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Virtual Assistant RavesHere are some of the lovely compliments that members and others have paid to me, the VACOC and our wonderful community of sharp and fabulous Virtual Assistants..."You have helped me so much in providing a great foundation for my business. Thank you for all you do!" — De Ann Harris, All Biz Web Support
"I feel so privileged that you have taken time to call me personally to help me with my business. You're an amazing mentor!!" — Marisa Moleiro, VIP Assisting
"Just wanted to stay connected as your website, chock full of awesome information, has helped me in establishing my goals of beginning my business. Wanted to also let you know that the Understanding Your Value workbook has really opened my eyes to just what my worth is! Thanks again for creating such a beneficial professional organization.. it really is helping me grow not only professionaly but personally as well." — Michelle Kvitek
"I just finished reading every word of your website and purchasing your Virtual Assistant Business Pack. I'm so excited to have found your website! What a GOLD MINE of resources and information! I'm such a NEWBIE at this, but what I'm so excited about is that I think I've finally found what I've been looking for. I guess you could call it my "retirement" calling. After over 38 years in various forms of business, industry, and education, I think I've found the perfect fit for for service in my retirement years. And I appreciate your making your experience, expertise and resources available for those of us who are looking to establish a rewarding and profitable VA career. As soon as I get my website up and running, I will be submitting a request to join your Forum. I can't wait to join the VA community at VACOC! Thanks again for your help. I look forward to getting to know you better, along with the others in the VACOC community." — Mil Ivey, That Computer Lady
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"Danielle,
I want to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude for your recent class
VACOC Biz Smart Intensives .... Pricing & Packaging Your Support.
I enjoyed every minute of it, and could listen to you teach for hours
on end. Forget the techno challenges. Yyou are such an inspiration and
the best mentor anyone could ever hope to have. Thank you for your incomparable
dedication to the Virtual Assistant industry and VACOC! I can't wait for
your next class—I love learning from you! I also want to say that
Breaking-The-Ice has made such a difference in my understanding and confidence
in speaking with potential clients. Thank you seems so inadequate - but
THANK YOU!" — 
"Glad
to have taken the time to finish signing up for VACOC. I like what I see
here!!!! I've already decided to join the full membership as soon as I
am eligible. The resources I have found here thus far are exceptionally
helpful!" — 
"I
also want to take this opportunity to say that you and the VACOC have
been a real blessing to me in 2009. I can’t tell you how much I
have appreciated your guidance, support and, most of all, your amazing
generosity of spirit." — 
"As
a micro-business owner, I realize the importance of building and maintaining
strong relationships with colleagues. I have found The Virtual Assistance
Chamber of Commerce to be a community comprised of professionals building
strong businesses. The networking environment established by the VACOC
is an encouraging and supportive one, while offering educational opportunities,
and excellent discussion on pertinent subjects. Choosing a quality professional
networking association is a critical piece in my business operations,
and I highly recommend the VACOC to business owners in the virtual assistance
profession." — 
"The
VACOC is a great place to get information and ideas for marketing! This
has become THE place I go for information, great ideas and just a place
for support. I have gained a great feeling of community here and am greatful
to each and every VA represented. The forum has given me a place to go
for information and support. I don’t know of another place I can
get what I have received over the course of these last months. Starting
a business is scary and having a place like the forum has been a sort
of piece of mind for me and I thank you all! Yes, thanks to the people
associated with the VACOC, I am a more confident business owner. When
I come across something I am unsure of, I know I can get ideas and answers
here! What an awesome group of business owners I have the pleasure of
working with every day!" — 
"I
appreciate the VACOC as a trusted gathering place I can go to find the
camaraderie of like-minded, knowledgeable, top-notch Virtual Assistants;
a place where the administrator gives her time and energies to help the
group promote themselves as professional entrepreneurs; a place to seek
answers to questions whether they are related to marketing, technology,
or business practices; a place to partake in fun and informative chat
sessions; a place to partake in educational seminars; a place to LEARN
from and SHARE with my colleagues. The VACOC has helped me to believe
in myself as a business woman as well as in the value of the services
I provide my clients. I look forward to a long, enjoyable membership with
this group!" — 
"I
absolutely love it here!" — 
"This
is a great forum where there are lots of great and thought-provoking discussions.
