Best Virtual Assistant book for a rookie? - Virtual Assistant Forums

JRuner · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

Hello all of you exeperienced VA's! What book was the most beneficial to you starting out? I know there are also several new VA books and I would like to know if one of them stands out.

Tess · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

Hi John,
I'm only just now starting to read VA books, never did before, actually...but for the sake of providing reviews on the site here I've started getting into them. I'll be sure to let you know what I find when I'm done but I'm reading three at a time right now so hopefully someone who's read and finished a few titles in perparation for their own practice can give you some good feedback!

Tess · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

One other thing, the list of books in the lower portion of our sidebar, the recommended reading link, will take you to a page of books *all of which* have been read and recommended by other members. That may be a good place to start looking.

One thing to note is that the majority of the books listed aren't necessarily 'VA' books - many are just small business, entrepreneurial type books, some are about marketing, some are about developing a referral-based practice, some are about tax laws, etc. The books by Dianna Ennen - Virtual Assistant, The Series (the top left listing on that page) are a set (workbook and textbook) that I'm actually reading now, it's a nice, simple breakdown of what one could do to get a VA practice started up and provides worksheets, etc.

JRuner · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

Thanks Tess. There are a lot of books to weed through!

Tess · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

Yes, there are!
I can recommend a number of great marketing books - basically anything by Seth Godin (including Purple Cow, and the books in that 'series') is superb and well worth the read.

I'm sorry I don't have much personal insight to offer on VA specific books but maybe someone else will jump in here with a recommendation for you.

Amazon has a reviews system too so you can go look up a look and then scroll down the page to see what others have said about a particular title.

Good luck

vainparadise · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

I have found Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA (Virtual Assistant) by Diana Ennen & Kelly Poelker very informative. I am in the process of reading The Virtual Assistant's Guide to Marketing by Michelle Jamison. It is detailed and well written. I have gotten a lot out of it already.

Gems Virtual Office · #7 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

The first VA books I read were, 5 Key Steps to your successful Virtual Assistant Business by Lisa Taliga and Visionary VAs - Getting Started Series Both were excellent books that I still refer to often and include extra's. Just click on the links that I included and it will take you right to the site where you can purchase.

Bevalee · #8 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007

Hi,

I would agree that VA the Series and the The virtual assistant guide to marketing are very good books to read, I'm in the processing of setting up and I find them to be good tools.

#9 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008

Though I didn't ask the original question. This is really a great starter list for me. Thanks John for asking this question and thanks to the VA Veterans!

ciboney · #10 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008

I agree that Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA (Virtual Assistant) by Diana Ennen & Kelly Poelker is a great book to read. I also found that The Virtual Office Survival Handbook by Alice Bredin and The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber to be helpful as well. You should check out the book review section too.

MaryH · #11 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008

The E-Myth Revisited is one I am reading right now and I really enjoy it and am learning a lot from it. I have also heard good things about the VA Visionaries series.

#12 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

I believe the best one is the first one - The 2-Second Commute by Christin Durst and Michael Haaren.

MegBarberVA · #13 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008

I second Michael Gerber's book The E-Myth Revisited. Reading this book has changed my business and my life. I only wish that I had read it when I started.

Also, there's a great new eBook out there for VA start-up by Anna Barron called Virtual Assistant Boot Camp. I hear it is great for new VAs.

Delady · #14 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008

I can also vouch for The E-Myth Revisted read. While it is not a "VA" specific book, it is a great book to read for those who are starting a business and becoming a "business owner" instead of an "employee".

It's an easy read also and that helps!

Let us know which book you decide on and your thoughts about it.

#15 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008

I also love the E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. Very important read for ANY business owner.

More specifically, re: becoming a Virtual Assistant, I wrote a free ebook which is available at http://www.virtualpa.com.au - it's called 'The 7 Things You Must Know Before Starting Your Own Successful Virtual Assistant Business'.

Lisa