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For more info click here!
"I wish I'd had this book when starting my business! I have read
many books on the topic of starting a Virtual Assistant business
over the years and can honestly say "Failure Is Not An Option" is
the most comprehensive handbook I've seen. Patty walks you through
every aspect of setting up and starting your VA business, including
examples and templates of important forms and documents. Throughout
the book, concrete examples make it easier to adapt the advice to
your own situation. If you set up your business as you work through
the book, you will have a solid business model and a jump-start on
landing your first client by the end. If you're serious about
starting a Virtual Assistant business, you need to get this book!
It's an investment you won't regret."
Cindy Opong President, Creative Assistants, President-Elect
2009-2010 IVAA, www.ivaa.org,
www.CreativeAssistants.com
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Finding the Purpose in Online
Networking
By Patty Benton
Have you ever
wondered what the purpose of networking groups online are? We all
know they are for getting to know others with the hopes of someday
obtaining a client or referral. But don’t they have more of a
purpose? Aren’t they for finding other people to build relationships
with to benefit your business, your clients’ businesses, and their
businesses? I think underlying to networking groups is also finding
lasting relationships and friendships. Working virtually we spend
most of the day in our own offices, with no contact to the outside
world. While there are many blessings to this, it can be lonely. So
how can you get the most benefit from a networking group online?
First, you can
remember the etiquette of online communication. We all know the
basics. Don’t use all capitals; that is considered yelling. Use
proper punctuation and capital letters, otherwise your lack of
grammar will take away from your message. What I am talking about is
the etiquette of respect. I see “arguments” break out in groups
because of miscommunication or someone overstepping the boundaries
and trying to force their opinion on someone else. What happens to
the parties involved? Most of the time, they lose the respect of the
other group members. How sad is that when they spent all this time
building their reputation, and in one moment, they blow it!
So, how can you
avoid this happening to you? Stay out of arguments. Don’t get
involved in the “office” politics online! I know that sometimes this
is difficult when you see someone being unfairly torn down. Know
that if you do try to step in, you are opening yourself up to being
drug down. Unfortunately, there are unprofessional people on the
online networking groups. You have to rise above those. Don’t let
them draw you in. By showing that you are the bigger person, you are
taking another step in building your reputation.
Remember there
are boundaries to each networking group. Each one has established
the rules they expect everyone on the group to follow. Be sure to
follow what they have set up. Each group has their own purpose, and
you will join each one for the purpose it serves. I know that on a
lot of my virtual assistance groups, there isn’t a lot of room for
debate on topics. They are established to help assist each other and
ask questions about running a virtual assistance business. Because
of this, someone else established a group that was for debating
topics and issues that come up in the virtual assistance industry.
Look at each group and see what purpose it would fulfill, and then be
sure to follow their boundaries.
Networking online
has a great purpose and can really help you to be successful in your
business. By maintaining your integrity, following the boundaries of
the group, and supporting others, you can get amazing satisfaction
from a group and create some lasting friendships!
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Whether
it’s fear of failure, fear of success or fear to take risks, you
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Whether your just starting out or been in business for awhile, you MUST
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This
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