name out there, stating that "I need to work", and just try to get anything that might come along. I don't agree with that approach. Why appear desperate? That isn't very professional, and I don't see how it would really develop into a business.

 

At this point, I can't afford to take a VA class or course, or buy a lot of materials, but I do have web hosting, a domain name, and a business name chosen. I'm starting to work on my website, but haven't gotten very far yet due to overwhelm. I'm also taking advantage of these forums, and any free material that's available to help me learn what to do.

 

I've just created a new website for my church, and am the one responsible for maintaining and updating it. I do it on a volunteer basis, but maybe I could ask for a short testimonial and use the church as my first "client"...?

 

Most of the people on these forums seem to be very excited about being a VA, so I'm wondering if you think it's possible for me to be successful at it, even though I feel very unsure about it right now, and am not 100% passionate about it?

 

Or should one not even attempt it if one's heart isn't completely in it?

Edited May 21, 2013 by beckyf3506

[beckyf3506 5]

I should have checked my old posts before writing this one because I noticed that I wrote almost the exact same things SIX YEARS AGO! ACK! I've been spinning my wheels for six years.

 

Here's the older thread I started.

 

I'm really kicking myself right now because, according to the other thread, if I had started my business then, I might even have gotten some leads from people here for my graphic design services. People were encouraging me to get my name out there because they thought I already had plenty of skills to offer to others.

 

When I say I'm "not passionate" about VA, it's actually general secretarial tasks that I don't care for. I did those for enough years, and am past it now. I'm much more interested in helping people who need to get their businesses online with their first website. I love to set them up, pick out templates, tweak to make them look good, then create the graphics and write content.

 

I love to blog. I love to do affiliate marketing, and could show others how to do that too, if anybody wanted to learn.

 

My usual two problems are still with me, that of being an introvert who is poor at self-promotion, and being a perfectionist.

 

I think the need to start earning a decent income might help overcome my lack of self-promotion. For the first time ever this year I've made a Facebook business page for my art, and have actually let people I know in real life see my art and designs. That's a big thing for me, so the ice has been broken there, and it should be a little bit easier to get my name out there.

[Mena 79]

Hey Becky

 

So it seems that it's more about the specialism rather than having a lack of passion for becoming a VA? I have to say I'm not one for secretarial work either. Like you I'm very much into Internet marketing; it's a huge passion of mine -- I even own my own affiliate marketing sites which I work on in my spare time. If there was no scope for Internet marketing VAs, then I wouldn't be starting a VA business.

 

But also, one thing to be honest about this; If you don't like the process of building/running a business, then don't do it. It's a roller-coaster ride that will test your last nerve and make you doubt your abilities like never before. You have to constantly put yourself out there and yes it's all very exposing and you do feel vulnerable. It's also a battle to stay motivated at times. So that's why you have to have at least enough interest in what you do to get out of bed each morning and make things happen.

 

It seems to me that you have to find your 'why' for wanting to start a VA business, something that goes beyond just wanting to make money.

 

Mena

[beckyf3506 5]

Hi, Mena...Thank you for your reply.

 

I love internet marketing too--affiliate sales, selling my own products, etc. *THAT* is something I'd definitely leap out of bed in the morning for. A VA business, maybe not so much.

 

I'm still trying to decide what's holding me back. Maybe it's the overwhelming array of services that *could* be offered to clients. It's hard to narrow it down.

 

Something I read yesterday made me think I might like to offer bookkeeping services, but I don't know whether or not there would be enough call for that alone. I could do Quickbooks for people.

 

Maybe instead of trying to narrow down what I would offer, I should start with simply one or two services, then add on? I don't know...

Edited May 22, 2013 by beckyf3506

[Mena 79]

Hey Becky

 

It sure is overwhelming! Everyday I look at my check-list wonder how I'm ever going to get everything done. But, I push myself to do something which takes me closer to my goal.

 

With regards to the variety of services to offer, well, I'm having my own battles with that too so I feel where you're coming from. I've decided to just start off in a couple of service areas and when things get rolling with the business I'll add a few more offerings. Baby steps.

