Yvonne Witzaney's Diary

I'm Yvonne, a new student of the AssistU Virtual Training Program living in Alberta, Canada. Here's where you can read my diary of experiences with the VTP and AssistU while I'm in training!


:: April 17, '04 ::

My materials are finally here! After what seems like months of waiting, I am finally going to begin the dream of owning my own business. It's so real now, now that I have something tangible to look at and hold.

When I open the box, I am so excited to find a book from Cheryl Richardson, one of my favorite authors! And the other resources are amazing as well. The binder is full of information and after I read the introductions and welcomes, it feels a little like 'coming home'. I've read somewhere that this is a good sign - that I am on my life's path to where I want to be going.

The orientation class went very, very well. Myra is a confident, seasoned instructor and is quick to put all of us at ease. Her quiet and unassuming confidence is reassuring and comforting. She is passionate about preparing us to become the best VAs we can be. We are encouraged to expect the best from ourselves, and I'm relieved about this. I know I need to stretch in order to grow. She is adamant that we pay close attention to self care. You can hear in her voice a deep commitment to us, and that makes me feel even more dedicated to doing and becoming the best I can. This kind of support is evident everywhere at AssistU. I've received some welcoming email that blow me away. VAs from all over are offering their support and encouragement to me. I feel hopeful and optimistic. How did I think I was ever going to do this alone?!!

Wow, I am really getting into this! Myra is so well organized and makesthis very easy. She answers each of our questions with grace and ease. We discussed the *long term* aspect of partnering with our clients and I realize that I have more to learn than I first thought. Funny how that is... every time I think I know something, I discover something new. Which is the great thing about life, I suppose.

I am beginning to ask myself some very key questions: what do I need to do this week in order to step out of the box? What works for me? How am I boxed in? We also discuss the mutual respect issue, and the idea that we set our own hours that work for *us* as individuals, not what the client may want.

I am so grateful to be part of this community where my values are not only being respected, but also esteemed. I have longed for authenticity in my professional life and I think it's starting to stare me in the face.... yay! What a life!

It's been a few days since out last class, but still this feeling of empowerment continues. We discussed partnering with advisors and how to go about this process. It never occurred to me that I need to build a relationship with those that will be advising me in building my business. That's why this program is so invaluable to me...something so simple and straightforward is sometimes overlooked.

We also started talking about coaches and how they will be invaluable to success, not just in the program but also in my business. My research has led me to understand that a business coach will partner with me to listen, observe and suggest solutions and strategies to help me obtain my business goals, and also to provide support and resources to enhance the talent that I already possess. She is also there to hold me accountable. This week, I have the privilege of beginning group coaching with Stacy. I feel having a coach may be the one of the greatest investments I make as the partnership with her and me would create more success, more money and therefore a higher quality of life, not to mention a more authentic one, which is why I began this process in the first place.

I so look forward to each and every class, as the information and knowledge is so empowering. Whoever said *ignorance was bliss* was obviously not following his path. Here's to next week!

Another week has gone by so quickly. It seems like one week starts and you get through the fieldwork and assignments while still working on your business plan, and then before you know it, it's time for next class!

We are starting to get to the *meaty* part of our businesses. We talked about how important it is to remain true to yourself in all aspects of your business. For one thing, it takes less energy. And it makes it a lot easier to find ideal clients for you. You don't want a client who is serious and withdrawn while you are always cheery and outgoing. How do I see my own image and style? It's a good question and one that deserves some thoughtful consideration.

I started group coaching with Stacy and I highly recommend it. She is able to articulate what each and every individual student needs. And each student brings something to the call - their own thoughts and ideas which is extremely beneficial. I feel surrounded by support and knowledge - two things I desperately need right now. Here's to next week!

As the weeks go by, the reality of owning my own business comes clearer into focus. We talked this week about building your business from the *inside out*. The older, more traditional role is results-oriented, the bottom line. The value there is placed on what you can do. Myra advised us this week that we will be hired more for *who* we are, not for *what* we can do.

This is a huge paradigm shift for most of us. We are encouraged to think of ourselves as business owners. We are not working *for* our client, so much as working *with* them, much like an accountant, a lawyer or a consultant. We do not have to mold ourselves to others' expectations of us. We are in control by drawing up boundaries, the things that others cannot do to us and by setting standards, the behaviors that I hold myself to. These include how I treat others, what I allow into my life, and how I perform my work.
Not only do I get to choose who I work with, I get to choose when. By being specific, I get to exercise my boundaries and standards. What days/hours will I be available? What are my fees? What work will I do? What work will I absolutely not do? The biggest key to having standards and boundaries is sticking to them!

