Do You Really Have What It Takes To Be a Successful Virtual Assistant?

Getting into business is easy.

Staying in business … not so much.

There is the basic stuff that you have to know, like business and marketing, of course, but that’s not what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about you.

Your personality. Your perseverance. Your personal strength.

Arlene Dickinson talks about this in her book All In.

She says if you don’t have the personal strength (she calls it a few different things – mental muscle is one of my favourites – but basically it is really about resilience and personal strength) then you will not be able to cut it as an entrepreneur.

I totally agree with this. Not everyone has the mental strength to be a business owner, and not everyone can learn it.

You have to ask yourself if you have it.

This ‘it’ is what it takes to remain in business – to be successful, to be profitable, and for your business to be sustainable.

Do you have what it takes?

I see a lot of VA conversation online in the various social media forums and one of the lacking qualities in many VAs is confidence.

Lack of confidence is a direct result of not having that personal strength we are talking about.

There’s no shame in it, but you have to recognize that you have it or not.

I see VAs complaining about things like: when a client expects them to do rush work, when a client questions their billing process, when a client expects their work to be prioritized, when a client doesn’t pay them, if a prospect tries to negotiate their rate, and other things like that, that they have taken personally.

I also see VAs who look for backup on how to speak with clients (or avoid speaking to them, actually) about things like boundaries, time off, turnaround times and that type of thing. I see VAs who give advice that clients are terrible and ‘go girl’ you are right to be offended!

This is so ridiculous to me. If you don’t like who you are working with, stop working with them and go and find better clients. You can’t fire them all, though!

These VAs who may not be mentally strong flock to the VA groups to look for support from their colleagues when they disagree with something a client says or does.

As a business owner, in my opinion, this is EXACTLY the wrong thing to do.

Listen, everyone wants to know that they are not wrong and that someone agrees with their position.

But as a business owner, you have to learn to not take things personally.

Business is business, it’s not personal.

Let me say that again.

Business is business. It’s not personal. 

No one is trying to offend you by not reacting the way you expected them to.

And the faster you learn that, the more successful you will be.

I get it. We all come from support backgrounds – we are used to ‘asking’ instead of ‘telling’. But as soon as we become the business owner, we must change this way of thinking.

If you want to be a business owner, it’s essential to make that change. You’ll never survive in business if you don’t.

We must put boundaries, procedures and policies in place that respect ourselves and our clients.

And then it is up to us to make sure everyone (including ourselves) are clear on what they are.

Sometimes you don’t have these things set up when you start. If you don’t, get them set up immediately and send them out to all of your clients. Make sure new clients get a copy.

The bottom line is to run your business. Don’t run to your colleagues to just lash out and get angry. Make a decision on your own. Be tough.

You teach your clients how to treat you. If you are being treated poorly by any clients, step back and really look at why that is happening. Most of the time it’s because you are letting them do something you don’t want them to do.

Sometimes it’s not you, but most times – it is. Sorry!

If the client seems to be high maintenance, have a call with them to sort some things out. Be sure to articulate how you can best support them. Most high maintenance clients are that way because they are unsure that their work is being taken care of. When they know the expectations from both sides and you maintain communication with them while things progress, you can take a lot of that stress away from them.

If the client questions your billing, take the time to explain it so you know they understand it clearly. If you can’t do that without feeling uncomfortable, then you have to learn how to do it. If they still don’t like it, then perhaps they are not the client for you. It happens more than you expect!

If the client expects faster turnaround than you can give them, be sure that your response times and turnaround times are clear to them. With every project, be sure the client understands when you will get the draft or finished project back to them. If they send you an email, acknowledge receipt of it (yes, every time!) and then email again when it’s complete.

If a client continually sends you last minute work and you don’t want to do it – don’t. The more you do it ‘just this time’, the more they will send it to you.

If you answer your emails or phone outside of office hours, they will learn that it’s okay to contact you anytime. If you stick to your own boundaries, they will quickly learn when and how to reach you.

I know these things from my 20 years of experience. I have been a terrible VA. I have lacked confidence. I have misplaced my CEO hat many times. I have lacked the mental muscle and strength that is needed to be successful.

And that’s why I share these things with you.

Be strong. You are strong!

Be clear. Clarity is so important, especially in communication.

Be professional.

Nobody is out to get you.

It’s not personal, it’s business. Treat it as such.

You agree to work with a client. Teach them how to treat you.

I promise you, it will pay off a million-fold with a successful, profitable and sustainable business!

If you need help with your mindset or with figuring out how to set up your procedures, contact me for a private coaching session. I’d love to help you get on the right track quickly!