Proactive VAs are VAs that strategically seek ways to help their client’s business grow because of an invested interest in their business.
~ Tawnya Sutherland, VAnetworking.com ~

Monday Morning MotiVAtor – Motivating Proactive VAs to Success!

In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.
~John Churton Collins 1848-1908~

Did you know that because we are virtual we can be anything we want to be. I could tell you I had a 6 figure VA business and I had 5 people subcontracting for me and how do you know whether I am telling the truth or not? It is quite possible I could be sitting doing nothing hoping for clients just the same as many other VAs. I can tell you one thing, as Virtual Assistants we always share the good, but rarely share the bad; the true struggles. One thing is for sure … the Virtual Assistant industry is a very caring and supportive network. Don’t be afraid to share your struggles because I guarantee someone else has had the same struggle – they just weren’t as brave to admit it.

When you begin to share your struggles and open yourself to the help that others are willing to provide you will also open your business to growth.

VAinsider tips!!

So many of you are not using the tools that are open to you. Very few of you are posting in the forum. Last week I told you that it was a secure site so please don’t be afraid to post anything. We are here to help you and as I said above, someone else is just as likely to be going through (or have gone through) the same situation and appreciate your braveness.

Are you a ProActive VA? Choose to be one starting today!!

Proactive VAs never stop learning.

It should be your goal to learn something new each day. Even if it is something small. A great place to learn these things is on the internet (and in particular on our forum). There is a wealth of information out there for the taking. Make sure to set aside time each day to do a little “browsing”. You may just find a new innovation for a client or you may find an answer to a question you have been afraid to ask. When you begin to make learning a part of each and every day you will open yourself to truly becoming a Proactive VA for both your own business and your clients businesses.

Accountability – Something to do for your VA Business this week

This week in my Proactive VA series we talked about the importance of creating a manual for your business, but more importantly at the minimum having a list of your clients contact information that is available to someone you trust. If something happened to you tomorrow would someone know how to contact your clients and let them know you won’t be available? I urge each of you to create a contact list and post it somewhere in your “office” that someone is able to easily find it … it is that one thing each business owner should do to prepare for an “emergency”. One hopes it is never needed, but you will be glad you did it if it is needed.

Mastermind Discussions – What you Missed at the Forum

In the Face of Adversity – What do you do?

To get in on the conversation

Upcoming Seminars – VAinsiders only

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 – 7pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Internet Marketing
Topic to be determined
with Craig Cannings and Tawnya Sutherland

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Advanced Getting Clients
Newsletters
with Tawnya Sutherland and Yvonne Weld

Friday, August 13, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Thriving Business Accountability
Business Support Systems
with Yvonne Weld

http://www.vainsiders.com/proactive-vas/

For Supercharge members (and Getting Clients for Getting Clients series), please use your full name [first and last name] as username and the password which you can find by clicking on the links on the same page above. Please note that if you do not use your full name we will have no choice, but to boot you as we need to make sure that only VAinsiders can access these seminars.

RFPs Submitted this past week

Login to Forum to view

RFP – Submitted July 19, 2010 – Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted July 23, 2010 – Info Product Creation and Marketing
RFP – Submitted July 26, 2010 – Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted July 26, 2010 – Call Centre Assistance

Be sure to follow us on Twitter #VAinsider as we tweet these RFPs immediately after they are posted.

Make sure that you are putting your best foot forward when responding to RFPs. A quick email with “I am interested in your RFP” just won’t cut it in today’s competitive market. Make sure your response lets the potential client know exactly what you can do for them and why you are the best person for the contract!!

Here are some great references from our own VAnetworking forum on answering RFPs:

Inspirational

How to get email from RFP

How to respond to RFPs

Also, remember that we have a resource book on responding to RFPs available for free in the NEW VAinsider area.

Finally, for a daily listing, be sure to subscribe to this link.

