I too work a full-time job and operate a VA business; not to mention I also have 3 children.

It's hard work but if you want it you can make it happen. You might take a look at my blog http://sparkleprofservices.wordpress.com/ one of the things I blogged about was making the transition from employee to business owner.

Although, we are still employee's you need to start thinking and behaving as a business owner. The 15 tips on the blog will help manage that transition while still working.

I operate my business with early morning hours and late evening hours. However, I do conduct some business during the day if time allows (i.e. lunch time).

Keep pressing forward.

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Monique Terrell, CEO
Sparkle Professional Office Services, LLC
www.sparkleofficeservices.com

Monique,

Thank you for your reply and for the invite to view the 15 tips on your blog; I'm on my way now to check out that list.

Carmen

I'm in a similar situation. However, I work two part-time jobs. One is Tuesday and Thursday, 6 hours each day, and the other is M-W-F, 6 hours each day. My Tuesday/Thursday boss doesn't know I'm developing my VA business, but my other one does.

I'm very lucky in that as long as I have all my work done, my M-W-F boss doesn't care if I do my own business on his time.

However, I make sure to let clients know that I am not available on Tuesday or Thursday until about 3:30. It hasn't really been a problem yet.

My dream is to soon dump the Tuesday/Thursday job (and hopefully keep him as a client). The other one, I will try to hang onto for a while, since I can "double-dip".

It is hard working even part-time while trying to develop my own business. Part of me feels guilty for working my own business during my part-time job, but if my boss doesn't mind, I shouldn't either. I would just love to be able to set my own hours, and work only when I want to, while still bringing in the money that I currently bring in.

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Kathy Harmacek, Your Virtual Aide
http://www.your-virtual-aide.com

My hat goes out to every one of you who are juggling a family, full time job and VA business.

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Brenda A. Jones
www.brevos.com

Wow, great advices. I also work full time and developing my VA business. Since now, before VA business I have several clients to work for. I usually get up one hour earlier and make part of the job, than at night (when my baby goes to sleep) do another part. Most of the job I make through weekend. Since my field is writing and marketing, during the work week and on the current job I am thinking, and the ideas that came on my mind (very often in talk with colegues or boss, business partner...), I write on the paper and put in my bag. I have a little book with different ideas. It is my brainstorm or some kind of brain map. It helps me a lot, and those tips are very important to me. Most of all other will probably not understand them, but I do!

Originally Posted by jasmine

I have a little book with different ideas. It is my brainstorm or some kind of brain map. It helps me a lot, and those tips are very important to me.

I use a program called MindMapper to help me brainstorm. You start with a central idea and then just add sub thoughts as they pop into your brain. I have used this very successfully with personal, Goddess, and my JOB

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

Office Goddess, your advices are great. When I read your post about your "double" life, smile didn't came out my face. Sometimes I live on the same sheme like you. My boss doesn't know that I am developing VA practise (and we are in the same room), but when someone call on my mobile phone during work hours I simple pick up the phone and came out from the room.

Just had to post - this reminds me of a fantastic blog post I read recently at Freelance Switch - it basically explains how this freelancer chooses full-time jobs that don't require 'heavy lifting.' She works it out ahead of time with the employer and they agree that as long as she gets the job done, the employer doesn't care if she freelances during working hours. I thought it was pretty cool.

Wow....thank you for asking this question. I am a new VA and who is in the development stage. I work fulltime and feel that I am "stuck in the mud" about getting motivated to get started. I kept thinking....how am I going to manage all this? Thank you all for your input - especially Goddess! You inspired me to know that it can be done. I know what I need to do now and can appreciate how others are managing their time until they can finally go out on their own! thanks for the inspiration! PS - also loved the suggestion of working with clients in another time zone.

I've just read the blog that VirtuAllin mentioned. It's well worth a read and it's given me some ideas.

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Jae Alexander Linsey - 2SupportU.biz
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