:: The Virtual Nation ::

I decided a few months ago that I wasn't having any fun. How does one 'decide' they aren't having any fun? I guess it was more of a realization rather than a decision. Anyway, I recalled many conversations with other women that I had met over the years. Some of those excerpts included:

As I thought of all of these conversations with my women colleagues and friends, I thought that there must be a way to incorporate having fun, getting to know the women I really wanted to connect with further, and networking in a relaxed environment all mixed together. Well, I decided to email a few people (about a dozen) and ask them if they wanted to join me for something new and different called, Biz-y Girls.

WOW! I wasn't prepared for the resounding, "YES!" It has been the best fun I have had in a long time. There isn't a membership fee, not everyone has to be in business for themselves, and the only main requirement is that we each want to have fun and be willing to host one 'gathering.' I didn't want to 'run' the event since I am already running two businesses, gearing up to teach a college class for the first time, have a wonderful husband and two incredible daughters who need attention and more than I have room to share here.

We've gone out to dinner twice, we had drinks and appetizers and had our handwriting analyzed. I can't share with you the results of our handwriting analysis because we swore to secrecy! I can tell you that we laughed a lot and nodded our heads in agreement with many of the things we were told about ourselves. This month we decided to create dream (or vision) boards.

Do you live in the Greater Sacramento, California area? We'd love to have you join us. Send Michelle an email to get on the list. michelle@thevirtualnation.com

A very powerful way to use visualization is by creating a so called “Vision Board”, also known as a “Dream Board”. It is one of the most powerful ways to put the law of Attraction to work for you. A Vision Board is a collage of pictures of the goals and dreams you want to attract in your life. Important is to really use the exact image of what you want to attract, as whatever you show on your Vision Board will become part of your reality! So if you want a specific kind of car, make sure it is exactly the type, model and color you desire.

A very basic and fun way of creating a Vision Board is by taking a big piece of carton, scissors, glue and tons of magazines. Go through the magazines and search for images of your dreams, or search for the right images on the internet. Cut out the images and glue them on your cardboard. For more power, add affirmations such as “I love driving my new Porsche” or “I spend lots of quality time with my family”. This reinforces what you desire. Hang your cardboard on a spot where you will see it on a very regular basis, such as at your desk or in the kitchen. Look at it daily, and really FEEL as if you have already achieved the things on your Vision Board. Look at your Board as often as possible with focused intent. You will be surprised to see the things on your Vision Board show up in your life –sooner or later- providing you keep putting your intention on them and stay positive.

By looking at your Vision Board on a consistent (daily) basis, you will manifest the life you truly desire and deserve!

Coaching Programs and Tools

6-week Mentor Coaching
Mentor Coaching Club
Personal Coaching
Virtual Assistants Go to College
Products to Help You and Your Clients

6-week Mentor Coaching $97 ($450 value)

Do you want to work with an experienced Virtual Professional and business coach as you build your virtual practice? We will guide you through the process.

Virtual office setup
Confidently discuss your rates and services through role playing
Attract your ideal client
Keep on top of technology
Marketing and networking both online and offline
Learn how to focus your time using simple techniques that work
Openly discuss individual and unique challenges
Group setting for peer comraderie
Confidentiality agreements signed by all participants
- We like the 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas' confidentiality!

"I certainly came away from [the class] with some valuable information to help me with focusing my time and building my business. I loved the relaxed format and the opportunity you gave for the participants to ask questions or voice concerns. And I can't say enough about the value of the group messages on the [forum]. The best thing I think for me was realizing that everyone has some of the same questions, hurdles, and issues when it comes to starting, growing and nurturing a small business."

~ Christine O'Hanlon - www.summitvirtualstaff.com

Our next class begins Monday, September 10th! Let us know if this day and time do not work for you. We have a wait list and will open up additional trainings as soon as possible.

Mondays at 10:30 am - 11:30 am Pacific

**NOTE: Limited to 20 people per group. Some classes may be extended due to holidays and/or previously scheduled out of office dates.

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*Mentor Coaching Club $17/month ($75/month value)

Do you want to continue your group coaching experience? Now you can!

With the coaching club, you and your peers can continue your group coaching experience, discussions, peer support and more.

2 30-minute laser coaching sessions per month
Group coaching setting
Special guest speakers
Private forum for further discussion and collaboration with peers
Unlimited email coaching
Sessions may include:
- Creating and Managing the Virtual Office
- Marketing Yourself as a Virtual Assistant
- Goal setting and Accountability
- Tools for Becoming a Successful VA
- Brainstorming for YOUR new ideas, services, and products

*Coaching Club is only available to previous Mentor Coaching students

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Personal Coaching $75/mo and up

Are you still struggling with your virtual practice?
Not enough clients to pay the bills and your partner is on your case about getting a 'real' job?
You have been a successful virtual professional and now you want to grow your business, but how?
Are you overwhelmed by all the administrative tasks you must do in addition to your client work?

With personal coaching, you have direct access to Michelle Ulrich, a seasoned Virtual Professional. To learn more about Michelle and her vast professional experience, go here.

We will explore in a one-on-one setting via telephone how to work through your individual challenges. All information is held in the strictest of confidences and our agreement with you will illustrate this as well.

