The Resource That Has Best Helped My VA Business!

Tawnya Sutherland, the founder of the Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA), has created the best resource for getting your VA business up and running.

The Virtual Business Startup System (VBSS) has helped me immensely. Without it I would not be in business. I learned so much from Tawnya and the resources included in the program.

Tawnya says:

"I am going to show you the personal and prosperous benefits you will enjoy running your own Virtual Assistant business from home by clearly giving you simple instructions each day to obtain your own home-based virtual assistant business. It's a VA business in a box!

Within 30 days, you should have a successful Virtual Assistant business up and running!

The Virtual Business Startup System (VBSS) includes a step-by-step workbook which provides a collection of valuable sound advice and practical guidance for starting your own successful Virtual Assistant business from a well-known and successful Virtual Assistant herself, Tawnya Sutherland. There are also tons of business templates included on a CD-ROM to make your business start-up easier and cut your preparation time in half since you won't have to spend time designing them all by yourself!

But that's only the beginning!

Your VBSS also includes well known reference books written by professionals already in the Virtual Assistant industry like Diana Ennen, Kelly Poelker and Michelle Jamison that are referred to throughout your VBSS workbook journey. PLUS many other valuable resources like e-books, tutorials, charts, articles, coupons and Virtual Assistant contracts that will help your business become a success!"

I think it is well worth the $495.00 investment. You will get all the training you need to set up your VA business and keep it running.

Check it out at: VBSS

3rd Edition of the Carnival of Virtual Assistants

Kathie Thomas will be the host for the October edition of the Blog Carnival of Virtual Assistants.

You can see all of the great posts by clicking HERE. Kathie Thomas' blog is exactly what the title says, "The Blog About Our Industry". There is always so much information posted there for VAs and their clients. It is definitely a resource for you to add to your favourites.

Kathie has also been honoured recently by VANA (Virtual Assistant Networking Association) as having the VA Blog of the Week. A well deserved honour. VANA is another great resource with over 7,000 members who, through the VA forum, are more than willing to help you on your way as you get your virtual assistant business to the place you want it to be.

The 4th edition of the Blog Carnival of Virtual Assistants will be making its way back here in November. Let's make it the virtual assistant event of the month!

Event Planning

I have been involved in the planning of many different kinds of events - conferences, weddings, concerts, and parties - but the most difficult one to plan and execute is a child's birthday party.

What has happened to the pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey party? Nowadays, you have to have crafts, entertainment, the "right" location, and treat bags to rival the ones given out at the Oscars. Today was my daughter's 10th birthday. It was not a large party, but it was still a lot of work. I had a lot to do. It had to be just right because it is the last "big" party that she is having.

There were invitations to make, goodie bags to make, crafts to create, rooms and a cake to decorate, prizes to make, and food to serve. My wife was working, so I had to do pretty much everything. I tried to break every project down into small parts and get so many of them done each day until everything was all done. It wasn't done until 5 minutes before the kids walked in the door, but it was done!

No matter what kind of event you are planning, it all comes down to preparation. Knowing what the expected outcome is and planning for every possible thing between idea and realization. It sounds like a huge task but if it is broken down into smaller tasks, it becomes way less daunting.

The party was a success and everyone went home happy. There were no fights, and even despite the rain, it went great.

VANA's Virtual Assistant Blog of the Week!

I have been awarded one of VANA's highest honours for a Virtual Assistant Blog. Every week a blog is chosen out of over 7,000 members and it is awarded the Blog of the Week.



If you are a virtual assistant and haven't joined VANA (Virtual Assistant Networking Association) then you definitely should. Join over 7,000 other VAs for support, direction and fun. There are also RFPs listed and everyone is ready to help you with whatever questions you might have.

If you are NOT a virtual assistant, but are looking for more information about VAs, then VANA is the place for you as well. With tonnes of articles, links and a Virtual Assistant Directory it is the spot to find out more and even locate the right VA for you.

Newsletter and Free New E-Book

I have finally decided to take my newsletter seriously. Everyone keeps telling me that it's a great way to collect leads and keep people informed about my business.

I have decided to give away a short e-book away as a thank you for signing up to the newsletter. It's called "The 7 Essential Keys to Responding to RFPs" for virtual assistants and "The 7 Essential Keys to Writing RFPs" for people who are not VAs".

The newsletter is called "Right-Hand-Man's Handy Tips" and will be filled with great business, office, and VA tips as well as stories of and quotes by successful business owners and entrepreneurs that will spur you on to being the best you can in business.

You can sign up at in the box in the sidebar