Erin Pakowski

::Class 16, April 1, 2009 ::

Although tonight’s class was very challenging, I had a lot of fun. Class 16 was all about role playing and being thrown into hypothetical circumstances. Antonette pretended to be various potential clients with different questions and needs. Some of the scenarios presented included a potential client's reaction to a virtual assistant’s skill set, frustration over the need to schedule an interview consultation and confusion over retainer fees. This class was a great opportunity for me to gain a better understanding of what I need to work on before I begin speaking with potential clients. The role playing situations reminded over and over again that I need to trust my gut instincts when red flags come up and listen with problem solving ears.

Last night’s class was jam-packed with great information about the steps a VA takes during a consultation process with a potential client. The reading material offered wonderful questions to ask during the consultation in order to gauge whether a future collaboration is possible. This was definitely a class chalked full of ideas and my aching right hand was a true testament to that. Antonette started the discussion by emphasizing the importance of establishing from the beginning our equality with the client. Being prepared with questions, generating some ideas for his or her business, and taking the lead by initiating the consultation calls are ways to help reinforce to the potential client that you are also a business owner and not an employee.

Being a part of the VTP has really helped me to stretch my risk taking skills. I have always been hesitant about doing something that might appear brash. AssistU has opened my eyes to the realization that if you are interested in something go out and get it and let the world know it. It was so nice to hear that it is okay to let a client know that you are interested in moving forward to pursue a partnership. There is no reason to hide your excitement or the reasons you think the potential client and you are a great fit. This new state of thinking is so refreshing.

Last night, I turned in my Final Business Plan!!! A feeling of sheer joy swept over me as I sent it off to Antonette. I was so happy for not only having completed it, but knowing that I am now one step closer to becoming a virtual assistant and having my own practice. In this week’s class, we continued to discuss partnerships and what defines a great one. Some ingredients that make up a great partnership include passion, trustworthiness and flexibility. These traits not only make for a great business relationship, but they carry over in to our personal partnerships as well.

We also began to touch on a topic for next week’s class. We have a lot to cover in Class 15, so Antonette was kind enough to begin discussing some information tonight. I really love how my perceptions of certain things are starting to shift. While I consider myself a pretty positive person, this program has really caused me to hold a mirror up to myself to see things I need to work on. While discussing the meaning of Abundance and what it means in the virtual assistant industry, Antonette said something that really struck me. She said, “Be excited even when you are not hired, because it means you are being protected.” In the past, I might have felt a little down and questioned myself as to what I could have done better in order to have been hired. I now get it. No matter what a person’s qualifications might be if they are not the right fit then they are not the right fit. When you look at the experience that way, everyone wins.

This week’s class was all about the meaning of partnerships and how this will affect my virtual assistant practice as well as the success of my client’s business. The discussion of relationships set off another *light bulb* moment for me. Through Antonette’s insight into goals versus task orientation, I realized with a little bit of astonishment, that I have never really had a true partnership with past employees. My job was always about completing tasks. The employee was never interested in deepening our relationship or letting me in to gain a better understanding of their goals. While this discovery saddened me, I was relieved to know that this type of relationship is a thing of the past and I will not accept this in my virtual assistant business.

Last week’s class was supposed to be Class 12, but it was canceled. My grandmother passed away after a sudden stroke and Antonette & my two other classmates were sick. I miss my gramma dearly. She would always ask me how my AssistU class was going and then ask me to remind her again how Virtual Assistance works.

I’m so glad I had an opportunity to attend this class. It was a lot of fun talking about ways to market our VA businesses. We learned that there are three ways to market our practice. At first, I couldn’t imagine myself being a *Brazen* marketer, but after Antonette shared some of her own marketing tactics, I felt confident that I could do it too. I’m really learning that things are not as scary as I imagine them. This is something I need to carry with me when I start my search for potential clients. It is nice to know that there are so many options for marketing a business. It is limitless. As long as I use the techniques I’ve learned from class and apply a little imagination and creativity, anything is possible.

