If you need help getting all the *stuff* done then that’s the smartest place to start.

You can always sign up for that latest software, training course, coaching program, etc. later on when your business foundation is strong and you have room for more.

Using all of your available resources for this extra stuff without being able to do anything with the goods you get is just plain silly.

It’s ok to be silly in your business if you’re talking about adding fun BUT it’s not ok to make silly decisions.

With that growth and change, you will find that the people involved in your business will change too. Along the way you can expect customers to change, vendors to change and the people who support you to change. This isn’t something going wrong – it’s something going RIGHT.

Rather than resisting change when you feel it approaching, I encourage you to be proactive – welcome it in and embrace it. You will make way for the right people to support you to come in. And at the same time, by releasing the people you’ve outgrown, you free them to find the perfectly right people for them to support next.

Fighting change is fighting growth and I know that’s not what you want for your business.

You should expect to spend X% of your income on your support team.

When you apply logical thinking to this concept, you can actually see how flawed it is. The help you need is the help you need regardless of what your income is. Yes, you absolutely can find people to help you at all price points but that doesn’t mean that they are all going to meet your needs.

Further, spending the money to add team to your business based on how much they cost rather than the value they bring makes you penny rich and dollar poor meaning you may be saving some pennies but in the long run it will cost you far more. It may even cost you your business.

Always be sure the advice you follow makes logical sense and never stop thinking for yourself in spite of how esteemed your advisor may be.

Do you want a partner or do you want a subordinate? I encourage you to think long and hard about this and be real with yourself. Is it important for you to be the boss? Is that a feeling that you truly feel you want in your business? This isn’t about judgement – there isn’t a right or wrong answer. Just tune in and see if you connect with that little something that says, “by golly this business is mine and I want to feel like I’m king / queen.” If you do, you will most likely be happier with an employee than with a Virtual Assistant.

Working with a Virtual Assistant is a partnership. It’s one where you are equals coming together in a way that benefits both of you. The Virtual Assistant is a business owner just like you and you are retaining his or her services to benefit you or your company. Although a Virtual Assistant works deeply in the day-to-day operations of your business, their contribution be viewed much the same as that of a lawyer, accountant, auditor, etc.

There are many factors to consider when bringing on the help you need for your business but it starts with how you envision this working. Do you have (or want) an actual office where you’ll base your business? If so, then you might not mind finding someone to work with you in that space. But, what if you want to be home-based, as so many entrepreneurs seem to prefer these days? It’s cost effective and who can beat the comforts and convenience of home? It’s not likely that you’ll want an assistant to work in your space at your home with you – so are you out of luck? Fortunately, no – this is just when you’ll want to look getting some virtual assistance.

If you do a quick search on Virtual Assistance, you’ll receive some overwhelming results and probably be even more confused. For now, let’s distinguish between a Virtual Assistant and some one who assists you virtually.

A virtual worker is usually a freelancer who, through using technology, is able to complete work assignments for you by remote – they work virtually. You can find these virtual workers through places like oDesk.com, CraigsList.com, eLance.com, etc. The workers you’ll find are task-minded, meaning they focus on doing the task you ask them to do. In most cases, you must micro-manage meaning you need to be very specific in your instructions and you’ll want to ask for samples of work prior to hiring and progress reports as they go along so you know the job is being done as you wish. These workers will be able to complete work for you as needed and they can typically get the job done at a very good rate.

A Virtual Assistant (now sometimes called a Virtual Business Manager to distinguish from other virtual workers) is someone who you partner with for the maximum support and ultimately, growth of your company. In most cases, a Virtual Assistant is a very skilled worker with a strong administrative/executive support background. They know how to take care of the business of the business so you can focus on what you want to do and what you do best.

Virtual Assistants are service and relationship-minded, proficient (requiring minimal guidance) and a resource for you to utilize to get things done – if they can’t or don’t desire to do it themselves, they can find someone to do it and manage the assignment for you. They are your partner for success – when your business thrives, so does theirs. They provide their own equipment, benefits, vacation, etc and you only pay for the amount of time that you need them (most work on retainer).

Ideally, the relationship you create is ongoing and long-term so you’ll have a partner who sees the big picture and who can strategize with you to help you reach your goals. You can find good Virtual Assistants through many sources including AssistU.com, VirtualAssistantNetworking.com, VANetworking.com, IAVOA.com and IVAA.org.

It can take some time to figure out what kind of help you need and then to find the right person for you and your business but it’s a great investment in your future success (and sanity). If you’re already at the point where you just can’t bear to figure it out on your own, there are people who offer consulting and implementation support in this area to help you get your virtual office set up and running seamlessly saving you wasted time, frustration and unnecessary expense.

Working virtually can give you freedom and flexibility – it truly is an ultimate life as long as you don’t try to do it all alone!

After over 8 years of running a very successful and lucrative Virtual Assistant practice, I offer busy entrepreneurs and small business owners the guidance they need to get the right strategy and the right team in place to support their needs, saving them the unnecessary frustration and expense of trying to do it on their own. I can be reached by email at http://InCredibleHands.com or by phone at 888-218-9061.

(CNN) –The Internet has revolutionized many business sectors and has single-handedly created one — virtual assistance.

Over the last decade, thousands have swapped corporate jobs to provide services for new bosses who they may never actually meet.

These home-based workers help out with anything from bookkeeping, Web design or travel arrangements via phone, e-mail or fax.

And the industry is now so big that there are trade groups and Web sites that assist virtual assistants (V.A.s) — and try to attract potential clients.

“The growth is fastest in the U.S. There is also a substantial base in Australia, Canada and the UK,” Bronwyn Robertson a virtual assistant for British arts companies, told CNN.

“Many employees who suffered from downsizing discovered they could offer their skills on a self-employed basis.”

Even though the concept has been around for a while, according to some virtual assistants, many bosses are only just beginning to realize administrative support can easily be done virtually.

“The term virtual assistant is frequently not looked for because the general public are still not familiar with it,” said Kathie Thomas, a virtual assistant in Australia.

“They tend to think — home-based secretary — or something similar.”

However, as independent contractors, V.A.s are involved in all kinds of work including data entry, tax advice, accountancy and technology support.

Those in the industry say it is on the rise because it is cost-effective. The employer does not pay for extra office space, furniture, equipment or software. There is also no additional cost for training, pensions or work insurance.

In the U.S., medical practitioners, legal practitioners, realtors, public speakers and corporate trainers are the most prominent users of V.A.s.

The downside of employing them is that relationships take longer to develop, since they are not actually in the office.

Carolyn Moncel a V.A. in Paris, France, provides support for companies in North America, while her employers take advantage of the time difference to meet deadlines.

“I think people choose to be a V.A. because it gives them a alternative way of working — it’s mobile, flexible and empowering,” she says.

Many mothers have become V.A.s in order to balance work with family commitments and for many the advantages are numerous, while others miss the office environment.

“I sometimes miss the camaraderie of my former work colleagues, although there is instant messaging, E-mail and phone,” says Robertson.

Find this article at:

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/19/globaloffice.virtual.assistant