[Tawnya Sutherland 1,882]

It sounds like you'd be a great VA for internet marketers. You could do many services for them even specializing in affiliate marketing, product creation/marketing, etc. I suggest just getting off the fence and doing it. Get a website up marketed towards clients who need affiliate marketing done for them. If over time you find you don't like this service offering you can always switch to bookkeeping services. Our websites are live and its just a matter of switching it whenever you want. Choose a business name that could grow with you, buy that domain, get a wordpress.org website up and start working it. What's the worst that could happen, you don't get any clients? You wouldn't be any worse off than now with no clients.

 

The hardest thing is getting past all the worries and thoughts and just doing it. Solve the problems as they arise instead of worrying what "might happen". Like Mena said "Baby steps". Just get out there and start doing something and sooner than later you'll find things will start to fall into place for you.

 

So your first step this week would be to get a website up stating what you do ie) internet marketing, affiliate marketing, product creation/marketing, etc.

 

You know how to do this as you are doing it for yourself already. Many don't have this knowledge but you do so monetize it

 

Give yourself something to be excited about, to wake up for in the morning. You'll soon find the passion you are lacking. Speaking of passion, I believe you have it already deep within but it may be more confidence you are lacking. Confidence is learned through trial/error once you get started, don't be afraid of it.

 

Let us know how you progress.

[beckyf3506 5]

Thank you both for your replies.

 

I had the most interesting thing happen this afternoon. Awhile ago my pastor had sent me some short articles he had written because he knows that I write. Today he e-mailed me asking if I knew how to make money with writing, and where he could find those who would pay him for his articles.

 

I was able to reply with so much information that it probably made his head spin. It's all stuff I've already done over the past several years. It took me many hours to learn what I know, but now the info just flows from my fingers as I write to somebody else about it.

 

It made me realize that there's really a TON of stuff I know how to do that others might not, and that I *could* be of help in answering their questions, pointing them in the direction of information they need, and also that I could teach them, or do for them, many of these things.

 

Even though I'm fascinated with Internet marketing, I never would have considered myself able to offer that as a service, but you know, the stuff I know and know how to do really is in that field already.

 

I guess this afternoon's experience made something a little bit clearer for me. Even though I have absolutely no desire to do any type of "general secretarial" stuff, I could do marketing-type stuff all day long. I love the writing, the graphics, the website creation--and helping others learn how to do it to get their own products out there too.

 

It's clear that, even though I enjoyed doing the bookkeeping and accounting work in positions that I've held, that wouldn't be the number one thing I'd want to offer to others. The marketing stuff is what I'd want to offer, so I guess that at least starts to narrow it down for me.

 

I'm always nervous and worried that I need to have "all" the knowledge about something before I can offer it to others as a service, but maybe it goes right back to this: I just have to have more knowledge than the other person does.

 

I am in the process of setting up my website, and have a couple of questions about name and tagline, so I should probably start a new topic for that.

[Cathy Drappier 53]

Hi Becky and welcome back to the forums! I think you have a great start to your business, don't worry about the secretarial stuff, there are a lot of VAs who offer those services. If people ask about services you don't/won't handle, you can always refer them to someone else who does. I have referred clients to another VA I know personally who works with authors and she refers proofreading back to me. Considering the number of people wanting to start their own businesses, I think you'll have no problem finding clients too! Sounds to me like you're already on your way!

[Mena 79]

Way to go Becky! You DO have a lot of Internet marketing knowledge because that;es what you do right? It's a major USP so use it. Be sure to come back and post your business name and tagline so we can sound them out for you.

[Guest bclausen]

Awesome Becky!

 

It sounds like you're zeroing in on your passion. As they say" "Do what you love and the money will follow!"

 

I've struggled a bit at times (overwhelmed) with the array of things I "could" do. Recently I've been narrowing down the list to what I really enjoy. Funny thing is - I like to write and it comes pretty naturally to me. I never thought of "Content Creation" as a service to offer, but I've had two people in the last week mention my writing ability. Hmmmm....

 

Here's wishing you much success and clarity .