To your success,

Yvonne Weld
VAinsider President

Here’s your Weekender Report to keep you “IN THE KNOW” with informative and entertaining resources for your virtual business success this week! Included this weekend:

• Virtual News You Can Use NOW
• VAinsider Club MotiVAtor
• eSEMINAR SCHEDULE – Mark your calendars!
• HOT Topics at the forum this past week
• Virtual Weekender FREEBIE

VIRTUAL NEWS YOU CAN USE

1) Need a reliable Online Backup System? Look no further than Carbonite. I use it on all my computers and totally love it! It not only keeps my clients records safe off site but serves as a duplicate backup system for my business to ensure I never lose my data. Every business  should have this online backup system.

CLICK HERE: Start Your 15-Day Risk-Free Trial Today!

2) Want to offer Transcription services to your clients? Then you’ll need to have all your software in place ready to transcribe!

Download this dictation software for F.R.E.E. by clicking here.

3) Ever thought of offering your services to another Virtual Assistant? Learn from the best how to do this, my very own Virtual Assistant, Patty Dost. Get her VAs VA Book 25% off until July 31st!

Patty had a couple of wisdom teeth pulled out this month and now has a bad infection which means a root canal for her this coming week.  I feel so sorry for her!  But since she isn’t too alert this week (grins) I thought I’d put her book on sale through VAnetworking.  Maybe a few ebook sales in her inbox this week out of the blue will help that tooth pain seem all worth it!  So grab her book now at 25% off until July 31st, 2010. That’s only $12.75 for this informative ebook!

Get your copy now

Use this coupon code to receive 25% off: teeth

Love ya Patty and hope your teeth stop hurting soon!

4) There is only 1 system left before my VBSS offer expires. So don’t forget to pop over and check out the BONUS VIP special limited time offer (Valued at over $300) I have for Virtual Assistants who invest in my Virtual Assistant start up system today.

CLICK HERE to Become a Virtual Assistant Today!

If you need a step by step plan to bring your business from start to making money, my VBSS is the answer for you. It’s all my online business knowledge over the last 14 years (and other VA industry leaders) in one simple to implement Virtual Assistant startup system. A system ready to help you avoid business mistakes and benefit only from my successes.

VAinsider Club MotiVAtor

Lack of persistence can be a huge detriment to the success of your business. Never accept failure as an option and make an oath to yourself to never give up. Overcoming failure takes one simple thing … effort on your part to complete what you set out to do in the first place. When you put absolutely everything you have into something and it still isn’t working maybe you need a new plan and a new strategy together with a whole new set of goals. However, don’t allow yourself to give up and accept failure until you know that you have tried absolutely everything to make it a success.

Your VAinsider Club membership starts at only $7/mth. Not much to pay nowadays to help your business get the upper hand in the virtual service world.

What are you waiting for? Become a VAinsider Club Member (Starting at $7/month).

eSEMINAR SCHEDULE – Mark your calendars!

Stay up to date with times of all our educational business webinars by adding our schedule to your Google calendar now!

ALL MEMBERS:

Date: Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 6PM EST
Topic: Learn How to Become a Virtual Assistant
Presented by: Tawnya Sutherland

VAinsiders ONLY:

Date: Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 at 7PM EST
Topic: Internet Marketing Q & A with Certified Internet Marketing Specialist, Tawnya Sutherland
Level: Supercharge VAinsiders Only

HOT TOPICS AT FORUM THIS PAST WEEK:

You must be logged in to our Virtual Assistant networking forum to view responses below. Membership is FREE, Join our Virtual Assistant Social Network today!

Transcription Resources Needed

Package price for Newsletter

Facebook Fanpage Help

New Member Highlight from Omaha, NE

For VAinsider Club Members Only:

What is your Favourite VAinsider Membership Perk and Why?

The Official VAinsider Club Twitter List

Our Virtual Assistant Social Networking Forum is FREE to Join! What are you waiting for?

WEEKEND FREEBIE:

Blogging is easy, right?  Yes, for the most part, blogging is easy. However, on the way to achieving your blogging goals, there are mistakes many new and even experienced bloggers make.

