One of my clients was contacted by the producers of the Oprah show to send her book in for their review. I told this client I am crossing my fingers that they pick it for their book club. You couldn’t ask for better publicity.
That got me thinking, that it would be great if Oprah would do a show on virtual assistants. I think there are still many, many people who are not aware of the profession and the term VA. Since I’m in the process of co-authoring a book about how to run a successful VA practice, I’d love to be invited on Oprah myself. So I sent an email to her producers to suggest a few different angles on doing a story about VAs. I’ll let you know if I get any response.
I have an exciting service offering I’m working on. Hopefully within a month I can launch it. The only hint I’ll give you is that the service offering kinda conflicts with my business name.
Stay tuned….
I finally got my own ipod. My husband Ed just got a brand new one that also has video. He’s in the process of creating a visual and audio podcast on his passion, photography. The Hidden Helper is going to sponser an ad on the second episode. I could have been on the first, but I only had about 20 minutes notice and I wanted to give it more attention and planning than that! So, now I have Ed’s old audio ipod and he has the brand-spankin’ new video one. Kyle, my five year old, now calls them “Mommy’s ipod” and “Daddy’s ipod.” All he cares about is they both contain Disney songs.
Along with inheriting Ed’s umm, ecclectic music collection on the ipod, he also had Seth Godin’s audio books The Purple Cow and Free Prize inside and I’ve started listening to the first one. So far it’s really good, and when I’m finished I’ll post a review. I much prefer to crack open a physical book so I can read at my own pace (which is about twice as fast as anyone else I know), but when the author records his own audiobook, it’s almost like being at a seminar, which is fun, too.
I don’t “speed read”, but I do read quickly. I’ve occasionally wondered why, and my only theory is that, through my junior year of college, I played the flute. When you get up to college-level instrument playing, you have a lot of sight reading. You have to read ahead from the note your on, and then quickly replace that note with the next one, always being a few steps ahead. Now the problem with this, is you don’t need to remember what you read, which interferes with retention of information–not necessarily a good thing. However, with my career, this is an advantage. I can read/edit and proofread/edit a book or article faster than the next guy, or gal.
Anyone else have this problem/gift?
Yesterday, after a flurry of positive comments floated over the IVAAnet listserv, mine included, I got an email from a member who, for very valid reasons, could not go to the summit. She wanted to know what she missed.
I responded to her email, but just could not convey to her what I learned at the summit. You just had to be there–to see Loree Vick demonstrate proper posture, diaphramatic breathing and how to adjust your vocal tone if you don’t like your voice. How do I adequately explain how one speaker demonstrated the value of engaging the senses by telling us a story with many details, then repeating it and asking us to fill in the blanks, which we could do easily? How do I explain the impact of the example Charlotte Stallings used to wake us women up to the fact that there is no prince charming?
How do I express how at dinner one night, fellow VA Kim solved my problem of the lack of hi-speed internet connectivity while I visit my parents who live nowhere near an internet cafe and refuse to get a cable internet connection.
How do I convey how my business is going to be more profitable because of the tips I received from the subcontracting guru, Donnette Cowgill?
The only way to even come remotely close would be to have a written transcript of the entire summit. Even then, it wouldn’t convey the enthusiasm and the sparking of new ideas that the summit brought to the attendees.
What did you miss? I can’t really “fill you in.” I can tell you that the next “live” summit is scheduled for April, 2007. That gives you 18 months. Put $2.25 in a jar every day and you should have plenty to attend. You won’t regret it.
When opportunity knocks, you’ve got to answer!
Okay, I know the concept of an “elevator speech”–pitching your services in a very quick time period. While in Houston, I was taking the elevator up to my room with a few other VAs. On the elevator was a well-dressed man who looked at my name tag, read my home location and commented he only lived a couple hours from me. I asked him if he needed a VA, and he said, “Maybe, but I was told by another one of you guys that I’d have to go online to find one.” I said, “No you don’t.” And I handed him my business card and asked him his name. It’s easy to remember his name because he shares a name with a famous older actor.
Now who knows if he’ll actually call me, but the point is, if there’s an opportunity, take it. Don’t be pushy. Be genuine, helpful, and consisitent. Your efforts will pay off. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to practice your elevator speech. You never know when you’ll need it.
I had an epiphany in Houston.
Last week I met with a new client for coffee and I was excited to meet him. I noticed when I went to doctor up my coffee, my hands were shaking, which I found perplexing (and a little embarrassing). I wasn’t nervous, so I couldn’t figure out why they were shaking. Loree Vick explained (much better than I will, I’m sure!) about adrenaline and the effects it has on your body. It goes to your hands and your thighs, something about the primal “flight or fight” response, I’m sure. That made total sense to me.
