December 29, 2020

How to Become a Virtual Assistant

Man on phone looking at computer screen
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Becoming a Virtual Assistant can be a great way to earn income while learning a variety of useful skills.  It can be a great side hustle or morph into a full-time business, if that is what you are looking for.  It works great for anyone that wants to work online from home, including retired people, students, and almost anyone else.

Virtual Assistants first became popular back when small online business owners figured out they could hire assistants offshore for a fraction of what it costs to hire an employee locally.  Virtual assistants could theoretically handle any task that could be done via the phone and Internet.

Business owners soon found that they needed a variety of virtual assistants, both offshore and onshore.  It depended on the tasks needed, the individual, and the needed interaction with others.

Good Virtual Assistants work hand in hand with the business owner or manager.  They are proficient with office applications, searching and using the internet, and accomplishing all kinds of tasks via the Internet and phone for their client.  There are lots of articles out there about how to find a good Virtual Assistant.  Look at these as a guide to setting up your own VA business.

Like many businesses the key here is getting your first few clients and then if you are good you will live off referrals.  You may want to do some small jobs for free or at low rates to get to know a potential client.  Just make sure they know those are not your regular rates!

What Services Do Virtual Assistants Provide?

Here is just a small sampling:

  • Customer Service
  • Email Assistance
  • Research
  • Website Design
  • Website Maintenance
  • Travel Arrangements
  • Social Media Assistance
  • Online Forum and Community Assistance
  • Proofreading
  • Editing
  • Various Kinds of Writing
  • Spreadsheet and Accounting Support
  • Data Entry
  • Sales Assistance
  • Dozens More…

What Skills Do I Need to Learn?

You may already have many of the skills you need, and you can learn the rest.  There are online Virtual Assistant courses that might make sense.  Individual skills can be learned with inexpensive online courses.  My current favorite is Udemy, where many courses go on sale for about $10.

Pay special attention to online business-related skills.  Learn the basics of website creation, online sales, online marketing, and social media.

How Do I get Started?

Figure out what you can offer.  What are your current skills?  What can you learn quickly?

Set up your business.  Nothing fancy is needed but form a Proprietorship or LLC (for asset protection.)  Set up a separate business checking account and get some business cards.  Get some legal advice if needed. (I’m not a legal or accounting professional so this article shouldn’t be considered a source of that level of advice.)

Set up a website.  It’s not that hard and even a basic one makes you look much more professional.

Decide how to market yourself to get your first clients.  Online services like Upwork or Fiverr can help you get your first clients, although the jobs are usually low paying.  You may want to contact local small businesses and tell them what you offer.  Use Email, phone or even in person visits.

The nice thing is that as you gain more clients and learn more advanced skills your rates can keep increasing.  And the increases can be much greater than the 3% annual raise at a normal job.

Becoming a virtual assistant can lead into all kinds of things as you learn new skills.  Eventually you may be the one hiring virtual assistants!

Filed Under: Business, Learning, Personal Development, Work Leave a Comment
December 23, 2020

Where to Learn Stuff

Girl With Pencil in Mouth
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

When it comes to learning the Internet has been a miracle.  It is like all the world’s learning institutions are available through your computer screen.  You have access to more knowledge than any world leader or wealthy individual did just a few decades ago.

There is so much out there you need a plan.  What are you trying to accomplish?  Are you looking to just learn a skill?  Do you want a new career? Do you want to begin a new hobby?  Or do you just enjoy learning new things?

One approach might be to make your plan based on your goals.  Then browse through the course offerings at the various sites and make a list of possibilities.  Finally drill down and research each course.  Is the course relevant? How old is it and when was it last updated?  Can you ask questions of the instructor?  Are there reviews from fellow students?

Many of the available courses are free.  Others can be more expensive.  My advice would be to see what the free and low-cost courses offer first.  Then when you know exactly what you want the more expensive options might make sense.

Here is just a partial list to get you started.  Good Luck!

Alison https://alison.com/

Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative https://oli.cmu.edu/

Code https://code.org/

Codecademy https://www.codecademy.com/

Coursera https://www.coursera.org/

Dash General Assembly – Learn to Code https://dash.generalassemb.ly/

edX https://www.edx.org/

Fast Company 30 Second MBA https://www.fastcompany.com/user/30-second-mba

FutureLearn https://www.futurelearn.com

GCF Global https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/

Harvard Extension https://www.extension.harvard.edu/

iTunes U http://www.open.edu/itunes/

Kadenze https://www.kadenze.com/

Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/

MemRise https://www.memrise.com/

MIT Open Courseware https://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

OpenLearn https://www.open.edu/openlearn/

Open Learning Initiative https://oli.cmu.edu/

Open Yale Courses https://oyc.yale.edu/

Stanford Online https://online.stanford.edu/

Udacity https://www.udacity.com/

Udemy https://www.udemy.com/

U of Berkley Class Central https://www.classcentral.com/university/berkeley

University of the People https://www.uopeople.edu/

Filed Under: Learning, Personal Development, Things To Do Leave a Comment
December 11, 2020

Keep Your Brain Sharp

Use Your Brain sign
Photo by Jesse Martini on Unsplash

Keeping your brain sharp is a subject that keeps popping up in the media.  While it makes sense at any age it especially applies as we age.  It is one of those things we all know we should do something about, but we all know we don’t always do as we should!

I’m not a medical professional so don’t take anything in this article as medical advice but there do seem to be some common themes.  And I’ll throw in a few ideas of my own simply because I think they make sense at any age.

Keep Moving and Get Enough Sleep

Exercise and sleep seem to be important and this just makes sense at any age.  It seems that even a small boost in physical activity is helpful.

Eating Right, Not Smoking, Limited Alcohol

Again, this seems to make sense at any age.  The Mediterranean diet is mentioned quite a bit, so investigate it.  There is tons of information about the diet on the Internet.

Use Your Brain

It seems that a variety of thinking activities is helpful.  In other words don’t do the same things all the time.  Having a hobby is great, but having multiple interests is probably better.

Here are some ideas:

Read Hard Books

If you always read one kind of book try another kind.  Maybe if you always read novels try Histories or Biographies.  And of course, if you spend too much time in front of the TV try to do some reading instead.

Think About Something Hard

I would include things like taking a class in something you know little about in this category.  Doing puzzles or learning new games would fit here too.

Learn a Language

I read somewhere that learning a new language uses parts of your brain that are not usually used.  It is worth a try and is a cool thing to do anyway.

Get a Pet

There is lots of evidence that having a pet is good for you both physically, and psychologically. You do have to be a little practical.  Pets are work and present complications if you want to travel.  I love big dogs but adopting a St Bernard when I’m 90 might not make sense unless I have help!

Do a Craft

This is especially useful if crafts are something you don’t do all the time.

Build Something

A lot of things would fit under this.  The idea is to design and build something new!

Write an Article

Or write a few articles and start a blog.  Pick a subject or cause you care about.  Writing articles can help your brain and give your life some purpose – also a good thing!

Write a Book

Why not go all out a write a whole book?  It’s a big commitment but today’s self-publishing opportunities make it possible.  There is a reason you see those smart and very “with it” older authors being interviewed on TV.

Learn to Paint

If you’re a logical and almost too organized thinker, why not try your hand at art.  It does not matter if you are any good.  What matters is you are exercising another part of your brain.

I’m sure you can think of many more examples and just the act of thinking about them is probably good for you.  Give it a try!  You have nothing to lose but your mind! (Sorry for a poor taste joke!)

Filed Under: Health, Personal Development, Things To Do Leave a Comment