Getting Ready for Launch

By Melanie Ammerman with VaVa Virtual Assistants

www.VaVaVirtual.com

You have the knowledge.  You have the skills.  You have the motivation.  And now you have made the decision to start your own virtual assistant business.  There is no question that you have what it takes to be successful, but it can be overwhelming when considering the many aspects to starting a new business.  Here are a few steps that can help put you on the right track to a successful launch for your virtual assistant business. 

1.     Get organized – Make a list of what needs to get accomplished.  Items can always be scratched off or added, but an initial list of the business necessities is a great place to start.  A few points to consider include your services, pricing, policies, contracts, means of communication, website, finances, taxes, branding, etc.  The list can go on and on, but knowing what needs to get done initially is how to start building your new business. 

2.     

      Set the date – Mark your launch date on your calendar.  After you’ve made the list of what you need to do before launch, you have an idea of what date would be feasible for you to start offering your business to the public.  It can be in a few weeks or a few months.  Don’t feel pressure to set the date too soon.  It is entirely up to you so go with whatever date you’re comfortable with for launch. 

3.    

      Plan of attack – Create a schedule of when you will accomplish each list item.  After figuring out your launch date, you can plan your time to get all your list items done before then.  And it’s okay to take it day by day.  Trying to get everything done in too short a time will get overwhelming and set you off track. 

4.     

      Check! – Cross off each list item as soon as it has been accomplished.  This is a simple step that will keep you organized and help you realize all the progress you’re making throughout the process.  If you get off schedule from time to time, it’s okay, cut yourself some slack.  Starting up a new business is a learning process as well and it’s okay to allow for some adjustments.

The thought of starting your own virtual assistant business can feel overwhelming.  As long as you don’t let that overwhelming feeling stop you from achieving your goals, you can have that successful business you’ve been dreaming of.  Breaking down the process of starting a business will help you keep a level head, making it feel less daunting.  Taking the few steps listed above will help you realize what needs to get done, give you the means to get each task accomplished and will put you in motion for making your virtual assistant business a reality.  

50/50 Partnership

Fifty Fifty Partnership

- by Lauren Gall & Melanie Ammerman with VaVa Virtual Assistants

Partnership.  What does this word mean to you in regards to your business?  When searching the word “partnership” with my oh-so-trusty thesaurus, a few synonyms that come up are “interest,”  “joint venture,” “alliance,”  “cooperation” and “trust.” These are all very powerful words when considering a business relationship with a prospective partner to make sure each partner has an equal commitment and contribution.

Having a shared interest means you both have the same drive to create and build a successful business.  When both partners have equal passion for the business, there is the same motivation to put forth equal efforts toward the progression of the business.

Knowing that a partnership is a joint venture creates the understanding that you are both on the business journey together no matter what; ready to support each other through both the good and the more challenging times.

Understanding that the partnership is an alliance puts you both on the same team.  If you both know that you’re striving for the same objectives, then you’ll always work well together to meet them as a unit.

Cooperation is also important because it emphasizes the importance of working with each other. Not alongside each other.  Not for each other. Definitely not against each other.  With each other.  It’s always imperative to remember that good communication will allow for a general understanding of each other that will help you both work well together.

Having trust in your partner means you have confidence in them, believing that he or she is in the business to meet the common goals and achievements.  Knowing that you both have the same expectations for the business will put you both on the same page from the very beginning.  This way, you can rely on partner to have the integrity to make good and responsible decisions for the business.

In summary, you want a partnership where you and your partner are on even playing fields, but make unique contributions.  It is important to have the same motivation and passion for working to start and maintain the business; the same support and communication for each other to work together well as a team; and the same goals and expectations for working toward the success of the business. If you consider the terms above and continue to feel confident about your prospective partner, you just might be on your way to having a partnership where you’re both in it equally.  Fifty fifty.

www.VaVaVirtual.com