This week our business plan rough draft was due. It was such a feeling of accomplishment and a little bit of relief when I sent it off to Antonette. I’m looking forward to her comments and suggestions. In class, we continued our conversation about marketing. We discussed touching and standing for the client. Both topics were very enlightening. Antonette highlighted some important points about marketing to potential clients. Don’t give up. People are busy and it can take several *touches* before they make a decision to contact a business. This is so true. I know that I have held onto someone’s business card with every intention of contacting them immediately, but life got hectic and it took me longer then I expected.

I really loved the idea of standing for a client. Of course as business owners, we want what is best for our clients. Yet, what about the potential clients who turn out to not be our ideal clients? From the start of this training program, Antonette has reminded us that we can’t make a relationship fit if it just doesn’t. That being said, the virtual assistant business is all about helping people and being problem solvers. Just because we have determined that this relationship won’t work doesn’t me we can’t offer our assistance in helping them find a VA who is perfect for them.

Class 10!! I can't believe I have completed half of the VTP already. Even with the Winter Break it feels like it just flew by. This week's class was a continuation on the topic of Attraction. Antonette told us the five things we need to know before we can market ourselves more attractively. What a surprise it was to realize that these five points are things we have already discussed in previous classes. Wow! I have been working on being more attractive and I didn't even know it. Here I have been stressing out about the attraction principles and if I was capable of achieving them and they have been with me the whole time.

We also discussed our third case study. These studies have been valuable gems for me. The opportunity to put myself into a possible scenario with a potential client has really opened my eyes. I never realized before how much I still carried with me the negative effects of previous job situations. Each study has made me more and more surprised by my reactions to the imaginary circumstances. For instance, in this case study, I was so worried about offending or angering the client that I felt stuck and did not want to confront him about his marketing strategies. I might never have known this would be my reaction if it weren't for this program. I am so grateful for this new found awareness. Without AssistU, I might never have had this realization and it could very well have affected not only my relationships with potential clients, but my whole practice. Now I know that through the knowledge I gain from the VTP and the guidance I receive from future coaching, I will be able to start my VA practice with a clean slate.

After reading this week's fieldwork, I felt a little overwhelmed with all the information. I always thought the Law of Attraction was simply thinking about what you want and then letting the thought go so that it could manifest. Although I was somewhat on the right track, after class, I realized the Attraction Principles listed in the VTP are serious and they call for me to do my part in order to begin attracting what I want. It helped so much going over the principles in class and talking to Antonette and my classmates about their own experiences with Attraction. I know that I am going to have to spend sometime processing the principles in order to fully incorporate them into my VA practice and my everyday life. I decided to become a virtual assistant and enroll in AssistU because I wanted to create the best life for myself and my family. The Attraction Operating System is the vehicle I'm going to use to help me get there. I look forward to turning Action into Attraction!

This week's class was all about our introductions & elevator speeches. I was a little nervous last week thinking about situations where I would have to talk about myself and my company. My fears started to subside a couple of days before class when my classmates and I practiced our introductions together. My classmates gave me wonderful suggestions on how to make my introductions really pop and the more I practiced the more confident I felt. This homework assignment has ended up being one of my favorites so far. Antonette started the class explaining to us that we would say each intro twice. The first time around we were asked to only listen to the speaker's tone and demeanor and then the second time to listen to the speaker's content. After class, I reflected on the uniqueness of this experience. Every time someone did their introduction, the feedback from the class was not only helpful, but it was filled with an overwhelming sense of excitement in helping the speaker's introduction be the best it could be. It is so nice to be in a community where people do not feel that everyone else is their competition. People honestly try to build one another up not bring each other down. This is an amazing thing and I couldn't be happier to be a part of it!

We began this week's class reviewing our first case study because we ran out of time last week. Hearing my classmates describe how they would handle the scenario really opened my eyes to how easily I can get defensive. When reading the situation before class, I instantly imagined the worse case scenario. I felt that if I was really in that particular situation I would have to justify my choices and over explain to the client why I run my business a certain way. Of course, Antonette immediately set me straight by reminding me that I do not have to defend my reason for setting a particular standard for my business practice. She also pointed out that perhaps the potential client was just curious and so she asked a question. I need to remember to look at the situation from both sides in the future. This was a good learning experience for me.