I love being part of this forum." — 
"I
truly value my membership and all that the VACOC offers. The advice, the
resources and the camaraderie that the VACOC offers is unparalleled by
any other Virtual Assistant membership site in my opinion. When I talk
to prospective clients and tell them I am a proud member of such an ethical
group, I know it helps when they consider me in choosing a Virtual Assistant
and have actually landed two clients because I am a member. I have learned
a lot already from the members of VACOC and know that if I can continue
to be a member, I will learn even more and hope to be able to help others
along the way as a way of giving back to the group. The VACOC is very
important to me and my business. I have a new retainer client thanks to
being a member here at the VACOC! This new client is a perfect fit for
me and we hit it off well with our introduction call and then our intake
call. I am so thankful for being a member here. It has definitely helped
my business. Now I have two clients that found me through the VACOC!!l"
— 
"The
VACOC has helped me grow my confidence as a Virtual Assistant. I remember
my first consultation, pre-VACOC member, and what a disaster it was. I
let a one-time client negotiate my rate down to where I was practically
doing his project for free because he said the words, "I can't afford
your rate." He came to me two weeks into the launching of my business
and I was tickled that I had a "bite" so early in my career.
I let him make me feel like I had overpriced myself out of this market.
What really bugs me about that experience was that I was a member of another
forum and they told me that sometimes you have to negotiate your rate.
Then I joined the VACOC and realized that my rates aren't negotiable.
The other area of disaster with this client was my lack of preparation.
I didn't even have a consultation process in place. Our conversation was
very unprofessional and I can see why he felt like he could take control.
Fast forward to today... a current client of mine came to me in September.
She found me thru the VACOC. We had our consultation which I based on
the VACOC template, she told me she wanted us to work together and you
know what her final question was after the consultation process and expressing
an interest in moving forward? "How much do you charge?" I gave
her my rate and she didn't bat an eyelash. Those are the kinds of clients
the VACOC has helped me to secure. What a rewarding feeling that is. My
business model feels solid because I now have processes in place. I have
a refined consultation, contract forms, financial forms, etc., and I couldn't
have done that without the VACOC. The group I was previously a member
of had nothing of the sort in place, and frankly I'm not sure how those
members ever gained success or felt good about their practices. I am in
the process of redesigning my Web site and my business as a whole. I have
learned to scale down my services and focus on a niche, something that's
been very tough for me and honestly foreign to me at the launch of my
business. There have been many posts regarding this topic and I appreciate
other members sharing the ins and outs of how to make this happen."
— 
"I
had nothing when I became a member of the Virtual Assistance Chamber of
Commerce — no clients, no prospects, nothing! But becoming a member
of the VACOC hit home that I had what it takes to succeed as a Virtual
Assistant. I had the experience, the skills, and the administrative know-how.
And what I didn’t have, I’ve learned from you and the other
members. What I didn’t have was the know-how to run a successful
business, put my processes in place, and go after clients successfully.
I’ve learned not to sell myself short and to stick to my principles,
even when I’m tempted to do otherwise. I’ve benefitted so
much that I couldn’t possibly put it all into this message, and
I’ve gained a lot also. I’ve gained confidence, knowledge,
a support system, and friends. Because of what I have learned and put
into practice from the VACOC, I now have two paying retainer clients!
