Last year I attended my first virtual assistant networking conference. I’ve been working in this industry a long time but never felt the need to connect with other Virtual Assistants. My business was successful, I had no time to spend on frivolous networking activities that would surely focus on how to get more business… which I didn’t want.

A year ago I found myself in turmoil about the direction of CyberCletch LLC and decided to attend the Michigan Virtual Assistant’s Conference in Ann Arbor to help find clarity. I had a wonderful time connecting with the VA’s there and found myself the winner of a ticket to attend another conference in Niagara Falls.

I’ve just arrived home from the Forum on Virtual Assistance (FoVA). I hope to never miss it again! So much fun to network with the brilliant VA’s across North America.

Barb Lang did a fabulous job organizing the huge undertaking of multiple speakers, meals, and events, I can’t thank her enough for submitting the ticket I won.

There was a smaller turnout due to the economy but this made for a very intimate conference experience. I managed to talk to almost everyone in attendance. The speakers were exceptional women who have been creative trailblazers in the industry. They’ve all approached their businesses from different perspectives and the sharing of their learning experiences was extravagant.

My professional takeaway from the conference:

• I face the same challenges as the other multi-VA companies, which made me more determined to find profitable solutions.
• I am now looking at my systems from a whole new angle and have been shown additional benefits to ensuring the tiniest detail is in place and recorded.
• I began to consider passive income as important for my company.
• Mary Lou asks really tough questions.

The biggest takeaway was the relationships I formed.  Any one of the Virtual Assistants I met would provide excellent services in their specialties, the depth of commitment to their client’s success was apparent. We’re not just outsourced support staff. We’re partners. We run our own businesses and realize  our success is based on creating a positive experience with our clients, in whatever field we choose. We all run our businesses differently by providing a variety of services. Some of us train other Virtual Assistants and some of us only work for Virtual Assistant companies in team enironments (Multi-VA). I’m looking forward to reading the books written by the authors in attendance.

Bottom line? Virtual Assistants are not just pencil pushing clerks. We’re dynamic, intelligent and have chosen to manage our businesses, our way.  The future is bright.

Thanks to the speakers I was able to experience, I wish I could have listened in on all the sessions:

Michelle Jamison
Mary Lou Ashton
Kristi Pavlik
Pam Ivey
Frances Palachuk