Mindset – Page 3 – Virtual Assistant Success Strategies

Wil Hart on May 21, 2012

Do You Want to Become a Successful VA?

You have been searching for some time haven’t you? There are many questions about the Virtual Assistance industry that you have been trying to answer. Can I really make a living from being Virtual Assistant? Will I be able to pay my bills? How will I find clients? What tools do I need in order to work from home?

Since 2008, we have been answering these questions for our EAtoVA.com community. I’m here to assure you that If I can do it, you can do it too! (Become a member of the EAtoVA family and see how I conquered the journey of going from Executive Assistant to Virtual Assistant. Simply enter your name and email address in the boxes at the top of this page to get INSTANT access to my FREE special report “The Liberated Executive Assistant – How to Break Free From The Corporate Grind and Become Your Own Boss!“)

I know it is your goal to become a successful Virtual Assistant. That is how you found our website and introduced yourself to us. I really want to serve you first by inspiring you to set and accomplish this goal. Additionally, over the next several weeks, I am going to personally walk you through the process creating and succeeding in your very own business.

Just to keep you in the loop of what is happening here at EAtoVA.com, I want to know that I am creating a new club for people like you who want to have full support in your journey of starting your own business. Within the next couple of weeks, you will be the first to receive this exclusive information. Here is what I need you to do in order to get that information.

Click here to sign up for notification about my new club. The word will not go out to everyone. That is why I need you to raise your hand and say, “Yes Sydni, I want more info about the club”. Take a moment to sign up and you’ll be among the first to know when I unveil this new training center. And be sure to tell your friends, family members and colleagues about this exciting opportunity!

Wil Hart on July 15, 2011

How to Develop the Mindset for Success

Do you have a “CAN DO,” “WILL SUCCEED AT ALL COSTS” type of mindset? Is it natural for you to lead yourself towards your goals no matter what negative signals you receive from naysayers?

What is your response to those first two questions?

Your response could very we be the determining factor as to how quickly and easily you accomplish your goal of becoming a successful VA. Entrepreneurs are pioneers! We are willing to travel in unchartered territory. We blast through walls and fight against the odds.

This article is for the aspiring Successful Virtual Assistant. Let me define the word “aspiring.” If you would like to start your own Virtual Assistance company, that is an aspiration. If you are already a Virtual Assistant, but have not reached the success that you desire, that is an aspiration.

Might your mindset be holding you back? What type of conversations do you have with yourself? Every person goes through the process of convincing herself of success or failure, victory or defeat. The self-talk of some people will even tell them, “you don’t have to push too hard, we can coast right here in the middle.”

Mindset for Success

To be successful as an entrepreneur, you need to train your mind to speak in a positive way. When I started my company, I would not imagine anything but my version of success. My success meant the following:

Time freedom
Financial freedom
Working with ideal clients of my choice
Going on vacations when I wanted to

There was nothing that could prevent me from reaching that goal and continuing that journey. More than six years later, I’m still building the life of my dreams with two of my own companies. When I was a child, my parents told my brother and me to expunge the word “CAN’T” from our vocabularies. That lifelong lesson continues to serve me well.

What are you telling yourself? It is imperative that you analyze your internal conversations. That is the key to what is on your mind and how you feel about accomplishing your goals in life. You must train your mind to believe that you can accomplish whatever it is that you WANT in life. (In case you haven’t noticed by now, this topic is much bigger than running your own business – it’s about LIFE).

So, I ask again, do you want to build a successful Virtual Assistance company? Do you have the fortitude to overcome all obstacles and trials? If your answer is “YES”, then you are already on the right track. But, remember that your resilience will be tested constantly.

I do not know what type of mindset you already possess. I do know, however, the mindset that you need to develop and maintain in order to start and grow a sustainable business. You do not just want to “be in business”, but you want to THRIVE in business. You want the type of business that will allow you to create the lifestyle that reflects your definition of success.

Remember the words of Henry Ford:

“Whether you think you CAN or you can’t, YOU ARE RIGHT!

Wil Hart on September 17, 2010

Overcome Two Common Challenges To Succeeding As A Virtual Assistant

Life is riddled with challenges. There are roadblocks to becoming a successful parent or spouse. There are certain difficulties that hinder strong friendships and family ties. There are challenges to remaining financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy. Therefore, whether you have a job or run your own company, you will meet obstacles. The key that unlocks the door to personal success is knowing how to meet and defeat challenges. What might prevent you from attaining victory in your Virtual Assistant practice?

Overcoming Fear

What fears do you hold close to your heart? There are some fears that we tend to plant and cultivate. Fear is natural and normal to experience. It is a mechanism employed by the subconscious mind that attempts to keep us safe and out of harm’s way. This fear prevents us from making unwise decisions, but can also prevent us from embarking on new endeavors. That is why red flags and bells go off in our mind when we step outside of our comfort zone. That is why your palms get sweaty and you start to get the jitters when you reach the edge of your comfort zone.

