One of the biggest challenges for anyone working at home is establishing healthy boundaries. In general, boundaries exist to create space between two things, or to stop one thing in its tracks before it interferes with something else. You are gonna need a few of those.
The first boundary many Virtual Assitants need to establish is a legal one. Protecting oneself against the potential of legal disputes can make the difference between a business that endures and one that runs the risk of financial ruin. Legal Zoom is a great resource for quick incorporations, and whether you choose a C-corporation, which can accept venture capital and other investors, or an S-corporation, which offers certain tax breaks, you have the protection of the corporate shield. Everything can be done online, giving you your first sense of true protection. Even if you have a terrible dispute with someone, your personal assets, including your home, are not at risk if you incorporate.
The next boundary you may want to establish is the one between you and your clients. While you will find some clients easy to work with, playing their invoices promptly, there are some who will be difficult and incommunicative, or demanding and hostile. Each VA will decide to accept or dismiss customers based upon his or her own criteria, but I find US Search invaluable. It can provide background checks on anybody you may want to do business with, from vendors to potential clients, which allows you another layer of protection from Things That Could Go Wrong.
The third most important boundary to consider is the one between your computer and the Internet at large. If you are a VA, your computer IS your living, and you cannot afford to have your files lost or damaged. Viruses can ruin your clients work or, worse still, your archived files. McAfee virus protection and firewalls are absolutely necessary to your business, in order to have the peace of mind you need. Downloads are easy using the link below, so protect yourself today.
The last healthy boundary you may need to establish and maintain is the one between your work and your personal life. Though it may be easy enough to check your email at 11 at night, it is best to establish regular working hours and stick to them, unless there is an emergency, or unless someone is paying you a premium (overtime) rate. Getting enough sleep, water and exercise is also crucial to your success, just as any other element. Add a great homeopathic remedy for stress, and you will be an unstoppable force in the administrative world.
Copyright 2006 AssistantGirls.com
For more stories like this, visit http://www.AssistantGirls.com