The answers to these questions will contribute heavily to shaping my business. And I am looking forward to more of them!

Wow, another week has gone by so fast. We talked about our *ideal* client profile. This can be the biggest challenge as many of us are skeptical to believe that we can really *can* choose the people we want to work with. Do VA's *really* get to work with those they choose? Happily, the answer is mostly, *yes*. I say mostly, because at times, they can be tempted to work with those that are not quite the right *fit* for them, out of need for more business. However, when those same VA's create a vacuum in their business and pass up *good* for *great*, they seem to attract the ones that fit them more closely. It all comes back to remaining true to you, which is a lesson we are all still learning.

This is probably the greatest gift the VTP has given me: to live my life more authentically; surrounding myself with those that I choose to work with. It's hard to believe, but I'm starting to.

With this week came more bits of wisdom. I was fortunate enough to attend a *Law of Attraction* seminar this week with a local AssistU VA grad and VA instructor, and we learned a great deal about *attracting* what we want for our business, which tied in to our lesson last week on finding our *ideal* client. As it turns out, you really can attract your ideal client, as many others have done.

We talked this week about *Welcome Packets* and whether or not we would be using them. I feel that it would be a proactive tool to advise both parties necessary information about each other.

For example, the Welcome Packet includes information about me and my business standards. It will also explain how I will be assisting client and the benefits of working with a VA. This is a great opportunity for my personality to come through and to stay true to my values.

The Welcome Packet will also give the client an opportunity to tell me about who they are. This can save lots of time in the future by having these details and logistics clear up front. The Welcome Packet can also let me know how I can be of greatest service to them. When my client is happy, they will refer my services.

This week also included a discussion on fees! How do we set our fees? It made for some interesting discussions and it will be interesting to find out how and what those fees will be. The underlying factor in this is the same as in other factors determining the structure of our business: be true to yourself and don't discount your abilities!

This week, we talked about how important it is to have a strong introduction. When talking with others, it's interesting to note that the average person only carries about a 30 second attention span. Yikes. As talking with others is the fastest way to build your business, it's important to know who are you and what you do in a very short period of time!

There are basically two ways to do this and one begins with a question, and that pulls them in. The other is to speak to a larger audience, such as a networking group, and draw them in. The trick is to make it your own and allow your personality to come through.

Eva and I practiced our speeches this week and we had a good time! This community never ceases to amaze me: everyone has something to offer.

This week, we talked about the wonderful concept of *attracting* the ideal clients for our business. Although I know marketing is not exactly my most favorite thing, I know a lot of it has to do with *attracting* what I want for me. As I understand it, (and believe me, I really don't understand that much about quantum physics), each of us carries a vibration at a certain frequency. That frequency then goes out to the universe and brings back to us what we are vibrating. It doesn't matter if you're aware of this law or not, we each carry a certain frequency and what we believe about ourselves will be mirrored back to us in our experiences.

For example, if I carry integrity and value honesty, I will attract those people and situations to me. This is an important concept to grasp when marketing, as I will want to work with clients with similar values to mine.

Deepak Chopra said, "Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment, are precisely the ones you need in your life at this moment. There is a hidden meaning behind all events, and this hidden meaning is serving your own evolution."

This has not really changed my concept of marketing as I was aware of this wonderful process of attraction and using it in my own life. How else did I attract the awesome VTP?!

We had a great discussion this week about marketing and how to make it as efficient and fun as possible! Myra makes it sound fun and even easy, but she's also realistic about it all.

It helps if you can keep things in perspective. If you think about it, the potential clients you market to are really just friends you haven't met; people who don't know what I do. It takes just as much energy to be positive than to be negative about yourself -- maybe less. This will take me awhile but I believe that I can project what I *really* think about all this: that what I do *is* fascinating. How many people get to be in this business of assisting, yet remain in control of their lives and their bank account?? This is a whole new field and industry and being in this community really strengthens that belief system.

Another *huge* part of marketing is knowing and believing that the VA/client fit must work for both parties or it won't work at all. If a client isn't a good fit for me and I refer them to another VA, it becomes a win/win for both of us. My contact gets what he/she needs and I've just made space in my practice for someone who will fit me better. How can it get better than that?

Another class on marketing and I feel ready to take on the world! We were reminded that networking is just that: working. Never pass up an opportunity to meet someone new and strike up a conversation! This, and many other marketing tips were covered in class this week and although I feel like I have a lot to do, I don't feel overwhelmed. Being in this community never ceases to amaze me: the amount of support and information that is accessible to me is enormous.

