Perhaps you can even offer them some on site assistance in the beginning while blending in the virtual part. Then you can slowly taper off making the adjustment easier for everyone! I know a VA doesn't want to get in the habit of going on site, but since this is an empoyer, it may be worth a shot?

__________________
Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

Excellent Idea. I was actually considering on-site work for those clients who need the help, can't afford to pay someone steady... AND doesnt all that much trust the web. For instance.. I was thinking of charging for commuter time - the first 20 miles / minutes. What do you think?

I'm in the same boat, as well. I started my business last July (technically June 25) and now have 5 clients BUT my 9-5 employer has NO IDEA that I am doing this. I work for a 'very' small company - we went from 11 employees when I started 3 years ago to the current 3! I am in a financial/family position that I have to stay here with my FT paycheck for several more years. So...

I will continue to do Goddess work from 6-8am & 7-9pm M-F and 8-noon Saturdays and keep my client list down to work that will accomodate those hours. At the point that I can leave jobland, I will present a proposal to my boss showing how I can do this work for him PT and partly from home (he will NEVER accept complete virtual). I expect, knowing him, that he will feel betrayed and prefer I stay just long enough to replace me. We'll see...

In the meantime, I will continue to build my business on the side and keep him "out of the loop." It is REALLY HARD, however, because I am SO EXCITED about Goddess and where it is going already!

__________________
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Hi Mary Lou,

In my personal opinion, I think you should keep your business endeavors to yourself until you're more established and could handle losing your full-time job if your employers get upset. Hopefully that won't happen, but it may be best to play it safe.

I know how frustrating it can be to be so excited about your new business but have to keep it quiet; there are only 25 people in my office, so we're a pretty tight-knit group. It's so tough not to tell them all about my new venture, but I just can't risk losing my full-time income right now. I work for an ad agency and would love to utilize the expertise of the graphic artists, marketing gurus, and PR professionals that I work with on a daily basis, but I would also feel bad asking them to keep my secret from the higher-ups until I'm ready to quit my J O B.

Good luck to you!

__________________
Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

Sundi,

In reference to your first paragraph... I totally agree and am prepared. I have gone over and over in my mind the different responses I might get. They are very cautious and mistrusting people too. I kind of know what kind of reaction I'm going to get, so I totally get what you are saying.


Second Paragraph... I think they wil be very hurt and first reaction and private conversation between them will be..."let's let her go". I think though, once they think it through they will allow me to stay for as long as I can or the very least, until they hire someone to take my place.

Third... I agree and that's great advise.

Sundi, you have offered great advise. I hope you copy and paste your advise for anyone who will, in the future, ask the same question I have in this post.

Thanks for taking the time to post.

Mary Lou

Office Goddess... from what you posted... you are indeed and 'office goddess'. I hope you allow yourself vacation time to relax every now and then. You truly have a full plate. I don't envy you.

Tamm7
We need to create a new forum, for those who are VAs besides working a full-time jobs. Kind of a like a support group, where we can b?:"# and moan a little bit.

Originally Posted by marylocke

We need to create a new forum, for those who are VAs besides working a full-time jobs. Kind of a like a support group, where we can b?:"# and moan a little bit.

LOL you got that right! It's not easy juggling multiple work responsibilities on top of family time...we deserve a little whining now and then!

__________________
Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

Mary Lou -- I echo the advice that has been given to you in this thread so far. I am actually in a similar situation. While I do not work full-time, I am employed part-time. It is a three person office and they depend on me when I am there. I am hoping because it is a part-time gig, I can switch over to assisting my boss virtually when the time comes. I am just not so sure he would go for the idea; which is why I am going make sure I have enough clients to compensate for my current income and then some before I tell my boss!

Anyhow, I wish we had some sort of my hats off to you smiley, because Lily, working a full-time job and handling 5 clients and home life, my goodness girl..that is awesome!!

__________________
Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

Lily, just out of curiosity, do you ever feel like your full-time job is holding you back from growing your business? As in, are you at the point where you can't take on new clients because there simply aren't enough hours in the week? I worry about that...I'm not there yet, but I wonder if at some point I'll just have to take a leap of faith and hope that my business will keep growing enough to support me and my family. I'll be going on maternity leave within the next month or so, and I hope to work my tail off to build my business while I'm off work for 6 weeks so I can quit my job, but I'm getting worried that I won't be quite ready to go full-time in my business and will have to go back to work. I don't know if I can handle a full-time job, a growing business, and a newborn...

Times like these are when a thread just for us transitioning VAs to complain and support each other would be oh so helpful!

__________________
Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

For me, it was not conceivable to work at an outside J O B and also start up the VA biz. It takes every bit of the 14 hours I put in every day! But must admit, after a thirty year career, I'm perhaps in a bit different situation from many of y'all .... not that I have money, you know, but I do have some assets which can keep me afloat. My plan has been to give it six months ... although I bet I hang in a lot longer even if it's only marginally profitable, just cuz I like it so much! And durn it, what's life for?

__________________
Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com