Comments on: When Are Virtual Assistants Going to Wise Up? http://www.grittyva.com/2009/01/02/when-are-virtual-assistants-going-to-wise-up/ Saucy business savvy from an industry veteran Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:07:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sundi D. Hayes http://www.grittyva.com/2009/01/02/when-are-virtual-assistants-going-to-wise-up/comment-page-1/#comment-49395 Sundi D. Hayes Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:44:36 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/?p=1406#comment-49395 I get the point of your post and I understand why you brought it up. For me this would rank right up there with VA-wanted ads at $3-4 an hour. From a devil's advocate stand point I'd like to point out we don't know the other side of the story. That VA may be trying as hard as she can to break the relationship - or the way she is being treated - and has finally given up...just hoping taking five days off unexpectedly will be the last straw for a client she isn't sure how to get rid of. I'm thinking worse case scenario with that example; however, you have to admit it is against human nature or at a minimum very difficult to admit or say, "I'm wrong." I get the point of your post and I understand why you brought it up. For me this would rank right up there with VA-wanted ads at $3-4 an hour. From a devil’s advocate stand point I’d like to point out we don’t know the other side of the story. That VA may be trying as hard as she can to break the relationship – or the way she is being treated – and has finally given up…just hoping taking five days off unexpectedly will be the last straw for a client she isn’t sure how to get rid of. I’m thinking worse case scenario with that example; however, you have to admit it is against human nature or at a minimum very difficult to admit or say, “I’m wrong.”

]]> By: Danielle Keister http://www.grittyva.com/2009/01/02/when-are-virtual-assistants-going-to-wise-up/comment-page-1/#comment-49394 Danielle Keister Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:29:04 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/?p=1406#comment-49394 That makes a lot of sense... let me specialize in working with a market that is going to be the hardest, most demanding, crazy-making to work with. Let me create the worst possible business conditions for myself before any client does. Very smart. (Obviously, I'm being facetious.) By all means, run whatever business you like and make everything as difficult and complex as you wish. But you are running a team/va staffing agency and this article is for and about Virtual Assistants. Not the same thing. Virtual Assistants work in one-on-one, relationship with clients and have to run their businesses differently, just as any solo consultant does. It's a completely different model. On top of that, they don't understand that they don't have to be in business to be slaves. They can work and run their businesses and support clients very well without having to be available to clients like an employee, on-demand and available every minute of the day--again, just like any other independant, solo consultant. Those who get it, those who are tired of working like slaves and want to make some shifts in their thinking instead of continuing to be mislead by people who aren't even VAs, you come talk to me when you're ready to earn better, work better and live better. ;) That makes a lot of sense… let me specialize in working with a market that is going to be the hardest, most demanding, crazy-making to work with. Let me create the worst possible business conditions for myself before any client does. Very smart. (Obviously, I’m being facetious.)

By all means, run whatever business you like and make everything as difficult and complex as you wish. But you are running a team/va staffing agency and this article is for and about Virtual Assistants. Not the same thing.

Virtual Assistants work in one-on-one, relationship with clients and have to run their businesses differently, just as any solo consultant does. It’s a completely different model. On top of that, they don’t understand that they don’t have to be in business to be slaves. They can work and run their businesses and support clients very well without having to be available to clients like an employee, on-demand and available every minute of the day–again, just like any other independant, solo consultant.

Those who get it, those who are tired of working like slaves and want to make some shifts in their thinking instead of continuing to be mislead by people who aren’t even VAs, you come talk to me when you’re ready to earn better, work better and live better. ;)

]]> By: Laurie http://www.grittyva.com/2009/01/02/when-are-virtual-assistants-going-to-wise-up/comment-page-1/#comment-49393 Laurie Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:25:45 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/?p=1406#comment-49393 Good point, but as a VA, I don't entirely agree with it all. The VA industry is so big, I think it is a mistake to limit what kinds of clients VAs as a whole *should* take on. Some VAs specialize in working with "hard to work with" and over-demanding clients with an unreasonable workload. And, if your clients depend on you on a daily basis, then as a business owner choosing to provide that kind of support, it would be their responsibility to have a back up plan, or give the client notice of a pending vacation. Personally, I don't want to be totally tied down to clients at every second of the day, and want the freedom to decide at the last minute that I want to take a day (or five) off. But, I have an awesome team behind me, so work doesn't stop. In the end, it's my responsibility as owner of the business, to decide what kind of support I want to provide. Then, it's also my responsibility to provide the service I promise my clients. So...I think VAs as a whole need to really learn to be clear about what their clients can expect from their individual VA practice. Just my two (maybe three) cents. Good point, but as a VA, I don’t entirely agree with it all. The VA industry is so big, I think it is a mistake to limit what kinds of clients VAs as a whole *should* take on. Some VAs specialize in working with “hard to work with” and over-demanding clients with an unreasonable workload. And, if your clients depend on you on a daily basis, then as a business owner choosing to provide that kind of support, it would be their responsibility to have a back up plan, or give the client notice of a pending vacation. Personally, I don’t want to be totally tied down to clients at every second of the day, and want the freedom to decide at the last minute that I want to take a day (or five) off. But, I have an awesome team behind me, so work doesn’t stop. In the end, it’s my responsibility as owner of the business, to decide what kind of support I want to provide. Then, it’s also my responsibility to provide the service I promise my clients. So…I think VAs as a whole need to really learn to be clear about what their clients can expect from their individual VA practice. Just my two (maybe three) cents.

]]> By: DeAnna Troupe http://www.grittyva.com/2009/01/02/when-are-virtual-assistants-going-to-wise-up/comment-page-1/#comment-49392 DeAnna Troupe Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:47:20 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/?p=1406#comment-49392 Amen! This was a very well written post. That's why I never let clients treat me like an employee. Amen! This was a very well written post. That’s why I never let clients treat me like an employee.

]]> By: FrugalNYC http://www.grittyva.com/2009/01/02/when-are-virtual-assistants-going-to-wise-up/comment-page-1/#comment-49391 FrugalNYC Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:48:44 +0000 http://www.grittyva.com/?p=1406#comment-49391 Good post. Like your point about VA vs employee. This goes for independent consultant and contractors as well. Good post. Like your point about VA vs employee. This goes for independent consultant and contractors as well.

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