 

Bethanie

[Tawnya Sutherland 1,882]

Thank you both for your replies.

 

I had the most interesting thing happen this afternoon. Awhile ago my pastor had sent me some short articles he had written because he knows that I write. Today he e-mailed me asking if I knew how to make money with writing, and where he could find those who would pay him for his articles.

 

I was able to reply with so much information that it probably made his head spin. It's all stuff I've already done over the past several years. It took me many hours to learn what I know, but now the info just flows from my fingers as I write to somebody else about it.

 

It made me realize that there's really a TON of stuff I know how to do that others might not, and that I *could* be of help in answering their questions, pointing them in the direction of information they need, and also that I could teach them, or do for them, many of these things.

 

Even though I'm fascinated with Internet marketing, I never would have considered myself able to offer that as a service, but you know, the stuff I know and know how to do really is in that field already.

 

I guess this afternoon's experience made something a little bit clearer for me. Even though I have absolutely no desire to do any type of "general secretarial" stuff, I could do marketing-type stuff all day long. I love the writing, the graphics, the website creation--and helping others learn how to do it to get their own products out there too.

 

It's clear that, even though I enjoyed doing the bookkeeping and accounting work in positions that I've held, that wouldn't be the number one thing I'd want to offer to others. The marketing stuff is what I'd want to offer, so I guess that at least starts to narrow it down for me.

 

I'm always nervous and worried that I need to have "all" the knowledge about something before I can offer it to others as a service, but maybe it goes right back to this: I just have to have more knowledge than the other person does.

 

I am in the process of setting up my website, and have a couple of questions about name and tagline, so I should probably start a new topic for that.

 

Becky, maybe there is a way you and your pastor could work together on a small project/business/website together. If he loves to write and you enjoy marketing and have that knowledge behind you both you could set up a PLR company offering religious content. I'm sure churches would love it and buy it for the newsletters and brochures, who knows, maybe even for their next prayer meeting.

 

If you haven't heard of PLR companies, I can put you in touch with people who do this for a living. The people I order mine from are here http://www.vanetworking.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=23629

 

They sell content and I know all of these people in person if you ever want me to connect you to them to discuss starting up a PLR business like that. I just had dinner with Alice Seba yesterday.

 

You never know, it could be another whole side business for you as I don't think anyone I know of has dived into the religion niche yet

[beckyf3506 5]

Tawnya, that's something I hadn't thought of before. What a good idea.

 

I was a church secretary/bookkeeper for eleven years too, so I have a general idea of how things run in the church world. That would probably be good background.

 

Yes, I do know about PLR. At one time I had purchased materials from Tiffany Dow, and was going to do my own PLR site, but then I started reading that the PLR industry was dying. I thought to myself, wouldn't you know it, just as I get into it, it dies. I didn't realize there was still any type of market for it.

[beckyf3506 5]

I didn't know whether or not I should keep posting on this thread or start a new topic, but I have a few more questions, so will just do it here so everything is together.

 

The first thing I want to do is set up a PLR store. I'm eager to do that, and look forward to creating content for it.

 

My question has to do with my website...I already have my website up and some content on it for the things I sell on Etsy, Cafe Press, and Zazzle.

 

I also have a website started, but no content on it yet, that is my own name dot com. Because I don't know if I'll limit myself to selling PLR only, other digital products I create, and possibly add some services in the future, do you think it would be okay to use this site for my PLR, or should I set up yet another separate site for that? Could I have the PLR store as another page on my site?

 

Or could I have it as a separate page on my design site, to keep everything I do together on a "hub", or would that be too confusing for customers?

 

Also, since I don't know exactly yet whether I'll limit myself to just PLR, or offer other types of writing and graphics, should I go with the name "__Media" or "__PLR"?

 

Is it okay to buy a domain name for the PLR part of my business and just "point" it to wherever I end up putting my PLR store, or should I set up an entirely new site for that?

 

Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

[Tawnya Sutherland 1,882]

Becky, I think you asked this on another thread here and I gave my response already:

 

http://www.vanetworking.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24519&hl=

[beckyf3506 5]

Thank you, Tawnya. :-)