August 2007 marks the fifth year of my VA journey. I have learned so much along the way...about myself, my practice, and the type of clients I work best with.

But first let me tell you what started my travel down this path. Like the AssistU website says, something was missing in my job. Lets see, I think it was appreciation, also appreciation, and, oh yeah, appreciation! I think you get the point. I pretty much read the AU website in entirety and discovered I could continue to do what I had been doing, providing administrative support, but within a completely different dynamic. My own virtual assistance business!

After taking a week to complete the application, waiting (a little anxious, a little nervous), to see if I would be accepted (no, you can't just buy your way in), and completing the 20 week intense training course, here I am five years later still standing strong in my practice and a solid and supportive member of the AU community.

Entering into a partnership with a client, with the right client is so rewarding. Some of my perks have been hearing things like you have a stellar telephone presence, or when I talked with you, I felt like I knew whatever I asked you to do would be done. However, every client, even clients who I, sooner or later, discovered weren't right for me, taught me something which in turn strengthened my position as a business owner.

During this journey, I've experienced the exhilaration of getting my first client and the disappointment of losing her. Though, I can't say I didn't see it coming. I've had the sweet satisfaction of being part of a wonderful partnership where I had what I call my first full circle VA moment. You can read all about that on TheVirtualWire.com. Using a technique I learned in an AU marketing class, I've had the excitement of initiating contact with a celebrity author and having our emails and conversations morph into a partnership. I was so proud of myself! And lately, I've been smiling to myself as I think how my spare-bedroom-turned-office is now an international operation with clients in Iraq and Singapore.

These are the highlights. I've had my share of less than stellar moments. These are the moments, though, that spurred me to finally create and document my interview process, to change some of my practice procedures, and to make the executive decision to only work with retainer clients.

Speaking of clients, I'm really attracted to partnerships where I can use some of my best skills - communication, writing, and research. These skills, respectively, have helped a client get an important meeting, helped another client put a more professional polish to her newsletter, and assist yet another client in locating some miscellaneous and sometimes mysterious to me (as in what in the world is this) electrical components for his business.

Being a business owner, I know, has changed me. I am boldly, sometimes cautiously erasing the boundaries of my comfort zone.

Every week, as one of the six VA bloggers for TVW, I share my thoughts and experiences with our Internet audience. Closer to home, I've held several board positions, currently President, for my networking organization, Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs. Believe me, for a quiet, private soul like me, these things are a stretch.

My practice and AssistU are the vehicles that keep me moving right on down the road meeting new people, learning new things, and having life changing experiences. I do enjoy the ride. :-)

For more information about Roxie Hickman, please visit her website at http://www.thevirtualconnection.net/.

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