The Gritty Virtual Assistant

Saucy business savvy from an industry veteran

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Rethink Your Role: You Aren’t Anyone’s Assistant

Mar 12, 2010 9:00am

If you’re in business, you aren’t anyone’s assistant. Too many organizations are training Virtual Assistants to work with clients like nothing more than contract employees (and a contract employee is an employee). This keeps them from growing and earning better. You will keep yourself stuck if you continue to buy...

Don’t Fall for Dangling Carrot Syndrome

Mar 11, 2010 9:00am

Originally posted November 11, 2009 “Incentive-based compensation…” “Good work will lead to more immediately.” “Work on commission and your income is only limited by your effort.” “I pay on percentage… if I make money, you make money.” Work your ass off and maybe you’ll get repaid in proper proportion for all of the effort and value you give...

Recording Conference Calls and Webinars with Camtasia

Mar 10, 2010 2:14pm

Ran into this issue and thought I would share what I learned in case it’s helpful to anyone else… In offering my first training classes, I’ve been getting an education by fire of all the ins and outs of doing webinar recording. I used GoToTraining for my first class. It’s a...

Business Costs Money

Mar 9, 2010 9:00am

I saw a Google Alert recently where a Virtual Assistant posted to a forum regarding a certain font she required to complete a project. The Virtual Assistant mentioned that $25 for the font was a bit steep, and I had to chuckle because I’ve paid hundreds of dollars for a...

No One Can Guarantee You Clients

Mar 4, 2010 7:44am

There are people who care about this industry, and then there are exploiters in this industry who only care about picking your pockets. Look beneath the surface. Are these people even in the business they are trying to teach you about? Do they actually DO the thing they profess to have...

Dear Gritty VA: How Do I Get Clients

Mar 3, 2010 9:00am

Dear Gritty VA: Brief question–how do you get clients? I know this is on every Virtual Assistant’s mind in America whom is starting out. I know that the Virtual Assistant business is referral-based, but my God! I know that you can’t just jump up and think you are going to...

I Don’t Do Pains-in-the-Butt

Mar 2, 2010 9:00am

Seth Godin recently wrote about short-sighted, greedy, selfish consumers in his blog post, “More, more more.” You give them an inch, and they want a pound of your flesh for the rest of your life. He writes that basically every business owner who wants to provide “remarkable service and an honest...

Go Easy on Yourself (You’re Not a Robot, Ya Know)

Mar 1, 2010 9:00am

Here’s an article I wrote and published today in “The Portable Business™.” If you’d like to subscribe, go here: All of us make mistakes. We all have learning curves when we’re trying something new. Every single one of us. One of the best things you can do in business is...

So, What Does an Administrative Support Consultant Do for Me, You Ask?

Feb 22, 2010 9:00am

Here’s a little video for ya… feel free to use it on your site if you have trouble explaining to clients what you do as a Virtual Assistant and Administrative Support Consultant....

How to Price & Package Your Support

Feb 11, 2010 9:00am

So I’m conducting my first-ever business class for Virtual Assistants and Administrative Consultants next week on February 18 and I’m really excited. It’s taken me a long time to get over my aversion to offering classes. It seems like so many VAs open their doors and two seconds later they’re...