| Have you ever considered the idea that a business is | | | | Many Virtual Assistants will often charge professional |
| like a parent and employees like its children? Think | | | | service rates equal to their former hourly wage--and |
| about it... | | | | end up earning less because they haven't accounted |
| Employers must nurture and supervise their business | | | | for operating costs, capital outlay and profit margins, |
| and employees just like parents must do with their | | | | much less the Social Security, Medicare, |
| children. The "family unit" thrives on strong direction, fair | | | | unemployment, disability and other benefits they used |
| but firm discipline, and solid structure. The employer | | | | to receive as employees.The good news is that all it |
| "parent" is responsible for instilling this foundation, and | | | | takes to go from employee "child," who has never had |
| making determinations that affect the health and | | | | to be responsible for the success of a business, to |
| well-being of the "family unit," the business itself. | | | | strong, intelligent Virtual Assistant business owner is |
| Its "children," the employees, have only to do what is | | | | some intentional thought and smart planning. |
| asked of them and collect their "allowance" in the form | | | | There's even a business tool for this-it's called the |
| of wages. They don't get to decide how much they | | | | business plan. |
| will be paid. They don't have to deal with administration | | | | The business plan gets Virtual Assistants to |
| and taxes, profits or losses. And the success or failure | | | | consciously and methodically decide where they want |
| of the business affects them only to the extent that | | | | to go in their Virtual Assistant business and how they |
| they continue to have a job. | | | | will get there. It forces them to think through all the |
| When making the decision to become self-employed, a | | | | details of their business, and creates a roadmap for |
| Virtual Assistant goes from employee "child" to | | | | their Virtual Assistant business success. Problem is, |
| business owner "parent." There's much more at stake | | | | many Virtual Assistants struggle with where to even |
| now, and you should have a keen interest in the | | | | begin. |
| success and profitable operation of your Virtual | | | | As a Virtual Assistant, are you passively sitting in the |
| Assistant business.However, this is often a role that | | | | carseat of your business, or commanding at the |
| Virtual Assistants don't readily adjust to. You may not | | | | steering wheel? Be in control of your life and your |
| realize as a new business owner that there's much | | | | fortune! A business plan is the one document your |
| more to creating and running a self-sustaining business | | | | Virtual Assistant business should not be without. |
| than simply performing services for clients. | | | | |