Download here now the most common mistakes to avoid for successful blogging

And until next week…

To Your Virtual Success,

Tawnya Sutherland, CIMBS
Founder of The Leading Virtual Assistant Networking Forum Since 2003 www.VAnetworking.com

Proactive VAs are VAs that strategically seek ways to help their client’s business grow because of an invested interest in their business.
~ Tawnya Sutherland, VAnetworking.com ~

Monday Morning MotiVAtor – Motivating Proactive VAs to Success!

Decisions are a way of defining ourselves. There comes a time in life when there is nothing else to do but go your own way. Where you are headed there are no trails, no paths, just your own instincts.
~Sergio Bambaren~

So many times as Virtual Assistants we have heard the importance of listening to our gut, yet again and again I hear stories of people that start “I should have listen to that little voice in my head”. Some call it women’s intuition, some call it a gut instinct, but no matter what you call it (and whether you are male or female for that matter) you need to remember that the little voice can never steer you wrong. Trust yourself and even when it is hard listen to yourself – when you do the decision making will become easier.

VAinsider tips!!

Did you know that the VAinsider area of the forum is a secure area. The other forum areas are open for the public to see and we must be careful what we post because it is out there for potential clients to see. If you don’t know what I mean then just simply google your name and you will see some of the posts you have made at different forums. However, the VAinsider area is a place where you can pose those questions without fear. In the alternative if you have a pressing question remember that Tawnya and myself are here for you always as a VAinsider member.

Are you a ProActive VA? Choose to be one starting today!!

Proactive VAs live with awareness.

For every decision there is always at least two choices. How we make those choices can mean the difference between success and failure as a business owner. When you begin to act deliberately and with intention, awareness and personal choice and begin to carefully consider all outcomes before making any decisions it will be then that you can truly find the success you desire. Even more importantly, remember that if you find yourself in a situation where you determine the outcome is not a good one, then don’t act … don’t be afraid to walk away!!

Accountability – Something to do for your VA Business this week

This week I encourage you to take a good hard look at your business. This motiVAtor has been encouraging you to listen to your gut, so I ask yourself this question “Is there any aspect of your business where you wish you had listened to your gut?” Now is the time to take action … it is never too late to reverse a situation.

Mastermind Discussions – What you Missed at the Forum

Maintaining Consistency – Tips and Advice Needed

To get in on the conversation

Upcoming Seminars – VAinsiders only

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Advanced Getting Clients
Article Marketing
with Tawnya Sutherland and Yvonne Weld

Friday, July 23, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Thriving Business Accountability
Describing Your Business
with Yvonne Weld
(Please note that we are starting the series over again from the beginning)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 – 7pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Internet Marketing
Topic to be determined
with Craig Cannings and Tawnya Sutherland

http://www.vainsiders.com/proactive-vas/

For Supercharge members (and Getting Clients for Getting Clients series), please use your full name [first and last name] as username and the password which you can find by clicking on the links on the same page above. Please note that if you do not use your full name we will have no choice, but to boot you as we need to make sure that only VAinsiders can access these seminars.

RFPs Submitted this past week

Login to Forum to view

RFP – Submitted June 12, 2010 – Bookkeeping and Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted June 19, 2010 – Various Admin Assistance

Be sure to follow us on Twitter #VAinsider as we tweet these RFPs immediately after they are posted.

Make sure that you are putting your best foot forward when responding to RFPs. A quick email with “I am interested in your RFP” just won’t cut it in today’s competitive market. Make sure your response lets the potential client know exactly what you can do for them and why you are the best person for the contract!!

Here are some great references from our own VAnetworking forum on answering RFPs:

Inspirational

How to get email from RFP

How to respond to RFPs

Also, remember that we have a resource book on responding to RFPs available for free in the NEW VAinsider area.

Finally, for a daily listing, be sure to subscribe to this link.

To your success,

Yvonne Weld
VAinsider President

• Virtual News You Can Use NOW
• VAinsider Club MotiVAtor
• eSEMINAR SCHEDULE – Mark your calendars!
• HOT Topics at the forum this past week
• Virtual Weekender FREEBIE

VIRTUAL NEWS YOU CAN USE

1) For those who missed my Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant webinar, you can view it here:
(Give this link a few minutes to load presentation notes)

And here is the link for 50% off my Package > Outsourcing Your Business to a Virtual Assistant.