This is the perfect time to host a conversation with your fear. Ask your fear, "What is the worst that can happen?" Ask too, "Why do you want to hold me back from trying this new endeavor?" (This is actually a conversation with yourself that acknowledges the fear you are experiencing). Fear is appropriate. That is why it is so important to engage it and analyze it. Efforts to suppress it are counterproductive.

What fears do you have with regards to running your very own successful virtual assistance company? Are you fearful that you may not acquire clients and have enough income? You might be concerned healthcare and retirement plans. You may have several fears that are trying to keep you "safe". This is good news! Acknowledge, analyze and confront every fear that you have. Start by writing them down. Then have a conversation with them one by one. This will allow your mind to open up to the many solutions that are available.

Defeat Overwhelm

One of your fears may be that of getting overwhelmed. You know that you are great at the work you do. That is why you desire to be in business for yourself. "But, there is so much responsibility and work that is involved in being an entrepreneur," you say. That is true!

What can prevent and/or rescue you from overwhelm? It is necessary to implement systems into your business. A system is a structured method to run every aspect of you business. If you have to re-invent the wheel every time you do filing, billing or even turning a prospect into a client, this will lead to overwhelm and discouragement. Let’s analyze the example of enrolling a new client. Do you have a system for transforming new contacts into prospects and prospects into paying clients?

Here is a simple method:

Meet a new contact
Conversation leads to business interest
Collect contact information
Contact is now a prospect
Follow up with prospect (card or phone call)
Schedule a business call
Have prospect fill out an assessment form
Prepare for business call using the assessment form
Business call is progressing wellY
ou decide you would like to work with prospect
Move into sales conversation
Prospect now becomes a client or a contact to follow up with later
[here is where you complete the process for your new clients and former prospects]

After running your systems a few times it will become second nature. You should implement a system for every segment of your business so that your work can become BRAINLESS. This takes less energy defeats overwhelm and saves time. Which means you make AND save more mo.ney. Write out each of your systems for quick future reference and you’ll find yourself making faster progress than ever before.

Overcoming fear and overwhelm is not necessarily easy. It is, rather, a process of becoming familiar with your way of thinking and performing. And it requires a shift in your mindset. If you want different results, you need to have different behavior. We all are a work in progress. Wouldn’t you like to make your work a lot easier on yourself and become a successful Virtual Assistant? You can do so by defeating fear and overwhelm.

Action Steps For This Week:

Identify the fears that stump your business growth.Write down your fears and have a conversation with them.
Pick two aspects of your business to create systems for and complete by next week.
Share your fears and your systems by commenting on the blog.

Wil Hart on September 10, 2010

When to Say “NO” to a Prospective Client

Worried Young Business Woman Interviewing a potential client is more than just assessing their needs, business opportunities and strengths. It’s much more about YOU and if the two of you can work well together. Identifying a great potential client starts with the interview process.

But how do you know if the new potential client is "the one"? How can you be sure that the relationship will go smoothly and you are a good fit?

Unfortunately, there’s no absolute way to determine this. However, there are some warning signs you should look for to minimize disappointment and needless frustration

Listen to your gut – As hard as it may seem to accept this advice, deep down you know it’s true. You will have an immediate reaction to a potential client based on the tone of their email, the tone of their voice on the phone call, their questions, anecdotes and requests. If you get a feeling in the pit of your stomach that working with this client will be difficult or messy don’t ignore it and take the opportunity now to walk away. It can save you a lot of stress, frustration and time. And you are really serving the client by leaving them free to find the perfect VA for them. TRUST ME…If you ignore your feelings, it will come back to bite you…EVERY single time.
Analyze your current clientele – Think about your current (or past) clients that you really enjoyed working with and even the ones you didn’t. Taking the time to identify the traits you really like in a client, and the ones you don’t will go a long way in helping you identify your next ideal client. That way you can compare a prospective client to those clients (or even employers) you’ve worked with in the past to see if the two of you working together make a great fit. For example, if you love working with Harry and he has a great sense of humor, then that’s a quality you can look for in a prospective client. Remember, working with your ideal client is about much more than just the work. It’s about the relationship and rapport you have with each other that makes it feel more like playing than working.
Determine "red-flag" behaviors – it is absolutely OK to refuse to work with someone who exhibits behaviors you will not tolerate. As a matter of fact, it’s more than OK, it’s your right as a business owner. Take the time to identify these behaviors early so that you know what to watch for. Is it someone who sees and treats you as a subordinate employee rather than a like-minded business owner on the same level? Is it someone who speaks disrespectfully? Or perhaps they try to negotiate your fee and tell you what your time is worth? Whatever your "deal breakers" are, if you see them come up with a prospective client just say NO! Do not put yourself in the position to compromise your standards or self-esteem to work with someone who doesn’t deserve to work with you.

