Comments on: How to Alienate the Virtual Assistant Market 101 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/ Saucy business savvy from an industry veteran Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:03:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Crystal http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/comment-page-1/#comment-49111 Crystal Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:56:00 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/#comment-49111 <p>Danielle,</p> <p>I couldn't agree more with your post. </p> <p>The marketing approach was a major misstep and unfortunately, perpetuates the thought that Virtual Assistants are employees rather than partners. Just when I was getting over being annoyed at being asked for my resume all the time. Ugh.</p> Danielle,

I couldn’t agree more with your post.

The marketing approach was a major misstep and unfortunately, perpetuates the thought that Virtual Assistants are employees rather than partners. Just when I was getting over being annoyed at being asked for my resume all the time. Ugh.

]]> By: Gritty Virtual Assistant http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/comment-page-1/#comment-49110 Gritty Virtual Assistant Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:33:32 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/#comment-49110 <p>Thanks, Erin, for your perspective. However, I don't happen to agree. Plus, you're asking me to comment on things that I've already stated.</p> <p>This isn't about giving credit where credit is due, and it isn't about getting clients. It's about a market responding to someone who wants to make money off them. She blew it with her marketing tactic, and for that reason, she's not the person I'm going to spend my money with. </p> <p>As far as worrying about others' perceptions, personally, that's of so little concern to me as to be laughable. I don't live my life using fear-based thinking; I certainly don't live to please others.</p> <p>"Ohmigosh, I sure better change my opinion or they won't like me! Uh oh, my beliefs are too radical, better not rock the boat! Better shut up; better not be my own person! Gotta be assimilated into the herd!"</p> <p>No, if someone has a problem with my opinion, it's really easy--they don't have to read it and they can go away. I attract exactly the kind of people I want around me. And I spend my money the same way.</p> Thanks, Erin, for your perspective. However, I don’t happen to agree. Plus, you’re asking me to comment on things that I’ve already stated.

This isn’t about giving credit where credit is due, and it isn’t about getting clients. It’s about a market responding to someone who wants to make money off them. She blew it with her marketing tactic, and for that reason, she’s not the person I’m going to spend my money with.

As far as worrying about others’ perceptions, personally, that’s of so little concern to me as to be laughable. I don’t live my life using fear-based thinking; I certainly don’t live to please others.

“Ohmigosh, I sure better change my opinion or they won’t like me! Uh oh, my beliefs are too radical, better not rock the boat! Better shut up; better not be my own person! Gotta be assimilated into the herd!”

No, if someone has a problem with my opinion, it’s really easy–they don’t have to read it and they can go away. I attract exactly the kind of people I want around me. And I spend my money the same way.

]]> By: Erin Blaskie http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/comment-page-1/#comment-49112 Erin Blaskie Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:09:08 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/#comment-49112 <p>Hi Danielle!</p> <p>Thank you for the comments on my recent trackback.</p> <p>I am not suggesting that any virtual assistant should lower their standards or morals for anyone but I do think that using a bit of censorship on our blogs could be beneficial. I know there have been many times when I was upset about something that a fellow VA or a client did but I kept it offline. I knew that when the storm passed and I was 'over it', I wouldn't have a trail on the internet of my anger.</p> <p>I think that we all have to give some credit where credit is due. Joan has a skill and a talent that we as VAs do not have (and if we do, that is excellent but most do not have publicity skills) and I think that what she is doing is excellent. I know many VAs who would love to partake in something like this.</p> <p>Is she a VA? No but that doesn't mean we can't learn something from her. I also think that she had some advice from VAs and some very powerful feedback before she launched this program. I was looking at her blog and I commented on a post of hers before she even launched her new program, as did you, and we both gave her feedback of encouragement on the program.</p> <p>I find it more unsettling when people without those talents and skills try to sell something to other people without truly being an expert in it. Is she an expert at assistance? No, but she is an expert at what it is she's teaching and she has two talented VAs to teach the rest.</p> <p>My whole point about 'not biting the hand that feeds you' doesn't just pertain to Joan and it doesn't pertain only to a monetary value. It pertains to a whole perception from others on our attitudes, personalities and behaviors.</p> <p>Sincerely,</p> <p>Erin Blaskie<br /> http://www.bsetc.ca</p> Hi Danielle!

Thank you for the comments on my recent trackback.

I am not suggesting that any virtual assistant should lower their standards or morals for anyone but I do think that using a bit of censorship on our blogs could be beneficial. I know there have been many times when I was upset about something that a fellow VA or a client did but I kept it offline. I knew that when the storm passed and I was ‘over it’, I wouldn’t have a trail on the internet of my anger.

I think that we all have to give some credit where credit is due. Joan has a skill and a talent that we as VAs do not have (and if we do, that is excellent but most do not have publicity skills) and I think that what she is doing is excellent. I know many VAs who would love to partake in something like this.

