For those of us forging forward virtually through the jungle on this journey, this book gives us the strength and confidence to be the pioneers for the future virtual world. A must read for all business owners.
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Quotes |
“It is often the failure who is the pioneer in new lands, new undertakings, and new forms of expression.”
~ Eric Hoffer
“It is not easy to be a pioneer – but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.”
~ Elizabeth Blackwell
“The way of the pioneer is always rough.”
~ Harvey S. Firestone |
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Sponsor |
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Meet the Virtual Business Group. An online networking community for Virtual Professionals of all industry. Join in 2008 and get a 1 year free membership.
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Readers' Corner |
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Thank you for taking time to read JERPAT's Virtual Professionals Newsletter. We invite you to send us an email at vpeditor@virtualvacoach.com and let us know your thoughts, opinions, questions, and ideas in regards to this newsletter. Please be sure to reference which issue you are speaking about. We will publish your comments here with your permission. Thank you! |
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I am so excited to be back to producing a newsletter again. It has been awhile, so I thought I would take a second to update you on what has been happening.
First though, you are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Virtual Insider or JERPAT Tips, or are a client of JERPAT. We do not hold hostages, so at the bottom of the newsletter is an Manage Subscription link. I really hope you stay, because we have some exciting things in the works. You may have noticed the change in our newsletter title, JERPAT’s Virtual Professional Newsletter. The focus of the newsletter is on working virtually, working with virtual workers, etc. In support of this focus, we are kicking of a blog, www.blog.virtualvacoach.com, that will address all the realms of working virtually. I invite you on over to check out all the great things happening. While you are there, don’t forget to sign up to receive our postings via email!
Now, on to what has been happening and why it has been such a long time since you received an issue. The first thing that happened was I had a beautiful little boy in Jan, 2007. His name is Cayden, and he is the perfect little brother to my daughters. He takes his job very seriously, and does not have a good day (in his opinion) until he has made each of the girls scream or cry at least once during the day.
So if it was not enough to have 3 children under 5, a virtual assistance and web design business, and a coaching business, I partnered with 2 of my team members and purchased Virtual Business Group (VBG), www.virtualbizgroup.com. VBG is an organization focused on connecting and supporting Virtual Professionals of all industries. Membership is free for 2008, so feel free to come on over and sign up, as there are a lot of great benefits!
I also got certified as a Life Coach in December, and will be going for my Business Coach certification and my Spiritual Coach certification to further develop the coaching program.
So, as you can see, life for me is never dull. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
And now, on to the meat of our newsletter. This month we are talking about being a Virtual Pioneer, specifically with the benefits of being a Virtual Pioneer. So, I will kick off with a fun quote. See you all next month!
“In a word I was a pioneer, and therefore had to blaze my own trail.”
~ Major Taylor
To your business success!
God bless,
Patty Benton
Editor, BA, Certified Life Coach
Patty is the owner of JERPAT Virtual Assistants and JERPAT Training & Coaching. She is also the co-owner of Virtual Business Group and co-founder of A.C.T. at work. You can learn more by going to her blog at www.blog.virtualvacoach.com. |
Throughout our history, we’ve had adventurers and pioneers. People who have taken risks and were driven to follow their dreams. People who didn’t stop when small trials or tribulations came up.
Maybe you’ve tinkered with the idea or have already taken the leap – whether employed in a traditional work setting or starting a business as a home-based professional, you know there’s something tremendously appealing about working virtually. In fact, it’s an option that’s becoming increasingly popular in today’s society. Statistics show that one out of five people in a traditional work setting are telecommuting at least one day a week – and, in the U.S. alone, statistics reveal that home-based workers constitute a $427 billion a year industry, 52 percent of all small firms.
Many of us have worked within the traditional norm of “going” to work every day… And today’s norm is increasingly shifting to the commute being just a few steps down the hall at home to go to work.
If you remain on the fence about making a case to your employer about the benefits of working from home a couple days a week or even to yourself about finally becoming a home-based entrepreneur, consider the following:
Working virtually offers individuals the ability to have more freedom over their own schedules. Whether you’re a parent who wants to be able to volunteer in your child’s classroom or you want to have time for home projects or you know you work best late at night so working in a “traditional” environment just doesn’t work for you…. Being able to manage your own schedule is very freeing. It is a wonderful thing to plan your work around your life rather than the other way around.
# 2 – Money Saved on Professional Wardrobe
With client interactions at a minimum, a “professional” wardrobe for a virtual professional does not translate the same as a “professional” wardrobe for a corporate executive. Most days, wearing something as simple as jeans and a sweater or polo is professional enough for working from home. With the majority of contact coming through email or the phone, pin-striped power suits are now polka-dotted pajamas!
# 3 – Meeting people from all over the world
Your coworkers and networking contacts are no longer on the other side of the cubicle/office wall. With virtual workspaces, there are virtually no limits. Chatting with a fellow professional from Australia while working on a project for a client in Germany and sitting in your office in Colorado… Well, you get the idea!
# 4 – Being there for your family
In addition to flexible scheduling, you also get to still be there for your family. There are wonderful things that happen every day in your children’s lives. With working from home, I have been there for first words, first steps, first teeth and everything else. Even with incorporating in-house help, I have still been there for it all.
# 5 – Best of all… Lunch!
With working from home, you don’t have to worry about not eating Greek or garlicky Italian food or anything else that you desire for your lunch break.
Bottom line… You have options.
Thirty years ago, home computers weren’t that common. Home offices often consisted of bookshelves, a writing desk and a telephone. Now, home offices can connect you with the rest of the world at the touch of a button. So, surround the virtual wagons and set up your wireless connection. With the empowerment of technology, innovation and flexibility, working virtually allows you to remain close-to-home and have a global impact. Don’t allow yourself to be encumbered by the past… Break new ground and grant yourself permission to be a virtual pioneer!
