Truly a great article Michelle. Knowing what it took to get where you are, I set up my business model to work a max of 40 hours per week. The overachiever in me wants to work more, but I try to invest the additional time into education and self growth.

Passive income is also a great idea and I have been looking into various options. I don't expect to get rich from them, but pennies will eventually amount to pounds.

Steph, how much of your 40 hours per week do you have "scheduled" for your own projects vs. clients?

Pennies def add up to pounds. And surprisingly fast sometimes!

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Want to build a strong foundation for your business? Reduce your learning curve and increase your confidence.

Eep! I don't actually have official times scheduled between my projects client projects... just chunks of time set aside to be used for client work (if I have work to fill the hours). I have a 6 hour window that I try to split 50/50 and then use the remaining hours per day as needed. If I had to guess, I'd say about 70% of my time is being used for my own projects, self growth, and skill building most weeks. However, when work heads my way I'm the type of person that tends to put my own work on the back burner and always treat client work as priority. Some weeks, very little time is being invested in myself. Actually, I worked years without focusing on a single project for myself and feel I'm now playing catch-up from neglecting my business.

For various reasons I'm also working a brainless evening job, so I get about 15 hours per week for passive learning / brainstorming / and idea generation. My phone is my lifeline for these 15 hours - audible.com for catching up on books, Google Drive to draft my blog posts, and Google Keep for ideas that come bursting out of my brain.

Someday, I hope to have a family and want to be there for them (especially in their early years). I've been referred to as a reclusive writer or as a hermit - emerging from my work only for basic necessities until a project is complete. I'm not good at setting boundaries, so this is my attempt to do so.

Steph,

I imagine most of us probably don't have "dedicated appointments" for ourselves. Personally I am the same way, client work first, then my own stuff.

You're early enough in the game that you are also further ahead in some aspects on being able to change course quickly before the boundaries are set in stone that you have a potential client uprising.

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Want to build a strong foundation for your business? Reduce your learning curve and increase your confidence.

I just read your article, Michelle. Thank you for the insight.

In regards to your class, would you say it's just for start-up VA's?

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Nichole Holm
Optima Business Solutions, LLC.

Nichole,

It's actually good for either of the following scenarios:
a) thinking about becoming a VA and want to get a realistic idea if this is what you'd like to pursue
b) those who already know they want to be a VA but aren't really sure "where to start"
c) those who already have a business & clients but want to get a "jumpstart" to get ahead "faster"

If this helps at all - the Feb session had 10 students. Of those 10 - three already had businesses and some clients, the other 7 were in various stages of A & B mentioned above. If you haven't already checked out the reviews from Feb, here is the link.

Let me know if you have any other questions, I'm always happy to answer them. And, if you're free tomorrow night at 7 EST, I'll be doing a free call (Tess PM'd the info to you) and you can get more of an idea of "who I am" etc.

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Want to build a strong foundation for your business? Reduce your learning curve and increase your confidence.

Michelle,

I will definitely be turning in tonight - looking forward to it!

Is there a course outline to get a better idea of what the class includes?

Thank you for the information!

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Nichole Holm
Optima Business Solutions, LLC.

Hi Nichole,

Here an overview of how we go over the six weeks:

Each week there are "assigned" chapters of the book to read in advance

During the week's session we go over the material, have Q&A time (because I know everyone has their own unique concerns) - I also share personal examples I've learned "through the school of hard knocks"

After each weekly class everyone will be sent an "assignment" list - these are NOT required action items, however, if followed they set a very strong foundation for your business. And, having all of these resources (the ones I use daily in my own business) will save everyone a hours of research, money, etc.

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Want to build a strong foundation for your business? Reduce your learning curve and increase your confidence.

How inspiring, and thought provoking for a new person like myself who's first year anniversary is quickly approaching, and the only client I have had, which I met within the first week of getting my DBA disappeared on his way to pay me after my one and only project for him, and have yet to solidify a client. I feel very blessed to have been directed to this forum. Thank you so much Michelle for sharing your personal story with us!

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Colleen Bentley
Bentley's Virtual Office Boutique

Colleen, so sorry to hear that. Was it a large amount? I have one who was paying me fine, for several months, and then nada. Much later (about 2 years later) I found out from a mutual friend that he apparently owes a lot of people money. That happened in 2010 and I'm sure I'll never get it.

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Want to build a strong foundation for your business? Reduce your learning curve and increase your confidence.