The VA industry on Radio 4 Women's hour today

Today I have both listened to the Radio 4 Woman's Hour podcast which discusses the Virtual Assistant industry and interviews 2 VA's who influenced my decision to become a VA, Emma Walker and Justine Curtis, and read Maggie Berney's (of Maggie Berney Office Services) thoughts about it here. I want to support what Maggie has said in response to Dr Brendan Burchall's comments in particular and extend them somewhat as it felt he was being very patronising to VAs as business owners.


Firstly we are not shut up in our home offices all the time, as Maggie says, we meet clients, each other and regularly attend networking events otherwise we wouldn't have any clients in the first place. Also we communicate rapidly, instantly and often (well in my case massively, you'll already know that if you follow me on Twitter!!!) using social media. It may not be face to face most of the time but it is conversation of both business and chit chat as well as being members of varying support forums and groups for our industry. Like Maggie I am also a member of VASG which offers support, business opportunities, collaboration and chat.


My second issue is that his comments regarding the marginalisation of 'people like this' and that we will find it hard to re-enter the work place seem misplaced and based on the really aggravating assumption that we are all dabbling in business around our other (often family and children) commitments. Speaking for myself I am a mother with young children and yes the flexibility of being a VA based at home is very desirable BUT it does NOT mean I take my business any less seriously. In fact I take it more so than my old day job. I am more driven, more willing to work into the small hours to make my clients businesses successful and exceed their expectations than I was when I was employed. I have a passion for what I do and the sector I cater for that drives me and means I have exacting standards for the quality of my work. Flexibility is desirable but does not equal a less committed business owner.


I have no desire to reenter the workplace but should I choose to I hope that a prospective employer would view someone with the ambition and organisational ability to start and run their own business is a damn good prospect! It demonstrates vision and self belief which will benefit their company.

I think Maggie has sufficiently covered his remarks about needing to employ somebody to entrust them with confidential information and work! Suffice it to say that his statements are misplaced and he is more than welcome to connect with UK VAs further if he would like to conduct some more up to date research!!!

Mumpreneur Conference - 3rd October in Birmingham

Yesterday I was at the Mumpreneur Conference in Birmingham, hoping for an award for Best Start Up (which I will hopefully be in with more chance of next year!) but the best part was meeting all the other lovely business mummy entrepreneurs at all stages in their business. Lots of whom I have been tweeting with for a while! It was a very inspirational experience to have met so many other passionate, dedicated and successful women and mothers. Women driven to succeed but not at the expenses of their families.

My favourite seminars were the PR Secrets from Antonia Chitty, Linda Jones and Lesley Singleton, and The Mum-Ultrapreneur from Susan Odev. The first was very rounded, giving all sides of the press release cycle, the importance of having a thick skin, the benefits and down sides to celebrity endorsements and general good promotional advice. The second was soo enthusing and I was able to recognise myself, my struggles (with my own self belief that I can do this and with juggling everything without detriment to my family) within the women showcased in the book that it helped my resolve to succeed. I shall be getting that one when it comes out later this year! It was also fascinating to me that it is co-authored by a man, who thinks mums who set up in business are to be admired.....when we generally think its a practical solution. That alternative perspective is one I shall look forward to reading as it is always good to get other view points.

I met some amazing women, made a lot of useful contacts not just for myself but for my clients and hope to see them all again next. What was a success from my perspective was to be recognised from Twitter, asked my advice on social media uses and being asked for my card so that they could follow me on twitter as 'everyone seems to and you're fun". What a compliment.

Next year I plan to win an award, offer a seminar myself - maybe in social media uses and tips and be a full time VA.

Plus I got to meet Nadine Hill of the Dream PA, writer of the VA handbook who I admire hugely. And my shoes were the best at the conference!

DeeVAS, on the plinth for the UK VA industry!

My good friend and colleague, Dee Uzoka is currently on the 4th plinth promoting the VA industry. I have never actually met Dee in person but interact with her a lot via Skype through the VA Support Group (of which she is a founding member) and on twitter. She and I just knowing each other and considering ourselves colleagues highlights just how well being virtual can work.

Dee is also recovering from a nasty chest infection and is doing great dealing with the shouting on the plinth and showing just how a Virtual Assistant can work from anywhere and help YOUR business with our professional and flexible approach to work. text her on 07792 144 916 or tweet her @DeeVAS

Well done Dee!!!!!
www.oneandother.co.uk

Ever noticed that.....

....once you've taken the leap of faith into setting up your own business, that when it starts to be successful or even just interesting other people you know start talking about doing it too?

Maybe its because you've been brave enough to take that step and they were too scared to, but now that you're ok they think they might have a go! Not sure whether to be annoyed with the varying people I know who are talking about following my lead or rather chuffed!!

Maybe they'll think again when they realise just how much work is involved....

Wimbledon is bad for my business!!!!

I am spending way too much time being sucked into the tennis...and not just Andy Murray making me shout at the TV until 11pm at night!!!! I am something of a tennis fan but particularly Wimbledon!

However, this does mean that my precious and limited time to work on R&R VA Services slips away whilst I scream about first services rates etc! And this is a problem shared with a lot of people who run their own businesses. The evenings are when we work on our business and not that of our clients, but we all need a break sometimes. I got into being a VA partly to improve my work life balance so dealing with the guilt of not working on my business for a few nights is a little challenging.

I have to remind myself that this is what I enable other people to do and if I don't recharge my own batteries occasionally I'm no help to them either. Plus me screaming at the TV really does seem to make a difference to his game........honestly!

Facebook business page

I'm just in the process of setting up my R&R VA Services Facebook fan page. Won't be in time to get enough followers to get my vanity facebook url but it will be good for business!!!

I'll let you know when it's up and finished and you can all come and massage my ego by becoming my fans hehehe!! I can always create one for you too!

That guy who knows everyone....

I met him today...or at least one of those people. I used to work for one as well. If you needed anything cultural, social or political he had the contact. Today's guy was on a much more business and practical level and it got me thinking, part of a VAs role is something similar to that. To know who to put you, the client, in touch with when you need something done. Or to at least know someone else to ask if they know the right person or company.

And today I met someone else!