Patty Benton runs a training program for new entrepreneurs interested in venturing into the virtual assistance industry that is affordable to all, and she has also written an e-book that takes virtual assistants through the process of setting up their business. Visit her coaching site at www.virtualvacoach.com for program details and great business resources. Additionally, Patty is the owner of JERPAT Virtual Assistants and JERPAT Web Designs, www.moretime4u.org, which provides affordable administrative and web design support to coaches, small businesses, religious organizations, and more. She has also partnered to establish the ministry Acknowledging Christ Together at Work www.actatwork.com and is co-owner of Virtual Business Group www.virtualbizgroup.com an online networking organization for Virtual Professionals.
© 2003-2008 JERPAT
You have permission to reprint this article electronically or in print, as long as the text and byline remain unedited. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
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Backing Up Your System - TWICE
Wow, can I not express enough how important this is. I have lost and had to rebuild a lot of files twice due to not having 2 copies of each file. In the past, I used an external hard drive to back-up my data. My mistake came when I would transfer files to my external, and then delete them on my desktop. When my external crashed, I lost those files.
I learned my lesson though, and now not only back-up to my external hard drive, but I also use an only back-up system, Mozy. It automatically back-ups your desktop however often you ask it to. When my 1 year old dumped lemonade on my laptop, I just downloaded my files from Mozy.
For $4.95 each month, I am now sleeping comfortably knowing my files are safe in TWO places, so that if one system fails, they are somewhere else. I recommend this piece of mind for you. You can go to http://www.moretime4u.org/resources/mozy.html
.
 Jerome Benton is the owner of JERPAT Web Designs, http://www.jerpat.org. He specializes in web design and has partnered with his wife's virtual assistance business to give every company the quality services they need at an affordable price. You can read Jerome's weekly tips at http://blog.virtualvacoach.com.
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Upcoming JERPAT Training & Coaching Courses |
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Sign up for a workshop or group program by May 6, 2008 and mention this newsletter and receive $5 off any of the workshops and $10 off of the "Failure is NOT an Option" group coaching programs!
For more details and to register for any of the classes, visit us at www.virtualvacoach.com.
Individual coaching also available!
F*ree Workshop Using Subcontractors to Take Your Business to the Next Level – Have you wondered what the benefits of using a subcontractor in your business would be, how to put subcontractors in place, or even how to let go of control? Well now you can ask your questions about utilizing subcontractors in your business in this f*ree one hour teleconference with Patty Benton, who has built a successful virtual assistance practice using subcontractors. Upcoming presentation scheduled for May 12 at 10 am MST.
An Introduction to the Role of Real Estate Virtual Assistant – This course/workshop is being presented to give a better understanding of the real estate industry and how you as an unlicensed real estate assistant can become a valuable team member to your real estate agent by learning and implementing the tools learned in this course. Upcoming presentation scheduled for May 14th at 9 am MST.
Jazzing Up Your Website – In this instructor led class you will learn how to make your website more effective and attractive to your potential clients. Upcoming presentation scheduled for May 16th at 1 pm MST.
F*ree Workshop hosted by Virtual Business Group Presented by Diane Darling of Effective Networking, Inc.
Networking to Increase Your Net-Worth - Seeking ways to boost your net worth? Join Diane Darling of Effective Networking, the author of The Networking Survival Guide and Networking for Career Success, as she presents networking tips and techniques that you can implement immediately. Learn how to identify hidden business prospects and make yourself indispensable to clients, while building new relationships. Asking for referrals doesn't have to be painful! Discover the three techniques for getting your emails and phone calls returned faster. Hear about the common mistakes that people make and how to recover from them. You'll leave this program feeling energized and armed with new ways to achieve success. Join us on May 20, 2008 at 12 pm MST (NOTE: To RSVP for this workshop, please send an email to events@virtualbizgroup.com)
Simply Grants - During this course you will find where to look for grants, the parts of grants and how to determine if your project/program is a “good match” for a particular funder. You will come away from this course with a better understanding of the process of writing grants and how they’re funded. Upcoming presentation scheduled for May 21 at 6 pm MST.
Create a Website Class – In this instructor led class you will learn how to create your own website by choosing a template design, adding site content, images, documents, & PDF files and a user interactive contact form using our web design tool. Upcoming presentation scheduled for May 28th at 1 pm MST.
VBG Networking Event - Did you know that many professional organizations say that 78% (or more) of new business (for service-oriented businesses) is generated through networking? Do you use all of your networking chances to get the word out about your business? The Virtual Business Group hosts a monthly networking event on our conference call line. This f*ree event is open to all Virtual Business Group members… Join in 2008 and get a f*ree one year membership. Join now by going to www.virtualbizgroup.com and then join us on May 29, 2008 at 6 pm MST.
Advanced "Failure is NOT an Option" – Our advanced program goes beyond just teaching you how to set up your business, but delves into how to make your established business successful by exploring client relations, communication, fear, subcontrators, and much, much more! Content is live coaching based upon YOUR needs! Upcoming group scheduled for June 10 at 10 am MST for 8 weeks.
LIVE GROUP Beginner's "Failure is NOT an Option" Group Coaching – The "Beginner's Failure is NOT an Option" is our beginner's group coaching program, conducted live over the phone, that will teach you how to successfully set-up and build your VA business. Now registering for group beginning June 10, 2008 at 5 pm MST with a possible second group starting June 11, 2008 at 9 am MST. If these times don't work for you, don't forget to check out our Online Beginner's "Failure is NOT an Option" that can be completed any time, day or night!
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