A job as a virtual assistant could be the ultimate ticket to independence and freedom – financial independence to make bank, and the freedom to travel, live, work, wherever and whenever suits YOU.
On this road to becoming the big boss you have always envisioned yourself to be, you’ll want to ensure you’re giving yourself all the tools you will need to soar above the rest and dominate your dreams!
If you’ve never studied online before, or maybe you have tried online courses in the past and never completed them, you may be apprehensive about taking on an online, self-paced course.
The unknown can be daunting, and the roadblocks you create for yourself can sometimes get in the way of what you want most.
Choosing to invest in your future is a decision you will never regret.
If you are striving to move your career online and offer the best, most up to date and sought-after skills in the biz, then a course like my signature program, 90 Day VA, will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to apply for the jobs you’ve always dreamed of.
So, whether you’ve taken the dive and joined 90 Day VA or you’re on the fence about whether to jump in or not, here are 5 tips that will ensure you get the most from the course.
1. Visualize Success
First things first, you need to visualize your success. Visualization can be a powerful motivator to drive you through your learning experience.
Picture your dream day. What time do you wake up? Where are you living (or traveling to)?
A great reminder of your goals is a vision board. You can create a virtual vision board using online tools such as Canva. Or, if you’re feeling crafty, you can stick some inspirational pictures and quotes to a corkboard next to your desk!
Your vision board could be as simple as a post-it note stuck to your desk or an inspirational quote on your laptop background.
Whatever you find works best for you, it’s essential to have something to remind you to keep going and remind you WHY you are doing this – YOUR FUTURE!
If you find yourself working through the program and having difficulty finishing a particular assignment or the imposter syndrome starts to kick in, use these visual prompts to remind yourself that you are investing this time in yourself to work towards your dream job.
90 Day VA is self-paced, which means you can work through the course when you have the time or feel like it.
There’s no rush to work through it. But if it helps you to stay on track, sit down before starting the course and map out all the assignments, due dates, and milestones in a calendar.
Mapping out the course in its entirety before beginning is an excellent strategy for feeling in control of the content.
Give yourself plenty of time to accomplish each module. Stick to your deadlines, but also remember it’s important to reward yourself when you hit them.
After all, you earned that bubble bath and glass of red wine! Enjoy it!!
2. Get Organized
Organization is critical when building your remote career, so now is the time to start practicing.
You want to make sure you are set up with a good, working laptop and WiFi connection. Get yourself a cute notepad, and make sure you have a workspace that’s comfortable to work from.
This might be a designated home office, your dining table, a deckchair by the pool in Bali, or a seat by the window of your favorite café.
The world is your oyster! And that’s the beauty of being a virtual assistant – you can work from wherever you feel like!
Project management tools like Trello or Asana can help keep you organized and on track to accomplish your goals.
Not to mention how helpful it’s going to be when you start working with clients. You’ll already be familiar with how to use these project management tools, and the onboarding process will be a breeze!
You’ll feel motivated by ticking items off your list, and it will keep you on track without feeling overwhelmed.
Being a VA means you will need to be super organized. You’ll not only be looking after your own life, but you’ll be helping someone else run theirs, so the time to start is NOW.
3. Take Advantage of the Online Support
90 Day VA offers a ton of online support, from the Member’s only Facebook group to the ‘Get Shiz Done’ calls and the feedback from mentors and peers.
There is an abundance of knowledge and support that can be found amongst your peers. USE IT!
Set a daily reminder to spend some time networking online, engage in the comments, and get feedback on your homework.
You may have some knowledge to share with others, and reiterating things you’ve learned will help you retain the information.
Engaging with your peers during online courses is also great for linking up with an accountability buddy. (Another great way to keep you on track as you work through the course!)
This could be someone from the other side of the world or someone in the same time zone. Accountability buddies allow you to share your experiences, connect, ask questions, and give each other feedback on the assignments.
Connecting with other virtual assistants and networking with one another allows you to reach potential clients or get testimonials for your portfolio.
A friend you made in the 90 Day VA members-only Facebook Group may remember that time you helped them with their homework and refer you to a high-paying client one day!
4. Experiment with Different Learning Styles
There are 7 learning styles: Verbal, Aural, Visual, Physical, Logical, Social, and Solitary (read more about learning styles at Inspire Education). You may find that you can learn more and retain information better using one or a combination of these styles.
Learn best by listening? Record voice memos to listen back to or try dictating your blog ideas out loud and recording them for transcription later.
More of a visual learner? Try creating vision boards or a visual timeline of the modules and homework to keep you motivated throughout the course.
Some people thrive on graphs and spreadsheets. Arranging information in an organized and logical way can do wonders for your learning capacity.
In 90 Day VA, I use video modules in conjunction with workbooks and hands-on examples. I also have TONS of FREE resources you can use, including my podcast episodes and blogs.
If you’re not sure what works best for you, try out a few different methods and see what feels right. It may be a combination of these styles which suits you best.
You may find that experimenting with different learning mediums makes a world of difference to your studies and your ability to retain new information.
5. Make Time for Your Mental and Physical Health
It’s important to schedule breaks while you study. Take time to step away from your phone and computer and get some fresh air – go outside if possible.
Too often, people go from working or studying online straight to their mobile phone screens, which doesn’t give the brain or the eyes much of a break.
Exercise does the body (and the mind!) good, so it’s important to schedule activity into your daily routine.
If you don’t fancy the gym, maybe a walk in the park or even blast your favorite song and have a dance in your living room. Whatever gets the heart pumping.
As you move through the course, recognize that you will come up against mental roadblocks, and that’s OK.
You may be all too familiar with the little voice in your head that tells you, “you’re not good enough” or “you’re not ready.” And the truth is, it’s completely normal to feel this way. I still get this way! But it takes time and effort to work on your mindset. It CAN be changed.
You have to trust in the process and know that you are capable.
Getting into the right mindset is extremely important for your growth as a virtual assistant, which is why I have mindset modules sprinkled throughout 90 Day VA.
They’re there to help you work through the mental challenges that come up along the way. The best part is that once you purchase the course, you have unlimited access to all the modules, so when you feel yourself falling back into a negative mindset, you can revisit them when necessary.
By implementing these 5 tips, you will be able to approach this exciting new chapter of your life with motivation and determination.
Visualizing your future success will remind and motivate you towards your end goal – a killer remote career as a VA.
Your new organizational skills will help you power through the course content and help you in your future career and can always be utilized for any future upskilling.
Online support systems are the gateway to making strong connections and networks in the online world.
You will make friends, connections, and support systems that will be sure to lead you to many future opportunities and potential clients.
And most importantly, you will learn to put yourself first, take care of your mental well-being, and trust that you can achieve your dreams.
90 Day VA is my proprietary course! I teach you all the most sought-after skills that clients are looking to hire you for. I set you up with everything you need to know to get started and build your VA biz with confidence.
If you’re still not sure whether to jump straight into it, you can check out my free masterclass to see if virtual assisting is right for you!
In 90 Day VA, Esther teaches her students how to research and repurpose current content into blogs for the VAI website. Hayley is the student we’ve chosen this week to feature what she’s learned in the course. Get to know her:
Hayley Atkins is a Virtual Assistant here to make your life easier! When she’s not helping small business owners improve and streamline their online business, she loves to go to the beach, and visit friends and family.
She is a member of 90 Day VA and assists with everything from Social Media Management, Content Repurposing and Creation, Email and Calendar Management, and much more!
To see all the services she offers and how she can help you, check out her Facebook Page here.