I felt like I was on an adrenaline high the whole time I was in Houston. The summit helped me crystallize some business-building thoughts I’ve had playing in my head for a while. I am very excited about the direction the VA industry is going.
Until next time…
Wow. Got back from the IVAA conference in Houston tonight. The Summit Committee really outdid themselves this year. We got an action-packed program with top-notch speakers. We also had presentations and panels from very successful VAs in our business–which is a great added perspective rather than just speakers. It was a great mix!
I left with some new business ideas and goals. One of them, coincidentally enough. Was to be doing well enough to fly first class next time. Well, wouldn’t you know, Continental had passengers that really wanted to be on our flight and was asking for volunteers to be bumped. We’d get on the 4:30 flight seated in first class, plus we’d get a $200 voucher for a future flight. That was a no-brainer so we volunteered. At the very last minute, they didn’t need to bump us. I mentioned to the airline attendant (with a smile) that we really had be hoping we’d get bumped. She said not to worry, that we’d be sitting in first class! See how soon I achieved my business goal?? I see big things coming down the road.
I’ll be posting more about Houston, but I’m coming down from my adrenaline high and a long day of travelling, so I will fill you in more another time.
Tomorrow morning I leave for Houston. I’m getting very excited. It will be nice to re-acquaint myself with some VAs I met last year as well as meet some new ones. I’ve had a little trouble packing. Houston will be in the upper 80’s during the day and all my clothes suitable for that weather are summery-looking. Do people in Houston wear fall colors when they don’t really experience fall?? I’ll let you know.
I got a call today from a potential client looking for a word processing job to be completed for him. I asked him how he got my name and he said from the dvvaa website. He said he kept calling VAs and getting answering machines. I was the first live person he talked to and he wants me to quote him. I wonder if he was calling part-time VAs. It certainly worked out well for me that I was here to answer the phone! I don’t even have time for this project upon my return, so I’m subcontracting it out to Corie .
I’ve discovered a techie thing I love. A phone headset. Yeah, I know, people have been using them for years, but my husband Ed got a nice set comped from work and I’ve discovered something. A bit of personal revelation here…from the time I was a child, I have always been really nervous before making an important phone call. When I was a social worker and had to call clients, other social workers, family members, etc. daily, I got a little better at it, but I still got nervous. I still find myself a little nervous before I dial a phone. I’m not sure why. But you know what? The headset has a psychological benefit that I don’t get nervous. I think because my hands are free, I feel like I’m having a conversation with someone rather than making a “phone call.” Yeah, I know, it’s weird. But, hey, it works!
I got to have coffee with a client yesterday. It’s rare I get to meet a client in person. It’s nice to be able to connect face-to-face. I wish I could do it with more of my clients, but I’d be flying a lot to do that!
I’m off to Houston tomorrow. I will be back in my office Monday morning. I have a long to-do list for that day!
I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been really busy! I’ve signed on 2 new clients am continuing to work with another two on an ongoing basis.
One of my new clients has hired a “regional VA team” to help him, which I think is a brilliant idea! He puts on seminars all through PA on a regular basis and has hired a VA in (almost) all of the metro areas to help him with marketing, mailings, and event planning. We can all bounce ideas off each other and serve him well, since we are familiar with venues, caterers, hotels, etc. in our area.
Another one of my new clients and I have been trying to troubleshoot why I can’t remotely connect to his computer through IM so he can train me. We spent hours on it and could never get it working. How frustrating! I was able to go to an office that was set up for this and get it done, but sometimes technology is just asking to be thrown out the window!
I’m also doing some marketing concepting and copywriting for another client and more ghostwriting for Cameo. I’m enjoying a wide variety of work tasks. I don’t think I could write for 8 hours a day. I think that would burn me out. Mixing up the administrative side and the creative side is best for me right now.
I just read the best fiction book: My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Piccoult The chapters alternate between characters, and it is so well-written and such an interesting story. It was one of those books you just couldn’t put down. I emailed the author this morning and told her how much I enjoyed the book and why. I really wasn’t expecting a response, but I did get a personal one from her, thanking me, and she said she thought my business name was PERFECT for what I do. Isn’t that nice?
Before the advent of the internet, I doubt this personal exchange between an author and a reader would ever happen.
And finally, I’m looking forward to going to the IVAA conference in Houston. I leave on Wednesday and am anticipating getting to network with my colleagues, learn some new skills and be inspired by some great speakers!
Until next time…