Article Stop Wasting Time - Virtual Assistant Forums

MissMichelle · #1 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009

I'm a huge fan of Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to be Rich and he wrote a great article for up and coming entrepreneurs.

http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2009...your-time.html

I totally agree with a lot of his sentiments - a lot of things we feel we need to do to get started are things we can do AFTER we get our clients, or after we start getting interest.

Case in point, I told my boyfriend that I couldn't possibly start being a VA until I got a printer. I would definitely need a printer to do all the work I imagined myself to be doing.

He said, very bluntly, that I don't need one now. I could wait to get one when I have a paying client that needs something to be printed or scanned or faxed or whatever. And he was 100% right. I was thinking too much about the stuff I want my business to eventually have and not enough about what I strictly need to do to get my business started.

I'm still working on putting all my excuses to rest, but that article really helped put things in perspective.

leedrozak · #2 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009

Great article with some great advice. Thanks for sharing.

Susan Myers · #3 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009

This was an interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

Susan Myers
Having A Virtual Advantage, LLC

Tess · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009

I really like the point you made about needing a printer before you could get started - and good for your boyfriend for pointing out that you absolutely did NOT need to wait to get a printer to get a jump on your new business.

I have known people who lived their entire lives waiting for this so they could do that [in so many different ways] and you know what, they're STILL waiting. Sometimes, you just have to have faith in what you want to do and your ability to make it happen - and buy the printer later

Nice post!

brandyellen · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009

I guess I do tend to "waste time" too, like I was thinking, what "will" I need in case a clients wants me to do "this" ... I thought of a fax first off, but decided I wanted a fax and so went with efax but there were plenty of other programs - like ACT that I really want and know it would benefit me using for client purposes but are not needed to get in and start working!

I have bookmarked this article to read more over weekend.

Thank you for sharing it, I bet we are all guilty of "wasting time" especially when first starting out like me :-)

Brandy

Bernice · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009

Thanks, great article. BTW I have had the same printer for the last fourteen years. Most of my work is electronic. Print jobs go to a print house.

GladysS · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009

I've been guilty most of my life of believe I had to have one thing before I could go on to the next thing. I'm learning that this isn't always true, and starting my VA business is forcing me to evaluate what I truly have to have to get started. Thanks for such a great reminder!

MIM Enterprises · #8 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009

What an interesting article! I almost felt naughty reading about how to stop wasting time. I believe the information was great and pointed out how to be ruthless and practical with time and produce results immediately.

Great read.

thanks

Kerans VA · #9 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009

Loved this article and I am totally guilty of the "I can't start this until I have this setup" syndrome which is usually something expensive and not really necessary. It really gives you a better perspective of some of our less-productive habits.

Thanks Michelle!

Janniere · #10 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009

Great article. Thanks for sharing.

Gennia

MandyJ · #11 (**permalink**) 05-01-2009

That is a great article. In fact, I think it was written for me! Good advice!

CJ's Virtual Business Solution · #12 (**permalink**) 05-01-2009

Great article! I'm also in that start -p mindset of "I need." I'm going back to my first business when it wasn't "virtual" and I did need business cards, brochures, etc.

I have all my equipment so that's not a need. I'll get e-fax, and will look at social media.

Networking - I enjoy doing some of that but, again, having "virtual" clients is a high priority. I need to network through linkedin, twitter, etc.

The one "need" I do have is to get my website going. I have the logo, but that's it. I've been procrastinating thinking I need other things. But, in a virtual world people need to find me. Hard to do without a website!

Carol
CJ's Virtual Business Solutions

Mars Virtual Assistant · #13 (**permalink**) 05-01-2009

Thank you for sharing this article. It made me feel a lot better because I am just now about to design my business cards. LOL. When I got my 1st client, she was from twitter, I hadn't even "opened my doors" yet. So, I have definitely done things in reverse.