| The ease of setting up a virtual assistant business | | | | empathizes with his client. To him, the golden rule |
| has given rise to the proliferation of virtual | | | | is very much a valid principle to conduct his |
| assistants offering various services and | | | | business by. |
| trumpeting all sorts of claims to fame. So much | | | | His relationship with his virtual workers is also |
| so that it has become difficult to spot the | | | | founded on fair play. He provides them |
| professional, reliable and well-meaning virtual | | | | opportunities for professional growth and he pays |
| assistants from the cheap wannabes or copycats. | | | | them commensurately. He appreciates a good job |
| This is because virtual assistants do not come | | | | and he does not hesitate to give a constructive |
| with nametags on their breast pockets that | | | | feedback, when needed. He treats his virtual |
| declare their true identity. But the reality remains - | | | | workers as extensions of himself. |
| there are those who are an asset to their clients | | | | Trust is a Treasure |
| and there are those who give the industry a bad | | | | The professional virtual assistant treasures his |
| name. What distinguishes a professional virtual | | | | client's trust. He ensures confidentiality of matters |
| assistant? | | | | that are given in confidence even if it means |
| Continuous Development Program | | | | saying no to other clients. His word is an oath and |
| As in other industries, the professional virtual | | | | when he gives it, he stands and falls with it. When |
| assistant continuously strives to improve his craft. | | | | commitments are made, he makes sure they are |
| He knows that his value to his clients depends on | | | | delivered on time. |
| how good he is in what he does. So he keeps | | | | Loyalty is Premium |
| himself abreast of the various developments that | | | | To the professional virtual assistant, business |
| take place in his industry. Since he is highly | | | | deals that build lasting relationship are more |
| dependent on information technology and internet, | | | | important than short-term profit maximization. He |
| he makes sure he is constantly updated in this | | | | chooses his clients and strives to keep them. He |
| fast-paced field. He also strives to learn more of | | | | does not mind giving concessions for repeat deals |
| the businesses of his clients so that he can be of | | | | to cultivate client loyalty. He maintains regular |
| more value to them. Moreover, he knows that | | | | communication with his clients being extra careful |
| with more and more virtual assistants coming in | | | | not to waste their time. A happy client is his |
| the horizon, competition becomes keener by the | | | | business' reason for being. |
| day. And only those who continue to grow in | | | | Clients as Partners |
| order to cope with the ever-increasing demand of | | | | To a professional virtual assistant, every client is a |
| the clients will survive. | | | | business partner. An outsourced task is just a |
| Commitment to Excellence | | | | step towards a series of mutually beneficial deals. |
| To the professional virtual assistant, commitment | | | | An outsourced task is an opening to know more |
| to excellence is an obsession. He makes it a point | | | | about the client's business and what role he can |
| to give his best in whatever he does even if | | | | play to help it grow. Every outsourced task is an |
| "good enough" is acceptable to the client. He | | | | opportunity for a professional virtual assistant to |
| drives himself hard, does not cut corners and the | | | | serve a business partner, an opportunity to |
| word compromise does not exist in his | | | | cultivate a business relationship into a virtual |
| vocabulary. When he affixes his name to his | | | | partnership. |
| work, it is a stamp of quality. To him quality work | | | | In conclusion, being a professional in any field is |
| is, by itself, a gratification. | | | | never easy. It requires self-discipline of the highest |
| Fair Play as a Way of Life | | | | order and an unwavering commitment to the |
| Fair play is the professional virtual assistant's | | | | achievement of a goal. It requires a clear definition |
| modus vivende. He makes sure he earns every | | | | of what is important and an equally clear |
| cent his client pays and even looks for ways to | | | | understanding of what has to be done. This is |
| give his clients that proverbial extra mile. He does | | | | very much the same with the virtual assistant |
| not exploit the weakness of his client or takes | | | | business. There is always the temptation to follow |
| advantage of his client's missed opportunities. He | | | | the path of least resistance or to do what is |
| is happy with his client's success and is saddened | | | | convenient but the hallmark of a true professional |
| with his client's setbacks. He takes pride in being | | | | virtual assistant is in being able to stay the course |
| able to help his clients. In other words, he | | | | simply because it is the right thing to do. |