Chief Virtual Officer » Resources http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog You're An Entrepreneur, Not An Employee Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:43:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 CVO Source: New Forum Means New Look for the Blog http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2010/09/13/cvo-source-new-forum-means-new-look-for-the-blog/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2010/09/13/cvo-source-new-forum-means-new-look-for-the-blog/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:52:46 +0000 Joel D Canfield http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/?p=1140 Yes, this is still the blog of Chief Virtual Officer; you’re not lost. In order to set up our new online learning environment, CVO Source, we’re changing the layout and look of the blog to match the Source. The blog becomes the free portion of the Source, always available to anyone interested in the business of being a virtual worker.

If you’re interested in even more, including audio, video, how-to articles, Q&A, and whatever else we can dream up together, sign up for CVO Source. For less than $5 a month, you’ll get more business knowledge than you can possibly absorb. You might want to read more about it, but if you’re ready right now, click the button below:


After payment you’ll be taken to the Source where you can create a username and password. Your account will be approved promptly, and you can get started learning!

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2010/09/13/cvo-source-new-forum-means-new-look-for-the-blog/feed/ 0 Virtual Assistants Meetup http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/20/virtual-assistants-meetup/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/20/virtual-assistants-meetup/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:10:11 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/?p=535 We live in a virtual world. As virtual assistants, for the most part, it is not necessary to leave our home office to do our work. Yet there are some cons to working solo in this environment. It can be lonely not to have the comaraderie we once had in an office setting. We no longer have the ready access to a fellow office mate to bounce ideas against and get instantaneous feedback on our work. Sure we can get that from other people online. But the connection is not quite the same.

Virtual assistants in many areas are creating meetup groups at Meetup.com. They meet regularly with one another as a group at a local setting. Here they are able to exchange ideas, brainstorm, and get encouragement to help them in their businesses. Some have other people come in and speak on topics that are of interest to the group and can help them develop their businesses.

I belong to such a group that meets in Roseville, Caliornia each month. The Northern California Virtual Assistants Meetup Group usually meets the fourth Saturday of each month. We’ve had a business coach come in and speak to us; someone else came in and spoke about their time tracking software; another coach came in to speak on getting out of our comfort zone; another came in to discuss our motivation in selling our services; another is coming to discuss organization and productivity tips.

Perhaps you can find or create a similar group in your area so that you and other virtual assistants have a way to brainstorm ideas and grow your businesses. Let’s work together to grow the virtual assistant industry.

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/20/virtual-assistants-meetup/feed/ 1 Writing Your Business Plan for 2010 to Increase Productivity http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/15/writing-your-business-plan-for-2010-to-increase-productivity/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/15/writing-your-business-plan-for-2010-to-increase-productivity/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:00:50 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/?p=530 It’s time to start thinking about the New Year. Are you just starting out in business or have you been in business a while? Either way, each year you should consider writing a new business plan.

Your business plan does not need to be lengthy and complicated. It should include specific goals, strategies and actions you can implement on a daily basis. Having a written business plan with specific daily actions can increase your productivity and grow your business.

So let’s get started. The Canfield Kennedy InstantBizPlan.com website has a free report you can download – 6 Mistakes That Could Destroy Your Business . . . and How You Can Avoid Them. Go download your free report and get started on your 2010 plan now!

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/15/writing-your-business-plan-for-2010-to-increase-productivity/feed/ 0 The Adventures of Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/14/the-adventures-of-vanessa-andruz-virtual-assistant/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/14/the-adventures-of-vanessa-andruz-virtual-assistant/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:00:33 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/?p=520 Today I have a visitor. I’ve interviewed Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant.

Tell me about yourself
I was an Executive Assistant for many years, but when I turned 50, I realized I was so tired of corporate politics…you know what I mean…so I decided it was time for a change. I researched different career paths, but none really seemed to “fit” until I found Virtual Assistance. I set up my VA business, and I’ve never looked back!

Why did you have these e-books written?
I did a LOT of research when I was setting up my business – such as what kind of business structure was best for me, how to set up my home office, how to determine my rates, the best ways to market my business and how to get over my fear of networking. It was hard work and took a lot of time. So, to save others all that research, I put what I learned into a series of e-books I call “The Adventures of Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant.”

What is the series about?
It’s all about how to become a Virtual Assistant. The first e-book, Vanessa Has a Dream, describes how I left my job and decided to become a VA. It’s an unbelievable story, but I swear my adventures are as real as I am!

In the second e-book, Vanessa Becomes a Virtual Assistant, I discovered my company name – with a little help from the Universe and my mother – created a business plan template, and chose a business structure. As a bonus, I’ve included a link to a downloadable version of my business plan!

The third e-book is called Vanessa Sets Up Her Home Office. It’s full of practice advice on choosing the right office equipment and supplies for a VA business. There are research notes about computers, fax machines, scanners, ways to access the internet, and lots of good stuff. I even take my readers on a trip to my local office supply store in Washaketa, Wisconsin. What a fun place to shop!