We also discussed how to market ourselves by speaking powerfully about what we do. The example introductions in the VTM really make it look easy. For next week, we will be doing our own thirty second and sixty second introductions in class. I have to admit, I am definitely a little nervous. I love meeting new people and learning about them, but I am not always comfortable talking about myself in networking situations. This homework will be a challenge for me. I hope the experience of doing it for my classmates and Antonette will help make it feel more natural in the future.

With each week, I am more and more grateful to be a member of AssistU's VTP. Working on a Welcome Packet, debating on an agreement versus a contract, creating invoices and setting fees would be a terrifying experience if I had to do it all on my own. Thank goodness I do not have to. I cannot express enough my utter appreciation for what this program has done for me.

This week's class really highlighted the significance of communication. We began the class discussing the Welcome Packet and the importance of adding our own style & image to it. We next jumped into setting fees and handling late payments. Throughout the class, Antonette reminded us that in order to build the foundation for a long-term relationship with a client we must verbally discuss everything with them from the start. A client should know what is in the Welcome Packet before ever having read it. This can only be achieved by creating the best possible consultation process. Taking the time with each new client to go over the agreement, rates, and late payment policy will save a lot of future grief.

Happy New Year! I'm glad to be back. During the time off, I was able to participate in my first SIG Newbie Call and Great Lakes Chapter Call. It was wonderful meeting other AssistU students and alumni. The time away also got me contemplating my future virtual assistance practice. I spent a good amount of the break thinking about what my future business means to me and coming up with ideas that I can apply towards my business plan. Taking the time to do some daydreaming and investigating has helped me feel less intimidated by the whole process.

We started tonight's class recapping what we talked about in Class 4, Standards and Boundaries, and then went right into discussing Ideal Clients and Reserves. During our discussion about creating our ideal client profile, Antonette said something that really resonated with me. To sum it up she said, "It is harder and more painful to take on a client that is not right for you and have that relationship end than to wait for the ideal client to come along. Being apart of the VTP has really opened my eyes to the importance of self-care and how saying no is a way of taking care of ourselves. Talking about Reserves and the importance of having them in various parts of our lives has reinforced that once again.

The reading module for classes 4 & 5 began with the title *The Who of Business*. This week's class focused greatly on defining our standards and boundaries in order to successfully create the *who* of our business. Antonette began the class asking us what qualities characterize us. What seemed like an easy enough question was met at first with complete silence. Antonette was very supportive and posed another question. What drives us? A light bulb went off in each of our heads and a great discussion followed. Next, we had an in-depth talk about what standards we will set for ourselves and our business and what boundaries we will create around them. This was a major eye opener. My fellow classmates and I gave examples of what standards and boundaries we would create and why these were essential. Having this conversation, I flashbacked to times in my administrative assistant career when I would allow employers to over step my boundaries because I was afraid to say no or I thought I was doing it for the good of the company. Having my own business, I know that my standards and boundaries will never waiver and that is the way it should be.

What I have learned most from AssistU and my trainer Antonette in the last five weeks is that if I put the work into defining the *who* of my business, I will attract the right clients that will never put me in a position that makes me dismiss my standards and boundaries to accommodate their needs.

After each of my classes, I feel an immense sigh of relief that I have never felt before. All my concerns and frustrations are being changed into anticipation, hope and joy. This coming Monday, I will be attending Stacy's coaching call. I am really looking forward to it. I know another sigh of relief and a surge of excitement is just around the corner.

This week's class was extremely energizing for me. My mind was racing for hours afterwards. We discussed the second part of establishing a great support system and creating our own style and image. I'm relieved to know that it is not necessary for me to run out and buy the latest and greatest office equipment. My computer is only 2 years old, but in some startup businesses I always feel that they expect you to start from scratch and buy the best on the market. Thank goodness for AssistU! I'm happy to report that it looks like I already have everything I need to get started.