I wasn’t getting the value, the mentorship, or the skills I needed
to grow my business in that way from any of the other Virtual Assistant
forums that I belonged to, and now I only participate in one — the
VACOC!— because it’s the one that has helped me get to where
I am today. I'm nowhere near where I want to be yet, but with my continued
participation and the coaching I receive from the VACOC, I know I’ll
get there! At this time last year I couldn’t see that at all, and
had I not been accepted and had the opportunity to learn and grow as I
have, I would have given up and gone back to my day job!" —
"I've
learned so much in the last six months, and now the Virtual Assistance
Chamber of Commerce is the first place I turn to every day to see what
is happening. I really feel a part of the group and like I have met a
number of new friends and business partners (something that is really
needed when you work at home alone all day). When I joined the VACOC,
I must confess that I originally thought I would make my minimum contribution
to the forum just to keep my membership active. Boy was I wrong. In the
year that I have had the privilege of being a member, I can honestly say
that I have learned more than I could possibly imagine. Once I started
to participate in the forum I found that it was a very worthwhile experience
(both as a contributor and a taker). I think the most important thing
I learned is how to stand up for myself. If we let our clients take advantage
of us, they will. I’ve learned how to master difficult conversations
and know that I am a better person for doing it. Making difficult decisions
on your own can be daunting at times but putting the question out to everyone
ensures that we are not alone and most likely someone else has encountered
the same or similar situation. Taking initiative for my own marketing
decisions has been another benefit. The friendship and camaraderie that
has developed over this past year has been most valuable. Working from
home as a sole proprietor can be a lonely place sometimes. Just being
able to log into the forum and talk to my friends “around the water
cooler” sometimes seems like we really are together in the office.
It has certainly brought the “virtual” world closer together.
Everyone has been a friend and supporter. Whether it is a friendly birthday
greeting or a shoulder to cry on while dealing with a difficult family
time, or a congratulatory pat on the back for a job well done, everyone
is there for each other, just like real friends. Thursday chats are a
time that I look forward to when I’m able to make it." —
"I
feel "at home" professionally at the VACOC. I learn and I grow,
and that's not something that I have gotten from any of the other Virtual
Assistant organizations. It's nice to be learning something rather than
always one of the ones teaching for a change... not that I mind giving
back at all... I just like to get something out of it as well. You have
helped me to rethink how I operate my business and remember the reasons
that I wanted to own my own business in the first place. All the tech
tips and such are great as well, but I think it's more the "attitude"
that I'm here for the adjusting! LOL (Guess that's not grammatically correct...but
it wasn't meant to be ;-) " — 
"Just
wanted to say thank you! I am so glad that I found your site. I started
researching on how to take my business virtual for a number of reasons,
yet I kept stalling because I didn't want more of the same task-related
activities. the information you've shared on this site, and in the forms
and brochures you've authored, has helped me focus in the right direction--the
direction I want to go. I think I can complete the website now, find the
Virtual Assistant clients I enjoy working with and begin redesigning my
life the way I want. You are a Godsend!" — 
"In
the couple of years that I have been a member, I cannot tell you the numerous
benefits I have received from your knowledge and sharing to all of the
members I have met and become friends with and also learned from. I think
I have purchased just about every form in the store and read everything
on the website." — 
"I
love it here at VACOCl! It’s an educational experience whenever
I read a post. It has been such a wonderful experience being part of this
community. People share their heart, they share their experience, their
wisdom. It’s really an educational experience. Every time I open
a post I’m so thankful I found this community. I’ve also appreciated
the forms that I’ve been able to purchase through the VACOC because
they’ve helped me in interview situations and getting organized.
So, I hope to be part of this group for a long time. Thank you!"
— 
"I’m
not sure where to start as far as explaining how the VACOC has helped
me thus far. There are so many ways. When I joined last April, I was still
working ¾ time at my corporate job and getting ready to launch
my Virtual Assistant business. At that time, my understanding of a Virtual
Assistant was someone who could handle the general administrative aspects
of a business as well as design websites, set up and maintain shopping
carts, do QuickBooks, etc. Since joining the VACOC, I’ve learned
that those skills do not fall under the definition of Virtual Assistance.
I also learned that I was going to be charging WAAAYYY too little for
my skills and experience. I could not have done this without the support
of the VACOC. I am still thrilled to have found other like-minded people
who share my goal of running a successful and highly-profitable business."
