http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com How to Start and Grow a Profitable Virtual Assistance Practice Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:07:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Rich McIver emailed me yesterday and alerted me to this article on "Top 10 Ways to Fire the Client from...." I wish I could say that VAs never had to fire their clients. But I've done it, and I know many other VAs who have found it necessary, too. Happy reading! http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/09/19/fun-article-on-firing-clients/ Scott Ginsberg, of "Hello, My name is Scott" fame (the guy that wears a nametag everywhere), wrote a great article on 35 Cultural Trends that (should) Change the Way you do Business. The main ideas from this is that you need to be approachable and personable, consistent, easy to do ... http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/09/18/cultural-business-trends/ According to this article at MSN Careers, many employers are receptive to paying for freelancers, and one in ten are willing to pay $100/hour or more for specialized help. That's good news for virtual assistants! http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/09/13/interesting-article-on-the-positive-outlook-for-freelancing/ As a director on the Board of IVAA, an author, and an active participant on VA groups and forums, VA newbies will often ask where they sign up to get work. Huh? Unfortunately, some people don't research what is involved in becoming a virtual assistant and instead think they are ... http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/09/12/where-do-i-sign-up-to-get-work/ Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great today as they ever were. David Rockefeller US banker (1915 - ) I heard this on the Dave Ramsey show today. Isn't this true when it comes ... http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/09/04/va-inspirational-quote-of-the-day/ Look for a press release coming soon with all the details. Entrepreneurial Freedom has been adopted by a community college on the West Coast as the material of choice for teaching their virtual assistance class. More announcements coming soon! If you teach a college virtual assistance class and are looking for ... http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/08/31/entreneurial-freedom-book-and-workbook-now-in-community-colleges/ Here's an interesting article I found on MSN today. It's all about how to outsource your small business needs and it mentions the value of virtual assistants and IVAA specifically. Enjoy! Lauren http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/07/19/ivaa-in-the-news-outourcing-your-small-business-needs/ When over at the "Hello My Name is Scott" guy's website, I downloaded this great free ebook. One of the snippets from it that is just so true is this: 90% of new restaurants fail within their first year because someone out there said, “You know, I like to cook. And ... http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/07/05/knowing-how-to-do-the-work-doesnt-mean-you-can-run-a-business/ A Cover Letter Should Show Nothing 'More' Than The Real McCoy By Beverley Neil CERW, CRW I recently read a very apt modern day description of what a cover letter really is - or has evolved into being - Career Marketing Letters. They have passed the point of simply 'covering' the résumé and ... http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/06/25/a-niche-to-consider-cover-letter-writing/ In Readers' Digest, there's an article called, "Best Quick Cash-Amazing Ways to Make Extra Money." The article isn't bad, really, but my biggest beef with it is the category it's under. Being a virtual assistant is a good way to make cash, but to do it right, I wouldn't say ... http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com/blog/2007/04/13/virtual-assistance-equals-best-quick-cash-hmmm/