I am not sure where on the board to put this so hopefully this is the right spot.

I am trying to see how you got started in your biz. I am still struggling with working a full time job and trying to get my biz off the ground.

I would love to hear your stories on how you got started, did you work full time at first etc.

Thanks Karrie

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Karrie Underwood
Achieve Virtual Assistance

This is actually something I've wanted to start for a looooong time. My husband was really worried about all the unceratinty so I continued to put it off.

Finally, last Friday I quit my F/T job and started building a website and building my business strategy.

I figured so long as I was employed elsewhere, I wouldn't have the 100% commitment required to start successfully.

I'm 90% done my website and almost ready to launch.

If you're truly committed, I believe you'll be successful.

Thanks Andrea
The only bad thing is I can't afford to quit my full time just yet so I need to work around it for a while until I get off the ground.

That is awesome that you were able to do that and that you are just about to launch. I just need to get clients so I can get my "foot in the door" and can afford to quit.

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Karrie Underwood
Achieve Virtual Assistance

My husband was also a bit uncertain but I gave up my job to concentrate on my VA business. I have been giving myself goals to have stuff completed by and so far I am on target. Just need that first client!

Lisa

Karrieu,

I started my VA business while still working full time. It takes dedication, goal setting and hardwork. Most business guru's will tell you that you can't invest the time needed to launch a successful business..to an extint they're somewhat right but you just have to stay up later and longer.

I spent every waking moment working on my business. Sometimes even sneaking in work at my job (o_O), using my hour lunch, instead of going to bed at 9pm I went to bed at midnight or later. Instead of waking up at 7am I wake up 5am.

Join every social network you can, do all the free online networking you can, go to as many afterwork networking events you can (I did all the free ones), become an EXPERT at what we do. You have to be able to sell what you do to anybody. I learned early in my start that some prospective clients I was meeting were concerned that I had a fulltime job. By the time I mastered what we do, mastered my pitch, my fulltime job stopped coming up because they were so convinced that I was an expert at what I do.

My friend suggested becoming a VA to me. I started while working PT, so it wasn't too taxing. I agree that you have to work on it during any spare time, and sometimes you have to create that spare time! But, watch out for wearing yourself to thin. Good luck with you new business.

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Amy
www.porterofficesolutions.com

I am not sure about this one... Seems like I have always had a skill when it came to organizing, setting goals and accomplishing them. I have had my "real" business for over a year now, but it hasn't fullfilled an emptyness that I have about wanting to become a VA. So like you, I am fairly new to the VA world, but just another thing that I have set my mind to accomplish, and I have no intention on failing. I plan to work hard and find a way to schedule my time appropriately to accomplish those goals. I know that everyone has different backgrounds and different skill sets, but a forum like this, will benefit all the "newcomers" to the VA world. I have no doubt that we will accomplish what we need to in order to make our business successful for our clients and us. Best of luck!

This is an interesting thread. It's always nice to hear how others started out. This is actually my second time into the VA world. I haven't quite started yet - still waiting on website and bank issues etc but my first time around was way back in 1998 - 99. I and a former colleague had got so fed up with the routine 9- 6 working day. We worked for an internet publishing company in the City of London. She was in Project Management and I, a PA to one of the Directors. We thought that by pairing our skills sets we could offer a good service to professionals, businesses etc and came up with the virtual assitance service. We racked our brains thinking of a name for our new company and came up with Virtual Assistance Ltd. We actually had lots of interest from investment bankers, lawyers and even management within the company in which we both worked. At that time we were actually offering on site assistance as well as at a virtual level. We both enjoyed it but overseas travel for me and an excellent promotion for my colleague tore us apart and the company folded. All these years later and experience of my own businesses within the real estate sector and consumer credit and finance industries, here I am again. I always wanted to return to the VA world. I think it's a fabulous little business and has so many exciting avenues.

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http://www.just-delegate.co.uk

After I finished college, I became an administrative assistant. The pay was good, but the people I worked for were horrible. I moved around in different areas of the corporate and nonprofit world, including because a director of a large NJ-based nonprofit. After it closed in 2009, many of my friends and family recommended becoming a VA. I thought about it, and then I tossed the idea aside. I revisited the idea this year when I committed to moving forward. I'm excited and hope to help my company move forward.

I had worked for a fortune 500 company for years in their IT department. After many years of ungrateful work I decided to move on. I found a mid sized company that seemed perfect, but it was the same story all over again. Long hours, no gratefulness, low moral overall with everyone inside the company, simply put I was frustrated. Then I got laid off... at that point I decided to take my career in my own hands. I was at first planning on maybe doing a computer repair shop or IT consulting. After some research I decided that the world of Virtual Assistance would be best.

Now I Have a "Multi VA" firm. I only have two other ladies and myself on board but we are being kept a little busy so its exciting!

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Amanda Mock
My Virtual Little Helper