Hello from New Jersey - Virtual Assistant Forums

JoCarole · #1 (**permalink**) 06-14-2008

Hi Everyone

My name is Jocarole and I'm from NJ. I'm a boomer with over 20 years administrative experience. I am just starting out in the virtual world though and I have a lot to learn I can see.

I am trying to learn as much as I can by studying at home and taking online courses. Right now I am reading design books, website books, business writing & composition, excel, publisher, computer repair. I probably get a new book every week from Amazon. com! Plus researching posts from another forum. I just learned about virtual assistance around October last year and there is so much more than I ever imagined there would be to learn

I dont have a website up yet because I dont have time to build it and I do want to build my own so I can maintain it.
At least I have all the equipment I need for now which is good. But I do want to get a backup laptop.
I did decide to go back to school and I will be taking the A + Certification class at my local community college which starts June 23. After that I would like to take website fundamentals & design and graphics arts. I also plan to learn a data base system probably Access. I also need to learn Quickbooks. There is so much to learn that sometimes I work late in the night probably just like a lot of other vas and aspiring vas.

Anyway just wanted to say hi to everyone here and that I am looking forward to posting and reading the posts here a little at a time

Jocarole

Tess · #2 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Hi Jocarole

Welcome to the community.
You're certainly busy gaining all kinds of practical info and experience - that's great!

I wish you the best of luck in your new business endeavor and look forward to chatting with you further

Perfect Solutions · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Welcome Jocarole! You've come to the right place. I'm also just starting out. I love this forum because there is so much information to digest that taking your time to do things the right way is appropriate. I also am attending college and know how hard it is to maintain a life, college and a business. Hang in there. There are so many people on here that offer a wealth of information and of course the encouragement when you need it.

Welcome again and I look forward to your posts!

Lisa

va4eva · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Hi Jocarole,

Welcome! You have a lot on your plate...but you can do it. I spend an hour each morning learning a new program before I do my work. I take alot of free online seminars too and have them run in the background while I am doing my work. If it is something I really need to concentrate on, I'll take my lunch while on a gomeeting.com course or phone seminar. It's good to squeeze in studying and learning new skills or else I'd get bored. Unfortunately some of the work I do is very rote and mundane so the classes and courses help to keep me stimulated. I will also download a few course to my Ipod and take a walk and catch up that way. Good Luck, you've certainly come to the right place.

permalink · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

welcome to the club..i'm new here also..

D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Ho Jocarole,

Welcome to the forum. It sure sounds like you are learning a lot and that is great! I am actually in NW NJ too, where are you located?

Anyway, now that you have found this forum, you will have so much more to read and learn. If you can't find an answer to a question you have been pondering, feel free to ask.

permalink · #7 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

hello Jocarole! just like you i'm also good as new here..

goodluck to our new career!

sfdbooks · #8 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Welcome Jocarole!

Where in Jersey are you? My DH has family in Absecon. We visited back in 2004 and I loved it there! Very different from California though. I don't think I could take the humidity!

JoCarole · #9 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Hi Tess
Thanks for the welcome. Glad to have found this forum and I look forward to chatting with everyone here and learning and giving back when I can !

Hi Lisa
Thanks for saying hello ! It is a lot of learning and juggling but I love everything about it. I cant wait to start school and then finish it and then go back again for something new

Hi Eva
I know what you mean. I have a ton of podcasts from different forums on business, blogging, podcasting, video, internet marketing, etc. I keep a list and cross them off after I listen to them. Plus the newsletters and ton of emails that I sign for daily. I'm so afraid of missing something

. And theres always the online webinars as a backup just in case I get bored

.
But I love them all. I try to squeeze inbetween the rest of what has to be done like food shopping, cleaning, etc. There is just so much time to do it all and I make a list every day but I never ever finish everything and it just goes onto tomorrow's list.. Are you in NJ too?

Hi Jovelle!
Glad to meet you

Are you just starting to study VA like me? Do you have a niche in mind yet?

Hi Darlene
Thanks for saying hi!
I am down the shore in Toms River. Where are you?

Hi Sarah
I am about 1 hour north of Absecon. The humidity here in Jersey is horrible and when the numbers are real bad I tend to stay indoors as I have asthma and it just makes it worse esp when the pollen count is high.. I love Ca. What part do you live in? I have friends and family out there too.

D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance · #10 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Hi Jocarole,

I am up in Northern NJ about 30 minutes from the Poconos in Pennsylvania. My grandparents had a home in Brick when I was young. My aunt had a friend who lived in Toms River and my mother had friends who lived in Toms River too, so I spent many summers in and around the area.

We will probably be heading out of the state in another year of so though...the world is a big place and I want to enjoy it!

It is great to have you here!

sfdbooks · #11 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Originally Posted by Jocarole

Hi Sarah
I am about 1 hour north of Absecon. The humidity here in Jersey is horrible and when the numbers are real bad I tend to stay indoors as I have asthma and it just makes it worse esp when the pollen count is high.. I love Ca. What part do you live in? I have friends and family out there too.

I am in Northern California, in Petaluma, which is about 1 hr north of San Francisco.

MaryH · #12 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Hi Jocarole, welcome! It sounds like you are already super busy in setting up your business and I look forward to watching as your business grows and develops!

White Rose · #13 (**permalink**) 06-15-2008

Hello Jocarole,

I think it is so wonderful that you are studying as much as you can. I always am a strong believer in self-learning thus borrowed several designing books from the library.

Welcome aboard to the forum. I am sure you will find so many great information that can help you with your VA business. Not only that, you would also find many great supportive members when you need some cheering on.

Best of luck!