While you may think that saying "no" to a potential client can be challenging and difficult, think about it this way: it’s much more difficult to end the business relationship when things don’t go smoothly. Take the stance from the beginning and nip it in the bud before you even have to go down that road. The money is not worth the stress and anxiety that can come from working with someone who isn’t a great fit for your business. Additionally, you will not enjoy your work and not put forth your best effort which undermines your professionalism for future clients.

What other warning signs do you look for when interviewing a potential client? Please post your comments and experiences on the blog so we can continue this discussion!

Wil Hart on August 20, 2010

Believe In Yourself… Or No One Else Will

Throughout the many Virtual Assistant communities that I belong to, I often see a LOT of untapped potential. I see aspiring, new and even established VAs who have the potential to command top dollar for their work, to create businesses that truly give them the flexible schedule they crave and to ONLY work with clients who respect them and value their contributions. I see this in them, but many times, they just can’t see it for themselves.

“WHY?” you may ask?

It’s because they don’t believe in themselves. Perhaps they doubt their worth or don’t believe they can truly succeed. Perhaps they are used to bosses, HR departments and companies that look down on them. Perhaps they have limiting beliefs (i.e. "I can’t charge that much" or "I can never be as good as …) and just don’t see the abundance of opportunity that is available.

In the corporate world, Administrative Professionals are not often given the opportunity to create their own success. When I was a corporate Executive Assistant I certainly did not have the opportunity to define my future, create my own path and make my career what I wanted it to be.

That’s the beauty of creating your own business, particularly in the Virtual Assistant industry. You ONLY offer the services you want to offer. You can charge whatever you want to charge. You can work two days a week or five days a week. You choose who you work with and who you don’t.

But to do this, one needs to COMPLETELY abandon the “employee” mentality.

Lesson 1 - image 3.jpg That mindset shift starts with saying, “I can do this. I can create my own success. I deserve to be successful! I will be successful!” It starts with a choice. Choosing to think differently and act differently than you have before. It’s that simple.

Embracing the thought that you REALLY can create the business of your dreams, and that what you really want and what’s possible is within your reach will catapult you towards success faster than any tip, resource or strategy I will give you.

The sooner that you, as a Virtual Assistant, can wrap your head around that concept, embrace it and own it, the sooner you’ll see success and the faster you’re going to achieve it.

It is especially important to get your mind wrapped around this at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey (or if you have decided it’s time to upgrade your business). You can’t set a precedent for letting your clients dictate how you run your business. You can’t second guess your decisions. You can’t run your business for the benefit of your clients. If you are going to be a successful business owner–over the long haul you have to make decisions and stand behind them. You have to determine what your standards are and how you’re going to set up your business. And you can’t let ANYONE, especially a client undermine your boundaries and make you second guess them. Otherwise you might as well go back to get a regular job.

I implore you to approach your business from a place of confidence. Present a confident stance with your tone, voice, presence, marketing materials and website. Be proud of your decision to ditch the corporate rat race and take ownership of your career.

I believe in you! I believe that you have the talent, tenacity and drive to be a fabulously successful VA! But, that’s not enough.

You have to believe in YOU too. Because if you don’t, no one else will.

Share your thoughts and comments with me by posting a comment here on the blog!

Wil Hart on July 2, 2010

What’s Your Contingency Plan For Your Business?

Let’s face it – we live in uncertain times. On any given day you may have a power outage, your Internet connection may be down, your child could wake up sick or you may be faced with some type of natural disaster. Hiccups and disruptions in your work flow COULD be detrimental to your business. However, that doesn’t have to be the case.

Taking a proactive approach to preparing yourself for the unexpected you can minimize the effect on your business. By having a contingency plan, you are establishing yourself as a business professional just like any large corporation. If done correctly, your clients won’t even know you had an issue unless you decide to tell them.

So what exactly is a contingency plan?

A contingency plan is a process you have for your business to protect yourself and your data from being lost during an emergency. Losing data would be detrimental to your business not only for the information that you would have to recreate, but also the violation of your clients’ private affairs.

Wil Hart on April 25, 2010

Need More Clients? Fish Where the Fish Are!

The number one question I get asked about Virtual Assistance EACH week is: “How do I get clients?”

The answer is very simple. You have to “fish, where the fish are!” And you have to “fish” consistently.

Many VAs find it difficult to market their services and thus struggle to consistently attract clients. This has mostly to do with one’s mindset, because we can often hold ourselves back from success because of limiting beliefs, fears or doubts. Have you ever thought to yourself:

“I can’t charge that much!”
“No one is really going to pay that for what I do.”
“Marketing is too hard and I’ll never be good at it.”

If you tell yourself things like this you’re right. But if you tell yourself:

“My time is worth X and I deserve to be paid that much!”
“There are plenty of people who need my services and I’m going to find them!”
“I can learn how to market my services in an authentic and comfortable way!” Continue Reading>>

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