Here is a sampling of the topics we can discuss. Of course, your coaching sessions are tailored to fit your unique situation and needs.

Take time for yourself to gain clarity and a fresh focus
Confidently discuss your rates and services through role playing
Explore your passions and possibly refocus your business
Attract your ideal client and why
Is your message clear and concise?
We'll assess your current marketing materials and techniques
Are you ready for subcontracting some of your own workload or some of your clients projects?
How to effectively work with subcontractors

Coaching starts at $75/month for three months and go up from there.

If you are interested in this type of coaching, please email Michelle for a complete intake package and available start dates.

Coach with Michelle

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Community College Opportunities for Virtual Assistants

I am very excited to be teaching my first online class, Creating and Managing a Virtual Office. Class starts this fall semester on August 20, 2007 and runs through December 21, 2007. If you are interested and want to learn more about the class or are considering taking it, please check it out at www.shastacollege.edu.

Click on 'Schedule of Classes' near the bottom of the home page
Click on the General Information graphic on the right
Search for Courses on the right
Select Fall 2007 Term
Under 'Subjects' input Office Administration
Submit
My class number is OAS-30-F7051 (it's 100% online, too!)
To register, go back to the home page

I am still working on all of my lessons, but in the next week, I will have my web page up and more details. In the meantime, here are just a few of the topics I'll be covering.

Evolution of the Virtual Office
Working for yourself
Assessing skills and work habits
Personal and business life
Virtual office technologies
Communication tools and techniques
Business ethics

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Products to Help You Help Your Clients

The Virtual Nation™ products are designed to help you become more productive, efficient and get you and/or your client's noticed!

New!!! North American Media Directory, with tabs for each state (United States) along with a few international listings, too. Includes contact names, emails , websites, notes and more! $47 USD
New!!! Teleclass and Event Submission Directory with 50+ sites to get your teleclass and event noticed! $17 USD
Article Submission Directory with over 600+ sites, categories, email addresses, websites and notes on how to submit your article effectively.
$27 USD

A Day in the Life of a VA

Here I am at 10:30 pm still typing away and catching up on the plethora of emails I received throughout the day. But hey, I am not complaining in the least. Well, okay maybe a smidgen. I almost feel like I need to hire a VA myself just to check my email for me. Someday, someday!!

Owning My Time

Joking aside, I love being a VA and owning my time. I decide when and where I work (except for the occasional inperson client meeting for local clients). For example, I spent Memorial Day Weekend at the beach with family and Sunday night I decided to log on and address any emails or issues that needed my attention. That’s the blessing and the curse of being a VA; 24/7 access to work. Good for the client; not always good for the VA…we all need to have a life outside of work.

My Day

Today started out like most days. Up before 6 am, grab a cup of coffee and breakfast. Then get my daughter, Elena, up, feed her and run her to the sitter. Then off to an onsite appointment with a client, work for a few hours on listing coordination activities. A lot of the time I research ways to save clients time and money and come up with new ways of doing things. I am their extra set of eyes. Once done with the client for the day, I take a break to do some work around the house getting it ready to sell. As if I didn’t have enough on my plate, right?! Run off to the bank, post office, read some emails in the car on my PDA, and pick up Elena. Arrive home around 4:30 pm, and have family time from 4:30 pm to about 7:30 pm. From there, I typically work until about 10 pm, taking a couple nights off during the week to maintain my sanity.

Challenges

The challenges I face with owning a business revolve mostly around finding balance. I am in business for myself as a VA so that I can have time with family, but at the same time running a business is a huge, time consuming undertaking. I deal daily with the typical working mother guilt of not being able to be with my daughter every day all day, but also feel confident that this is the right decision for our family. Elena is getting the socialization necessary for young children while at the same time having designated “Mommy and Me” days. Additionally, I find it hard to find time for business building activities like networking because I am working on client projects so much. Eventually I will find the right balance and be able to really commit to scheduling time for my business activities; not just my clients’.

Rewards

There are so many rewards to being a VA. My life is more balanced and fulfilled by doing what I am doing. I know that launching my business in 2005 was the best decision I ever made. It is a huge risk going into business for yourself, but the satisfaction of being home with my daughter when she needs me, having the ability to work on the road if need be, and setting my own schedule is worth all the risk. Each day, I have the opportunity to work with wonderful clients and help them manage and grow their businesses. The coolest part is that while my client was out climbing Mount Everest, I was helping her by managing her email and updating her website!

Teresa H. Berger, MBA owns Innovate Services, specializing in marketing communications and client relationship management support. Teresa has helped real estate professionals and small businesses by streamlining and organizing their communications pieces and marketing activities. She lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband and 15month old daughter.

The Virtual Nation Expert Teleclass Series

Presents...

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
10:00 am - 11:00 am Pacific

"Cyberspace Insurance:
Is Your Virtual Practice Vulnerable Without it?"

TVN has a lot of other incredible resources to choose from. If you are in need of forms, templates, information on starting a business in California, where to go to find great books, printers, and more, it's all on the website. Click here to have a look.

Advertising Disclaimer:
The Virtual Nation™ does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the paid advertisements above or the quality of any products, information, or other materials displayed, purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection with any ad. You are responsible for handling your own due diligence before purchasing any product or service.

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