Happy Christmas from emilyrobe.virtualassistant
Merry Christmas from emilyrobe.virtualassistant
It’s been a strange year for me, lots of life changing activities and decisions. I started out the year employed as PA to the MD at a Plant Hire company; bored and disillusioned, but thankful for the job and the money. I also worked part-time 5pm – 9pm as a Virtual Assistant on the kitchen table. Building up what I hoped would be a challenging future prospect. I’ve ended the year still as a Virtual Assistant, but now I’m running my little empire out of a fully functioning office, with a diverse range of client. Redundancy proved to be a blessing and gave me the protection of six months money, and the impetus to make a go of it. I rose to the challenge and I love what I do.
My learning curve from being the PA behind the desk at the beginning of the year, thinking I was quite knowledgeable in my field, went vertical in April with the redundancy. Suddenly feeling very small and like I knew nothing at all. I’ve learned about running a business, marketing, attracting clients, keeping the cash flowing. Social media such as Twitter, using Facebook for a whole new purpose, networking through LinkedIn. Learning Wordpress to create a website and then writing blogposts, VOIP technology for my phones and getting involved in call answering through Call Team (a service I previously discounted due to the commitment), becoming an associate for other VAs and learning the benefits of having my own associates. Passive income and other streams of earning. Then there are all the online CRM systems that my clients use and other technologies such as RSS, Smartsheet, Huddle etc.
Not only am I now mistress of a growing empire, I’m at university! It’s always been an aim and I set myself the challenge when I turned 30, to achieve a degree before I was 40! Well, ok I’ll be 41 when I graduate but I still think that counts!
I’ve also met and become huge friends with an increasing number of people. From people I converse with through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, not all business related, but I love to hear from regarding their businesses or activities; to the VAs in the #VASG, some of whom will remain lifelong friends. I’ve had support, encouragement, motivation, sounding-boards; I’ve laughed, I’ve cried at some of the shared stories, the jokes, the learning curves.
It’s been a difficult year in terms of stress, my health has taken a battering and the money isn’t what I was used to, however I feel so much richer, much more alive and my passion for what I do is definitely rekindled.
I hope this year has been as rewarding for you and that 2010 holds fabulous opportunities.
Here’s hoping that 2010 is a prosperous year for you and all the VASG members.
You truly are an amazing lady and whilst I am pleased to have you as a VA colleague, I am even more pleased to call you a friend. I still cannot believe that we have been virtual friends (through Ecademy) since 2007 but only met in person this year where I think our true friendship has blossomed. Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas and a very prosperous New Year xx
What a great achievement, you should be very proud of yourself. Wishing you a great Christmas and a fantastic 2010.
May all your opportunities continue to grow and your all your difficulties be resolved without hindrance and wish you every success for a bountiful 2010. It has been a pleasure not only to meet you virtually but in person as well and hope that we shall continue to our friendship for a long time to come.
Happy Christmas Emily, you are a very amazing lady and I don’t know where you find the time to fit it all in but you do it somehow.
Thanks for becoming a great colleague and friend over the past year and I hope 2010 is even more successful for you. I also hope to be able to finally meet you in person.