2) Don’t forget to pop over and check out the BONUS VIP special limited time offer (Valued at over $300) I have for Virtual Assistants who invest in my VBSS today.

There are only 2 left before this offer expires.

www.VirtualBusinessStartups.com/becomeava

If you need a step by step plan to bring your business from start to making money, my VBSS is the answer for you. It’s all my online business knowledge over the last 14 years (and other VA industry leaders) in one simple to implement Virtual Assistant startup system. A system ready to help you avoid business mistakes and benefit only from my successes.

3) LAST CHANCE: I’m heading to Atlanta in August for my FAVORITE marketing workshop all year.

Will you be joining me? The coupon code is still working to get $300 off the price of registration so there must still be a couple of seats left. It may be sold out by the time this email gets into your inbox and my apologies if it is.

First, read more about NAMS here

I really want you to attend this workshop.  SO…here’s the deal breaker >>

A SPECIAL TAWNYA BONUS: Anyone who signs up under my affiliate link above will receive a F.R.E.E  45 minute Motivator Leverage Session to focus on your weakest internet marketing areas with me, in person, at the event! (I charge $425 for these coaching sessions on my website). PLUS if you sign up, dinner is on me one night at the event!  We’ll all go out for dinner, network and learn from each other.  So far there are 7 of us going for dinner and I hope you can join us.  Even my daughter from Montreal is coming all the way to learn too!

Don’t wait, time may already be out by the time you read this email as NAMS was sold out about 2 weeks ago but they opened up the doors for 20 seats (cancellations or people who just couldn’t make it after all).

Register here

To receive your $300 discount, upon ordering apply this special coupon code: LASTCHANCE

I truly hope to meet you in person so sign up today! It is a marketing event not to be missed if you are serious about making money with your online business.

VAinsider Club MotiVAtor

Do you blame others for your problems? So many times I hear of others that make excuses for why they are late on projects, why they haven’t accomplished tasks and why they ultimately are not being successful in their business. They say the clients don’t understand, the projects they want aren’t out there and they ultimately can’t find any clients. Instead of blaming others figure out what you are doing wrong. Perhaps you aren’t explaining what you do correctly. Maybe you haven’t been clear in exactly what you are looking for and trying to attract. Next time you begin to blame someone else look to yourself and ask yourself “what can I do to change this situation?”

Your VAinsider Club membership starts at only $7/mth. Not much to pay nowadays to help your business get the upper hand in the virtual service world.

What are you waiting for? Become a VAinsider Club Member (Starting at $7/month).

eSEMINAR SCHEDULE – Mark your calendars!

Stay up to date with times of all our educational business webinars by adding our schedule to your Google calendar now!

ALL MEMBERS:

Date: Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 6PM EST
Topic: Learn How to Become a Virtual Assistant
Presented by: Tawnya Sutherland

VAinsiders ONLY:

Date: Wednesday, July 20th, 2010 at 2PM EST
Topic: Getting Clients – Article Writing and Submissions
Level: Supercharge

-and-

Date: Wednesday, July 23rd, 2010 at 2PM EST
Topic: Thriving Business Accountability – Describing Your Business
Level: Supercharge

HOT TOPICS AT FORUM THIS PAST WEEK:

You must be logged in to our Virtual Assistant networking forum to view responses below. Membership is FREE, Join our Virtual Assistant Social Network today!

Free Wi-Fi Security solution I really love this app

Retainer Rates Help

Poll about VA Organizations You Joined

New Member Highlight from Northern California

For VAinsider Club Members Only:

Who is your favourite client and why?

The Official VAinsider Club Twitter List

Our Virtual Assistant Social Networking Forum is FREE to Join! What are you waiting for?