Is she a VA? No but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn something from her. I also think that she had some advice from VAs and some very powerful feedback before she launched this program. I was looking at her blog and I commented on a post of hers before she even launched her new program, as did you, and we both gave her feedback of encouragement on the program.

I find it more unsettling when people without those talents and skills try to sell something to other people without truly being an expert in it. Is she an expert at assistance? No, but she is an expert at what it is she’s teaching and she has two talented VAs to teach the rest.

My whole point about ‘not biting the hand that feeds you’ doesn’t just pertain to Joan and it doesn’t pertain only to a monetary value. It pertains to a whole perception from others on our attitudes, personalities and behaviors.

Sincerely,

Erin Blaskie
http://www.bsetc.ca

]]> By: Gritty Virtual Assistant http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/comment-page-1/#comment-49113 Gritty Virtual Assistant Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:54:47 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/#comment-49113 <p>Comment regarding a recent trackback: No Virtual Assistant needs to be held hostage by the erroneous belief that they have to take whatever is dished out to them in order to "not bite the hand that feeds you." Personally, my values don't revolve around the pursuit of money. And yet I do extremely well. Funny how that works. There's also a whole great big wide world out there full of clients everywhere, both online and off. The markets we serve are only a fraction of those where clients can be found. No one needs to settle with attitudes and behaviors that demean them. I'll take my business elsewhere, and they can take their business elsewhere as well. The saying, "with friends like that, who needs enemies" comes to mind. Who needs clients who don't respect the work and service that you provide to them and the world? But the "not biting the hand that feeds you advice" does apply to those who want to mine the Virtual Assistant market. If you want to exploit us and make some money off us, it really behooves you to respect us as business owners and fellow professionals. </p> Comment regarding a recent trackback: No Virtual Assistant needs to be held hostage by the erroneous belief that they have to take whatever is dished out to them in order to “not bite the hand that feeds you.” Personally, my values don’t revolve around the pursuit of money. And yet I do extremely well. Funny how that works. There’s also a whole great big wide world out there full of clients everywhere, both online and off. The markets we serve are only a fraction of those where clients can be found. No one needs to settle with attitudes and behaviors that demean them. I’ll take my business elsewhere, and they can take their business elsewhere as well. The saying, “with friends like that, who needs enemies” comes to mind. Who needs clients who don’t respect the work and service that you provide to them and the world? But the “not biting the hand that feeds you advice” does apply to those who want to mine the Virtual Assistant market. If you want to exploit us and make some money off us, it really behooves you to respect us as business owners and fellow professionals.

]]> By: JP the Ugly Girl Admin http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/comment-page-1/#comment-49114 JP the Ugly Girl Admin Fri, 01 Jun 2007 23:12:40 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/#comment-49114 <p>I'm sure this will bite her in the butt! Way to go. This is the best way for us to advocate for our profession. Attempt to correct the matter in a professional manner, then if nothing good results, pull our support.</p> I’m sure this will bite her in the butt! Way to go. This is the best way for us to advocate for our profession. Attempt to correct the matter in a professional manner, then if nothing good results, pull our support.

]]> By: Karen Del'Marmol http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/comment-page-1/#comment-49115 Karen Del'Marmol Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:35:52 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/#comment-49115 <p>I unsubscribed the moment I got the advertisement. I then saw at the VACOC that I was not alone in my opinion. The next day I got a notice from another well known VA group that this expert was giving a teleseminar to them on the self-same subject. I, too, am disappointed with this group and am rethinking my membership.</p> I unsubscribed the moment I got the advertisement. I then saw at the VACOC that I was not alone in my opinion. The next day I got a notice from another well known VA group that this expert was giving a teleseminar to them on the self-same subject. I, too, am disappointed with this group and am rethinking my membership.

]]> By: Laura Jo Richins http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/comment-page-1/#comment-49117 Laura Jo Richins Thu, 31 May 2007 22:09:33 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/#comment-49117 <p>Danielle, you've covered this offense well. I know I couldn't believe what I was reading when I received the information about the training. As a publicity expert, her wording was insulting to the VA industry, the same audience she wants to train. I'm disappointed in the other VA groups that have jumped on board to promote this training.</p> Danielle, you’ve covered this offense well. I know I couldn’t believe what I was reading when I received the information about the training. As a publicity expert, her wording was insulting to the VA industry, the same audience she wants to train. I’m disappointed in the other VA groups that have jumped on board to promote this training.

]]> By: Vickie Turley http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/31/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/comment-page-1/#comment-49116 Vickie Turley Thu, 31 May 2007 20:36:51 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/2007/05/how-to-alienate-the-virtual-assistant-market-101/#comment-49116 <p>Way to go, Danielle! You tell 'em. </p> <p>I am no longer receiving newsletters from this "expert." I hope if enough VAs let her know our displeasure, she will think before doing something like this again. </p> <p>Vickie<br /> </p> Way to go, Danielle! You tell ‘em.

I am no longer receiving newsletters from this “expert.” I hope if enough VAs let her know our displeasure, she will think before doing something like this again.

Vickie

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