SVA Forum

deehope · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Bristol

....thank heaven I found you....I thought I would have to go it alone...sooo scary!! I am sitting in my office in Bristol with my dog at my feet (Bearded Collie pup of fifteen months) and feeling pretty good about my decision to become a VA.

My name is Dee Hope and my company is Diggory Virtual Assistant Services. During my career I have been a professional Nanny travelling around the world looking after new borns to seven year olds; and then onto a career in business starting at the bottom and working my way up to become the Executive Assistant to various CEO's and MD's.

I have had a read through of some of the history in the Forum and I intend to read the rest...I just have two specific questions...perhaps you could help me answer.

1. What books would you recommend me to buy on becoming a VA.? Primary focus is Best Practise...actually setting up the office systems, templates, accounts etc.

2. In your opinion are there any VA specific courses currently available that you would recommend me attend...taking into consideration the course content, qualityof lecturers and value for money?

Thank you in advance for all your help. I greatly look forward to having you all by my side as I embark on this rather scary journey...!

Bye for now Dee

caroline · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject:

Hi Dee

Welcome to SVA! I also used to be a nanny and then became a PA working in music and advertising. Children, animals and rock stars are all fairly similar!

There's actually an SVA recommended reading list if you click on the sales page link above and then "READING" - lots of must reads on there including my fave newbie reference "VA The Series". And of course The E Myth which is a good one to recommend to clients too.

Join us for the SVA monthly chats - 6th March is the next one and it's specifically aimed at newbies so there will be tons of relevant info! (link below).

Training courses can be a bit hit & miss - ditto the VA books actually! I'd go on recommendations if at all possible. All the links in the SVA sales page are recommended so feel free to browse there, and I'm sure others have a few things to say too.....

C.
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To support SVA please donate to: http://tinyurl.com/37urec

coxvos · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject:

Hi Dee

Welcome to the forums.
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Regards

Lynn

ASAP Admin · Moderator Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 854 Location: Glasgow

Welcome to SVA and I would recommend VA the Series, and you can find that on the SVA sales page.
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Lyndsey Gilchrist
ASAP Admin
Call Team

OfficeStuff · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject:

Welcome, Dee, and good luck. Lovely to see such enthusiasm, and long may it last!
_________________
Carole Meyrick
Office Stuff
Perfectly Practical Office Support

sara - Office Bird · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject:

welcome!
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Sara
Office Bird
Your Perfect Business Partner

www.officebird.co.uk

Platinum · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject:

Welcome :)
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Helen Platten
www.platinumadministration.co.uk
www.lovehennahair.co.uk
www.thebeadinglady.co.uk

skva · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:28 pm Post subject:

Hi Dee

Welcome - you'll find a lot of useful info here and a bunch of friendly VAs. :)
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Sharon Kemp SK Virtual Assistant For monthly SVA training sessions please visit: http://tinyurl.com/39abrt Or to support SVA please donate to: http://tinyurl.com/37urec

Burford Secretarial · Moderator Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 540 Location: Kent

Hi Dee,

Glad to see that you found us. It was great speaking to you the other week and I wish you all the best. As I have said before if you have any other questions etc, please feel free to give me a call.

Very Happy

_________________
Charlotte Burford

Burford Secretarial
www.burfordsecretarial.com

For monthly SVA training sessions please visit: http://tinyurl.com/39abrt

Or to support SVA please donate to: http://tinyurl.com/37urec

admindoc · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject:

Hi Dee

Welcome to SVA, nice to meet you :)
_________________
Angela Dawson
The Admin Doctor
t: 01670 618628 / 07855746777
http://www.theadmindoc.co.uk

For monthly SVA training sessions please visit: http://tinyurl.com/39abrt or to support SVA please donate to: http://tinyurl.com/37urec

Peter · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject:

Hello, welcome to the forum.
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Peter

Assisted Virtually
www.assistedvirtually.co.uk

"Your business means everything to us"

Jools · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

Hi Dee,
Welcome to you and your pup! We had a beardie growing up, he really was as mad as a box of frogs, but so loveable with it ;)

Best of luck to you setting up, I am in a similar position, but finally have my website up and my Standard Contract and Terms and Conditions finally in place Wink

Hardest thing so far, has been spending my shoe money on a scanner, printer, fax and new desk Laughing

_________________
Jools
www.virtuallyyourassistant.co.uk
For all your Secretarial, Administrative & Lifestyle Management requirements

OfficeStuff · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

Jools
NOT YOUR SHOE MONEY! ARGH!!

That is really sacrifice. I'm sure it will be worth it tho... it has taken a while before I have been able to start up-dating my shoe collection! :)
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Carole Meyrick
Office Stuff
Perfectly Practical Office Support

lynbo · Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Wylye, Wiltshire

Hi Dee & pup

Welcome to the forum, my dog is also sitting next to me while working and I also started working life as a nanny.. is there a theme starting here. Good luck and hope your business goes well

Lynda
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Lynda Like
Grovely Business Solutions
www.grovely.co.uk
"Helping hand in business"

planitpurple · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:54 pm Post subject:

Hi Dee
Welcome to the forum and good luck with your new business.
Yvette
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Yvette Segal
Plan-It Purple Virtual Assistance
http://www.planitpurple.co.uk