One thing that always encourages me is knowing all these wonderful VAs in this community have gone through the VTP and are now running full and successful practices, and these same VAs are always more than willing to help me market my business by offering their wealth of information.

Thank you, AssistU!

Our class discussion this week centered around the *relationship* between the VA and the client. Although this idea might seem elementary, there is so much more to it.

We referred to the differences between being a cyber-secretary and a Virtual Assistant: one offers piece work, task-oriented results and one offers a long-term, collaborative effort and goal-oriented outcomes. A VA is someone who supports her client across the board, administratively and personally without having to be present in the client's geographical location. See the difference?

By definition, a VA is one who *partners* with her clients to free up her client to do what they need/want to focus on to further their own business.

There are many definitions given to VAs but here are a couple of my faves: A VA is a dedicated, driven, masterfully skilled administrative professional who genuinely wants to powerfully impact the lives of people s/he works with.

Also: A Virtual Assistant is a highly trained and skilled professional who, as a support and growth partner to entrepreneurs, business owners and busy people, provides high level, long-term collaborative administrative and personal assistance without having to be physically present in the client's office.

Who could ask for more than that?

Every week, I am more and more thankful to be part of this community. We just finished a discussion on the importance of partnership and relationships. Without these crucial elements, there is no long-term success for the VA or the client's businesses.

A partnership with your client ensures the VA understands the client's business. This means she is able to be proactive and *stand* for the client and his/her business. It also ensures the VA will be able to anticipate the client's needs and suggest new ways to move his business forward.

A partnership creates an environment where the VA and the client learn to speak each other's language. This is crucial when the VA needs to respond on behalf of the absent client. It also brings out the best in both parties.

Also, the partnership builds trust, and therefore moves the business forward in a positive direction. The partnership, by definition ensures an emotional and financial investment on the VA's part, and this in turn creates an interest in the client's success. It can't get better than that!

How do I feel right now? In a word, excited. I am eager to get started, yet there are things I must do before I dive right in. My family helps me to remain calm, take a deep breath, and know there is a divine time, space and sequence for everything.

I am so thankful that my belief system embraces the concept of abundance. I know the *right* clients for me will also come in a divine time, space and sequence. Holding this belief system frees up energy that would normally be held for anxiety, nervousness and apprehension.

In this week's class, we had a great discussion on remaining true to who we are and ensuring our individuality comes through in our marketing materials. It's difficult to not get caught up in the trap of making ourselves into someone who others want us to be. We were reminded to be serious and committed. Our clients will work with us because of *who* we are and not necessarily *what* we can do.

Listening! One of the greatest and sometimes hardest lessons to learn. Among other attributes, we talked about listening this week and the value it can bring to our VA businesses. It can sometimes be a challenge to be a good listener, so much discussion and a few tips are handy in learning this most important skill.

This has been a particularly difficult skill for me master. If you are a slow or methodical speaker, I tend to be one of those who want to just say, "Yes, I know exactly what you're talking about". Of course I don't, I just don't have the patience to sit and wait for you to finish what you're saying! Or I know what you're going to say, and I have a rebuttal ready for you! Just because you *think* you know what you're talking about, *I* usually have a better idea. Ugh! This is frustrating for most people, and it's a very good lesson to learn and so good to be reminded. These lessons are huge investments for me.

Thank you, AssistU, for these incredible reminders. I still think back on how I pondered starting up a business like this, and wonder how I would have done without ensuring these needs were met.

We had a blast this week! One of the greatest VAs ever, Barbara Lochen, worked with us on our interviewing skills.

One of the things that surprised my classmates and me was that it really is a *make it up as you go* sort of process when it comes to being interviewed. All we can do is be prepared, and AssistU has prepared us well!

I came away very excited from this class and ready for my first interview!

It's August 31 and I'm going to miss my class tonight, not because I want to, but because today is my 40th birthday! Yay! I've been looking forward to this day for a very long time, because I've always believed that the older I got, the healthier, wealthier and wiser I would become. That idea has certainly proved itself to be true. Even though I'm missing class tonight, I'm not worried about it. The really good part of this is although I'll miss hearing from Myra and my classmates and the wonderful discussion that I know will take place, I'll still be able to catch up on the class through the notes that will be taken and sent out to me.

Now for the really great part! Two nights ago, my wonderful boyfriend took me out for a birthday dinner and proposed to me! Of course I said yes to this great guy and we are planning to wed next summer.

September has always been a time of renewal for me. My daughters will start back to school tomorrow, a relationship has been *renewed* and the best of all, I am opening my new business soon and I couldn't be happier. And one of life's greatest lessons learned: the more in control you are of your life, the happier you are. Thank you, AssistU!