After discussing the essential equipment needed for beginning a virtual assistant business, we dived into what we think will be our image and style. It was reassuring to know that my classmates and I are on the same page in this regard. All of us are still trying to discover what impression we would like to make in the minds of our future clients through our unique styles. I had a lot of fun talking with Antonette and my classmates about other people we know and the style and image they convey with their business. I found it really helpful. Suddenly ideas started popping into my head. I was a little nervous when Antonette asked us at the beginning of the discussion what we thought was our image and style and my mind drew a complete blank. Having this class really got my creative juices flowing. I'm really looking forward to developing my own style and image. I have some great ideas and I can't wait to bring them to fruition.

Tonight was the beginning of a two part class that will focus on establishing a great support system and creating our own style and image. I'm so glad we had this class early on in the program. I did not realize beforehand how critical it is to have people such as a lawyer, accountant, coach and even a computer tech on our side now before we really need them. It makes perfect sense. We also had a great discussion on what might hold us back from developing our support team and how to go about finding the right people in our area to help us. Antonette and my fellow classmates had some wonderful suggestions such as participating in local networking groups or through our local AssistU Chapters. I know that putting in the extra effort to develop a support system today will save me a lot of time, money and frustration in the long run. I'm excited to start filling in my Team 100 list!

Finishing up this third class, I am finally feeling like I am getting the hang of things. I'm so grateful to be a part of this program. It really makes all the difference knowing that I am surrounded by such a caring and supportive community and that I am not alone on this journey.

Antonette explained that the next couple of classes we will be working on the foundations of virtual assistance. By the end of this class, my writing hand was pretty sore from all the notes I took. There was so much information packed into 60 minutes I didn't want to miss anything. We began the class discussing the different definitions of Virtual Assistance. I'm so glad this topic was part of the beginning of Class 1. When I began researching virtual assistance, I read a couple books and found various definitions on websites giving their description of what is a Virtual Assistant. Those interpretations concerned me. I was worried that I would always be looking for my next job and that I would have to take a job even if it was the wrong fit. It was not until I went on the AssistU website that I found the words *long-term and collaborative* in the definition of virtual assistance. That was exactly what I was looking for and I didn't even know it.

Next, we talked about what it means to be in a corporate box, and each of us shared our own experiences. I really enjoyed hearing my classmates' stories. I felt like I could relate to each of them. Antonette asked us about piece-work and what we thought about it. We had a really in-depth discussion. I'm so glad we did, because it finally put to rest once and for all my fears about having to constantly find employers to hire me for various tasks. Virtual Assistants do not do piece-work! What a relief.

We then began discussing the skills most important for VAs to have and the VA Mantra. Finally, we began discussing our Business Plan. When I read the material before class, I have to admit I was a little overwhelmed. As usual, Antonette was very reassuring from the start and gave us some tips to use that I know will help make the process go much more smoothly. Now, I'm actually pretty excited to create my business plan.

If Class 1 is any indication of what is to come, my writing hand is going to be getting quite a workout the next 20 weeks.

Wow!!! Last night was my Orientation and "wow" is the best description I can use for the experience. My mouth is still hanging open this morning. All day yesterday, I was a flurry of excitement and nervousness. I repeatedly checked my watch counting down to the hours and then minutes that I would be calling in to meet my trainer Antonette and my fellow classmates.

I have to admit I felt a little overwhelmed after receiving my materials in the mail last week. A part of me wondered if it was really possible to accomplish so much in 20 weeks. This concern quickly melted away upon hearing the warm voices of Antonette and my three fellow classmates. I really enjoyed meeting these wonderful ladies and learning a little bit about their lives and work history. As the weeks go by, I look forward to finding out even more about them and sharing this amazing experience with them. After introductions, Antonette thoroughly went over her expectations for the class, homework deadlines and the wonderful amenities the portal has to offer. The 90 minutes flew by, and when we finished up, I was just in awe of Antonette and the AssistU community.

Yep, this is exactly where I am meant to be and I am thrilled to be able to share my weekly class experiences. I know this journey is going to be life changing. Wow!!!