My latest e-book, Vanessa Determines Her Services, Niche and Rates, includes a list of 300 services that VAs can provide – with the appropriate training, of course. I was amazed at how versatile VAs can be!! There’s also a downloadable Client Contract template.

What do you want the readers to get out of the series?
I hope that telling my story will give new Virtual Assistants the guidance they’re looking for when starting their own business. And I hope they enjoy the “personal touches” that I’ve included in all the e-books.

How can the readers contact you if they want further information?
They can email me, and I’m also on Facebook.

How much does your e-book cost?
Vanessa Has a Dream is free! Vanessa Becomes a Virtual Assistant is only $2.95, while Vanessa Sets Up Her Home Office and Vanessa Determines Her Services, Niche and Rates are very affordable at $4.95 each.

Where can the readers purchase your e-book?
They can find all of the books in my series at http://www.VanessaAndruz.com/Products.html.

Vanessa, thank you for stopping by my blog.

You are very welcome. Thank you, Sue, for having me.

About the Author:
Melodee Patterson of Short-term Solutions is a VA who, much like Vanessa, got tired of the corporate life and struck out on her own. She’s enjoying her role as chronicler of Vanessa’s amazing journey. (She does ask that you refrain from calling Vanessa a “fictional character.” Apparently Vanessa is a bit touchy about that fact.)

Vanessa Andruz

Vanessa Andruz

Book Summary:
The Adventures of Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant series is not only full of practical advice for prospective Virtual Assistants, it’s also a fun story. You’ll meet Vanessa’s parents who live in Sedona, Arizona, where her mother reads auras for a living; Vanessa’s friend, Marci, an insurance adjuster unlike any insurance adjuster you’ve ever met; and Vanessa’s ex-husband, Mark, currently living with his “beach bunny” in Cozumel! Check out the series today.

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/10/14/the-adventures-of-vanessa-andruz-virtual-assistant/feed/ 5 Business Owner vs. Employee http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/23/business-owner-vs-employee/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/23/business-owner-vs-employee/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:41:14 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/?p=485 The Commonsense Virtual Assistant

The Commonsense Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is no longer an employee. A VA is a business owner. The service we offer is virtual assistance. But our title is really Owner.

When you think of yourself as a business owner, your actions will reflect that and your clients will respect you as a business owner.

Excerpted from the Introduction in The Commonsense Virtual Assistant – Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee.

Learn more about what it takes to be a successful business owner while operating a virtual assistant practice.

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/23/business-owner-vs-employee/feed/ 0 Word of Mouth Referral Grows Client List http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/04/word-of-mouth-referral-grows-client-list/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/04/word-of-mouth-referral-grows-client-list/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:00:09 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/?p=458 Exactly one year ago this month I signed on a new client that I had met briefly at two local events. After a very short period of time, this client was impressed enough with my services, and trusted me enough, that he referred me to two of his business partners.

I’ve enjoyed working for all three of them and it impresses me that the two business partners are people I’ve never met. Yet with each I have developed a trusting relationship to the point that they have each entrusted me with sensitive information. One of the business partners then referred me to one of his clients and she (I’ll call her Mary) and I began working together the first of this year.

But the story doesn’t end there. Now ‘Mary’ and I have been working together for nine months or so and again quickly developed a very trusting relationship. Thanks to her word of mouth referral, I just signed on another new client that I’ve never met.

So in exactly one year, and due to word of mouth referrals, from that one client I have gained an additional four directly as a result of his word of mouth referral.

So how can you develop trusting relationships and word of mouth referrals? Everything I’ve learned has been thanks to my coach. Together he and I now coach other virtual assistants to help them learn how to develop the same kind of trusting relationships with their clients and increase word of mouth referrals.

Contact us today to schedule your free 30-minute coaching consultation, no obligation.

And let us know what you do to create and maintain trusting relationships and word of mouth referrals.

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/04/word-of-mouth-referral-grows-client-list/feed/ 0 Free 30-Minute Phone Consultations for Commonsense Virtual Assistant Coaching http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/04/free-30-minute-phone-consultations-for-commonsense-virtual-assistant-coaching/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/04/free-30-minute-phone-consultations-for-commonsense-virtual-assistant-coaching/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:51:24 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/free-30-minute-phone-consultations-for-commonsense-virtual-assistant-coaching/ The Commonsense Virtual Assistant

The Commonsense Virtual Assistant

I’m very excited to offer free 30-minute coaching calls for our virtual assistant coaching program. I’ve had many virtual assistants come to me for advice who then implement my suggestions and are very grateful for the ideas I’ve given them. It’s the reason I decided to create and launch this coaching program – to help new and struggling VAs learn the skills to become business owners.

However, some wonder if they really need a coaching program or if we’re the right coach for them. That’s why we offer a free 30-minute consultation, no obligation. Once you’ve scheduled a consultation, we send you a questionnaire and ask that you return it before the day of your call. That allows us time to review what your most urgent need is in your business. We are then able to spend the 30 minutes most efficiently.

