Working for someone else and working for yourself is as different as day and night. I suddenly realized this having worked in the corporate world for over 25 years compared to now being an entrepreneur.
It is quite an adjustment to become accustomed to not having to answer to anyone or feeling inferior to a superior. I call this conditioning yourself into a mindset of an entrepreneur. It is not an easy transition, but well worth the transformation.
Your client is not your boss, but your equal. This type of relationship fosters a mutual respect for each other to the point where you can even brainstorm on certain topics or issues. Sure your boss in the workforce may have attempted to show you mutual respect, but there was always that element of inequality that existed.
Having an entrepreneur’s mindset gives you the freedom to express your ideas or creativity without being worried about being stifled or causing confusion in the office or the boardroom. An entrepreneur’s mindset gives you more confidence in yourself and your capabilities. It can also build your self-esteem, especially for female entrepreneurs. Women in the workforce have come a long way, but there is work yet to be done.
In today’s economy, being an entrepreneur is rapidly becoming the norm. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, self-employment rates have been growing at an average of 4.5 percent annually. With all the layoffs, especially among baby boomers, that percentage will increase. Age discrimination still exists; therefore, it will be difficult for them to find employment, forcing them into becoming entrepreneurs.
Overall, thinking like an entrepreneur rather than an employee is a process, which takes time. As I mentioned before, it is a conditioning that takes place. It is not easy, especially for baby boomers after so many years in the workforce; however, it can be done. Enjoy the ride!
From the mindset of an entrepreneur,
When working with a Virtual Assistant (VA), there are some simple communication processes that can be put into place, which will help to make a Virtual Assistant/client working relationship a success.
Communication is the key; just like in any type of relationship. If you are retaining a VA services on an ongoing monthly basis, it is a good idea to give your VA some type of schedule listing the projects and tasks you need completing, along with anticipated completion dates, for the entire month. This way, if your VA has other clients, he or she can schedule your tasks accordingly ensuring that you will have your completed tasks in a timely manner.
Another suggested method of communication is a check-in report that you and your Virtual Assistant complete weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. The report will have the same set of questions that both of you will answer; for example, how has it been working with me for the past several weeks, what have you enjoyed most, what have you enjoyed least, is there anything you’d like to discuss, etc.? You may think this is too time-consuming, but it is highly recommended in order to have a successful working relationship.
One other method of communication, of course, is e-mail. It is less intrusive than the telephone and takes less time, which allows your Virtual Assistant to stay on track and focused. Needless to say, at times, a phone call will be warranted.
A client’s and my working relationship have been quite successful due to implementing the above-mentioned methods of communication. They leave no room for assumptions. The key is communication.
It appears that the Virtual Assistant industry is gaining recognition. Tina Hilton, of Clerical Advantage, wrote a post regarding a new product that is being targeted specifically to the Virtual Assistant industry. Following is an excerpt from her blog over at Home Office Warrior. “FileWorks is now offering a product that is targeted specifically to virtual assistants and their clients. It’s called VA Exchange and it is touted as a virtual file cabinet for VA’s and their clients. With a history of providing technology to handle confidential documents and records for the healthcare industry, FileWorks seems a natural to provide a secure, client accessible place to store and share documents. The fact that the files are encrypted and protected when they are stored on the VA Exchange servers will keep both virtual assistants and clients from losing sleep at night. And the document management tools and access from anywhere make it a natural compliment to virtual assistance services.”
Rita J. Cartwright, Owner
RJ’s Word Processing Services
Your Business Success Is Our Success
http://rjswordprocessing.com
866-651-3073
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