— 
"In
my opinion, the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce provides the best
representation of the Virtual Assistant industry. No competition, but
a sincere desire to see the Virtual Assistant industry promoted. I love
the resources and the direct answers, suggestions and comments given to
those who post on the forum. I also love the format of the forum--all
the posts aren't lumped into one area. I get a better understanding of
the actions I need to take to position my Virtual Assistant practice where
I want it to be. Although I signed my first client fairly quickly (and
a few in between), it didn’t take me long to realize I was lacking
some vital knowledge and qualities as a self-employed professional. While
I spent a significant amount of time trying to learn from the “experts”
in the industry, I felt totally disconnected and clueless. I knew where
I wanted my business to be, but I wasn’t sure how to get there.
I did everything wrong in the beginning: I provided on demand services;
did things that I hated; charged cheap rates — the list goes on
— all in fear of not getting clients or even worse, losing them.
Now that I’m a member of the VACOC, things are completely changed.
The fear is gone and I have the education, confidence, experience and
resources I lacked as a professional service provider. My practice is
operating at a higher level and attracting a better clientele. The VACOC
taught me that." — 
"Being
part of the VACOC forum that is dedicated to Virtual Assistants means
a lot to me personally and professionally. One of the reasons that I was
attracted to the VACOC is because the values of the organization are in
line with what I learned while participating in AssistU's Virtual Training
Program. I see the VACOC as a place to go for resources to help strengthen
my business foundation. I believe that my membership in the VACOC played
a role in helping me obtain my first client. After I blew an initial consultation
with a potential client, I looked at the resources offered by the VACOC
and purchased the guide for the Client Consultation Process. A short time
later I had another consultation and signed the client. I have always
been a strong proponent of continuing education and have enjoyed participating
in the monthly VACOC teleseminars. The topics covered are amazingly pertinent
to questions that I have about developing my business. To me, the VACOC
is a terrific, well-rounded organization: membership is for Virtual Assistant
business owners only; you make a concerted effort to educate the public
about what Virtual Assistance is; You offer continuing education through
the teleseminars; You provide practical tools for Virtual Assistants with
your resource guides; and you host a forum where Virtual Assistants can
seek/offer advice on business-related topics or just chat." —
"I
have only been a member of the VACOC for about a month, but I highly value
my membership. After one year, my business is just getting off the ground.
The level of professionalism displayed in the posts at the VACOC is really
impressive. I believe that if you want to get better, you associate with
people who are where you want to be, learn from them, and take it to the
next level so people can learn from you. In my short time being a member,
I believe there are many who are where I want to be business-wise and
I know I can learn a lot from them. There is solid, practical advice being
offered in response to posts (much more than the typical “I agree”
that are often found on other forums). Continuing my membership in your
organization will really help me to achieve my business goals." —
"I
just wanted to tell you that the VACOC rocks! I have learned so much being
a part of this group. I know that the VACOC has truly made a difference
in my Virtual Assistant business, and I now have the retainer hours to
show for it!" — 
"I
must say I struck GOLD when I came across this site!!!! I've wanted to
start my own business for a long time, but transitioning from a full-time
employee to a full-time solopreneur doesn't allow me enough time to prepare
and organize my business. It's also been a pain trying to explain exactly
what it is I do... that is, until I cam across this site!!! I had no idea
there was actually a large sector offering these same services. I once
believed I was on my own out here! I've always wanted to provide administrative
services because I'm highly experienced and because it allows me the limitless
creativity and personal time I need in my life! I won't lie though. Friends
(including myself) at times thought the idea was bogus, because there
was no concrete way to thoroughly explain precise information provided
in these guides! This association has truly become a blessing to me and
I can't wait to get started with these beautifully constructed forms I
just purchased. I'm in the process of rewording my site to align with
my professional desires, desires that are plainly voiced on this site,
desires I didn't realize were commonly shared with many people around
the world like those here! I just want to say thank you deeply for the
hard work and the consideration you gave to even put together something
like this. You don't know how much you've helped me in my endeavor. The
many busienss owners and ideas on this site provide hope, encouragement,
and TREMENDOUS support. YOu should see me! I walk around with my head
high like I can do anything! I can truly envision success at the end of
my journey. It's the sweetest sight ever." — 