WEEKEND FREEBIE:

A virtual assistant business can be extremely profitable. However, a lot of people mistakenly think it’s an easy path to riches. Learn about the top 5 common mistakes why VA businesses fail in our special VAinsider Report.  Download Here

And until next week…

To Your Virtual Success,

Tawnya Sutherland, CIMBS
Founder of The Leading Virtual Assistant Networking Forum Since 2003 www.VAnetworking.com

Proactive VAs are VAs that strategically seek ways to help their client’s business grow because of an invested interest in their business.
~ Tawnya Sutherland, VAnetworking.com ~

Monday Morning MotiVAtor – Motivating Proactive VAs to Success!

When someone’s character seems impossible to fathom, observe his friends.
Japanese proverb

A lot can be said about a person just by looking at who they associate with. A quick look at the people they surround themselves with is very, very telling. So who are you associating yourself with? What types of clients are you allowing in your business? Are they influential people or the type of people that other’s tend to move away from. As Virtual Assistants a large portion of our business will inevitably come from referrals. Will the people that are referring you give your business creedance or do you think others will walk away because of the type of person that is providing the referral? Before signing the next contract take a good look at that person and determine if they will have a positive impact on your business.

VAinsider tips!!

There have been so many times that I have started to “invent” the wheel so to speak and then remembered all the templates that are available to VAinsiders. I suggest that you take some time to look through the templates that are available and make use of them in promoting and building your VA business.

Are you a ProActive VA? Choose to be one starting today!!

Today I wanted to take a step back and look at exactly what “proactive means”. The “Free Dictionary” states that the word proactive means “tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events”. So many of us wait for things to happen before we do anything. We live in the believe “that will never happen to me”, “my client will never listen to me”, “my client is happy with his business the way it is” …. The only thing this tells me is that you are not proactive, but rather reactive. What sets apart the very successful VAs is that they are never afraid to take a chance, they are never afraid to be proactive, they are constantly looking for ways to improve their business and other’s businesses. Virtual Assistants are helpful in nature, but when you listen to that “little voice” and stop speaking out and move to reactive your business will definitely suffer!!

Accountability – Something to do for your VA Business this week

We are now in the second half of 2010 – definitely hard to believe!! So what can you do in the second half of the year that will make a big difference? Maybe it is something you have been afraid to try in the past? Today I challenge you to try something new. Make plans to make it a part of your business over the next six months. Maybe it is a new skill, a new marketing method or a new venture … start making plans today for a fantastic end to 2010.

Mastermind Discussions – What you Missed at the Forum

A New Marketing Method – Is there something you haven’t tried?

What is your Favourite VAinsider Membershp Perk – Do you feel your membership is missing anything?

To get in on the conversation

Upcoming Seminars – VAinsiders only

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Advanced Getting Clients
Blogging Tips and Tricks
with Tawnya Sutherland and Yvonne Weld

Friday, July 23, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Thriving Business Accountability
Describing Your Business
with Yvonne Weld
(Please note that we are starting the series over again from the beginning)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 – 7pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Internet Marketing
Topic to be determined
with Craig Cannings and Tawnya Sutherland

http://www.vainsiders.com/proactive-vas/

Be sure to login in to the VAinsider Club Only seminar room. Please use your full name [first and last name] as username and the password that you receive in an email on the day of the seminar. Please note that if you do not use your full name we will have no choice, but to boot you as we need to make sure that only VAinsiders can access these seminars.

RFPs Submitted this past week

Login to Forum to view

RFP – Submitted July 8, 2010 – Lead Generation
RFP – Submitted July 8, 2010 – Social Media and Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted July 9, 2010 – Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted July 12, 2010 – Bookkeeping and Various Admin Assistance

Be sure to follow us on Twitter #VAinsider as we tweet these RFPs immediately after they are posted.

Make sure that you are putting your best foot forward when responding to RFPs. A quick email with “I am interested in your RFP” just won’t cut it in today’s competitive market. Make sure your response lets the potential client know exactly what you can do for them and why you are the best person for the contract!!

Here are some great references from our own VAnetworking forum on answering RFPs:

Inspirational

How to get email from RFP

How to respond to RFPs

Also, remember that we have a resource book on responding to RFPs available for free in the NEW VAinsider area.

Finally, for a daily listing, be sure to subscribe to this link.

To your success,

Yvonne Weld
VAinsider President