Saturday 12th June 2010 was the day arranged for The National VA Conference and Awards for 2010 – this event is in its fourth year apparently, though it was my first time. I was setting up my business as a virtual pa through 2009, not knowing there was a whole support network behind the VA industry. The conference was arranged by a team of VAs headed by Carmen McDougall of The Virtual Assistant Coaching and Training Company.
As this was my first visit to the conference, I was keen to meet some of the VAs that have supported me emotionally, technologically, and with my education of being a VA, through my time getting my business off the ground; truly if it were not for them I might be telling a different story in years to come. I had met, chatted to and engaged with (virtually of course) women who have perhaps been in the VA business for longer than me, (that’s not difficult I am a bit of a newbie, only having been in business for myself a little under a year, we communicated on Skype chat, we supported one another, offered excesses of work or expertise in particular fields. The value of the VASG (virtual assistant support group) is second to none, three very dear ladies have been there for me and others like me since I became a member, and it was great to meet then yesterday in person at The National VA Conference and Awards 2010 – so my thanks to Dee Uzoka from http://va-in-medway.co.uk/ Ann-Marie Mittleman from http://www.avirtualangel.co.uk/ and Emily Robe from http://www.emilyrobe.co.uk/ for everything you do under your umbrella of the VASG, for winning The Spirit of the VA Award 2010, and everything you have done for me; it was so great meeting you and having real hugs (so much better than virtual ones).
Being a PA is tremendously enjoyable, exciting, satisfying and challenging – being a VA is that 10 fold! Technology is constantly changing, updating etc and programmes change to move with the technology; the amazing thing is so are businesses now acknowledging the need to change, and some of the sponsors and speakers at The National VA Conference and Awards 2010 were amazingly supportive and encouraging of the VA industry as well as the individuals that make up that industry.
These businesses and their MDs their CEOs have met some of our amazing VAs and have totally seen the value that a VA can bring to businesses and to their own clients. So much so many of them are offering deals or partnerships to VAs that use their packages/ products/ programmes. They acknowledge that by using a VA along with their product you can reduce your time spent running your business and get on with what you went into business to do! This is so tremendously exciting that the job that we do is so valued, it is something we have known for a long time, but it is only now that it is being really seen.
I look forward to constantly expanding my knowledge to benefit not only my business, but to offer support or expertise to VASG members and most importantly to you as business men and business women, because in the long run the more expertise and knowledge I have the more you will benefit.
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Hi Lynda
Wow! I really enjoyed this positive, inspiring and encouraging post.
I only recently learned about the VASG and am so grateful to be a member of this awesome group where the spirit is that of collaboration not competition. They really are working wonders in bringing virtual assistance into the main stream and educating businesses across the board on the value of working with a VA.
Like you, I consider myself a newbie VA (launched November 2009) and only wish I had known about the VASG much sooner. Working remotely can be very challenging at times and it is wonderful knowing there are others in the industry to turn to for support, advice and encouragement and to be able to offer the same in return.
I am looking forward to getting to know, interacting with and learning lots more from my fellow group member VAs. You all ROCK !
Best regards
Ishaka
Lynda, thank you for your wonderful blog post and your warm words about VASG. I am so proud of YOU! I still remember when you came into the VASG room one day; you came to say goodbye because you were quitting and going back to employment. It was the way everyone immediately rallied round and started looking at opportunities to give you; Associate work etc, ANYTHING to help you keep going, that amazed me. THAT’S why we set up VASG – for moments just like that. Did you think you were going to get away that easily?!
There is a lot that goes into VASG behind the scenes. The only thing we get from it is the satisfaction that we are making a difference in some small way, to the VA community at large. We have had so many people tell us that we should charge, monetise it etc etc and they completely MISS the point. VASG is not a money-making venture. It is our labour of love and the reward we get from it cannot be measured by money.
It was wonderful to see so many of our members who had made the effort to come to the VA Conference 2010 in order to finally meet “offline” after months of chatting online. So many friendships, business associations have been formed already and meeting in person helped cement that.
Our win yesterday was OUR win. Without all of you, there is no VASG. I can’t believe that in less than 12 months, we’ve made our mark in our community. Long may we continue to do so.
Collaboration not competition officially ROCKS!
Dee
Lynda,
A wonderful blog post and thank you for mentioning VASG. I echo everything Dee said and cannot stress enough that although the award we accepted was in our names, it was really in the name of VASG and on behalf of all members.
Not even one year old, yesterday at the National VA Conference and Awards proved that the “hard work” is really worth it and to finally meet those we call our “virtual family” in person and exchange real hugs was priceless. It also proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that our “collaboration not competition” ethos truly works for us and works to benefit all our clients.
VASG does indeed rock!