During the 30-minute call we address your most urgent business challenge and provide you with a specific action or strategy you can implement immediately in your business. Then we take just a few minutes at the end of the call to review our coaching program so you can determine if it’s right for you.

Here’s what one virtual assistant wrote us right after her free 30-minute phone consultation:

“Thank you for talking with me today. It was the best 30 minutes I’ve had with a business coach!

“The questionnaire you sent me prior to the call, really made me think about how I’m marketing my business. I always heard that you should have a niche, but I really didn’t understand the value until you explained the importance of setting yourself apart from others.

“I can’t wait to make the changes you suggested and watch my client base grow!”
—Sara Gaffney, 101 Virtual Assistant

Contact us today to schedule your free 30-minute coaching call and take action now to grow your VA business!

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/09/04/free-30-minute-phone-consultations-for-commonsense-virtual-assistant-coaching/feed/ 0 Commonsense Virtual Assistant Coaching Program Launched http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/07/22/commonsense-virtual-assistant-coaching-program-launched/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/07/22/commonsense-virtual-assistant-coaching-program-launched/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:01:51 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/?p=450 I’m very excited to announce a new VA Coaching Program.

If you’d like to start your new year with a bang, subscribe to our 5-month program.

Benefits:

  • Access by email 24/7
  • One 1-hour phone call each month with Joel and Sue
  • Review of website, particularly in the area of marketing and SEO, any marketing materials, including business cards, brochures, postcards, cold calling scripts, etc., blog, articles and rates
  • Assistance developing description of your ideal client, creating a 30-60 second pitch, a one page business plan, one page marketing plan and marketing calendar
  • Products as listed below, one each month
  • PDFs as listed below, one each month
  • Questionnaire to determine your specific coaching needs
  • We only work with ten clients at a time


Books and CDs included, valued at over $100:
(one mailed each month of paid coaching)

  • The Commonsense Virtual Assistant: Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee

  • Motivation 101: 5 Steps to Activate Your Potential in Any Economy, An Audio Mastery Course

  • 49 Commonsense Business Observations

  • The Commonsense Entrepreneur

  • Surprise bonus business book

Bonus PDFs included:

  • Self Promotion: Getting Started – includes marketing tools and resources

  • Blogging for Your Business: includes 3 Keys to Successful Blogging and 5 Ways to Promote Your Blog, Finding the Time to Write and What to Write About, Ideas on How to Get More Traffic to Your Blog and a questionnaire to help you get started

  • Article Submissions and Press Release Sites

  • Duct Tape Marketing Guide: 7 Steps to Small Business Marketing Success

  • Marketing and Promoting Your Teleseminar: a list of online sites you can post your teleseminars


Bonus for signing up by July 31, 2009!
Membership in VIP Business Heretics
Monthly Subscription
(Included for the duration of the coaching program; ongoing subscription is $25/month)
  • Weekly teleclass with coaches Joel D Canfield and Jerry L Kennedy

  • Digital copies of all Business Heretics products: audios and ebooks

  • First look at all new Canfield Kennedy content posted at the website


All for $250/Month for the
5-Month Program


To learn more about this program,

visit Commonsense Virtual Assistant Coaching.

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/07/22/commonsense-virtual-assistant-coaching-program-launched/feed/ 0 Interactive Business Workshop: The Time is Now 11:59 http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/05/25/interactive-business-workshop-the-time-is-now-1159/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/05/25/interactive-business-workshop-the-time-is-now-1159/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 19:28:56 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/?p=437 Join Us for an Interactive Seminar & Workshop

Learn Why Now is the Time to Grow Your Business & How You Can Succeed While Others Fear and Fail

Carpe Momentum

In an economy where every new client, every new project can feel like a stay of execution instead of a new start, you need to see every opportunity, and seize it.

Here’s why.

And how.

Where & When

Friday June 12th
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
9380 Elk Grove-Florin Road
Elk Grove California

Space is very limited. Register Now!

]]> http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/05/25/interactive-business-workshop-the-time-is-now-1159/feed/ 0 Interviewed by Virtual Assistant Forums http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/05/01/interviewed-by-virtual-assistant-forums/ http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2009/05/01/interviewed-by-virtual-assistant-forums/#comments Fri, 01 May 2009 15:45:14 +0000 Sue L Canfield http://suecanfield.wordpress.com/?p=404 I have been a member of VirtualAssistantForums.com since July 2008. Virtual Assistant Forums (VAF) just celebrated their 2-year anniversary. Congratulations!

The VAF has been a wonderful resource for virtual assistants. Everyone is helpful and friendly and I’ve even had the opportunity to meet one of the members in person. If you are a virtual assistant looking for resources and an opportunity to network with other VAs, VirtualAssistantForums.com is the place to go.

I was privileged to be interviewed at VAF for the month of May. Please read the entire interview and let me hear from you.

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