As a Virtual Assistant, the biggest challenge we face is that of overcoming limitations of resources specially HR Resources.
Since, most of us work either independently or with a very small team (on occassions with the support of spouse), accepting new contracts becomes difficult, even if it is more rewarding.
I was just curious to know, the members here are coping with this situation.
At the moment I go through phases where I cope perfectly and then other days... lets just say it ain't pretty.
After doing some research I've decided to build a Multi-VA practice. This is something I'll do slowly over the next few years until my youngest is in school. I'll let you know how I go.
I guess I've been lucky in that the flow of clients and the relative time-flow has gelled quite nicely. I have been exceptionally busy at times - especially earlier in my practice - but as I learn to more clearly identify my ideal clients and projects as well as limit the income of requests to referrals-only while keeping as tight a reign as possible on time management I'm able to maintain a healthy balance (most of the time )
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I managed on my own for 2 years Kajal and this was mainly before the Internet. But I was working long hours and into the early hours of the morning and in my 2nd year I started looking around to find who was local to me that I could outsource work to. And then I found out about the Internet and started exploring that medium - I was told I could get more clients and I wasn't sure how that was going to work but knew I needed to find help if I were to take on more clients.
After I put my first (one-page) website up women started contacting me to find out how they could do what I was doing. I spoke with my accountant and decided to set up a network of homebased secretaries. We later changed that to Virtual Assistants. So today I do have a network of VAs around me that work is passed on to - I have a client base that I'm happy with and only occasionally take on new clients personally.
Evenso, there are times I'm really busy in my office so I usually engage the help of senior high school students or uni students who are looking for some work experience. This is work that needs to be done here in my office, rather than being sent out, i.e. my filing, shredding, photocopying, printing and collating papers, and so on. My own daughters fulfilled that role whilst they were going through high school but they're all grown up now so the young girls across the road are now in their mid teens and happy to do a few hours here and there for me as the need arises.
I think we have to think about the reason we want to be in the business before we take on every client that comes our way. I think that we do this at the start because we are so excited to have clients. But reality sets in and you understand why you left the corporate world.
I agree I know that I became a VA because I loved to do the work behind the business. I have started two of my own businesses but I did not like to be the face of my business, I did not care to take the credit for the success and I know that I love to reach out to other new business owners to help them grow. That being said I am the type to branch out to many other businesses. I you became a VA to get personal with the business and stick with them for a while then you should focus on two or three clients at a time. This will give you the close relationship with the business and also to help other clients and raise your income.
I've faced that issue for the past few months and have also decided to build a multi VA practice. I'm no longer able to keep up with my clients workload by myself. I'm so excited!
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Nikki Anderson
Owner, LGC Virtual Services
Hi All,
I recently started and I made up my mind to go multi,I know my business will grow and have hopes to have a team so I have to train myself to be dicliplined about time and at the same time raise three toddlers with two being twins,how ambitous is that?
Hazel
I'm just setting up formally and decided to go Multi.
I am well aware that I will take on and do most of the work initially, but I've looked at the market, and what is being offered, and what I have is very very competitive.
So I will be setting up with a team hopefully, and I hope to foster a real 'work together' attitude and cohesion. I also hope to be able to send them more and more work as it goes on.
I can't wait (and Im petrified at the same time). Thats normal right?
Overcoming Limitation of resources
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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
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