I was checking out some of my favourite social media groups and forums as I do from time to time. I read the feeds, and have a look at the promotions, after all, I am continuing to learn because I don’t know everything. I want to see what everyone else is offering, is there something new happening that I could also be offering to my clients.
These groups and forums are a treasure trove of information for the VA and other solopreneurs.
Anyway, this particular day I am reading through a specific group and putting in my two bobs worth on the odd post when I see a thread about a great site for hiring VA’s. I sat there with my mouth open at the huge amount of responses to this post and all of them … well most of them were all “pick me pick me”, “I’ll work for peanuts”, “I’ll work for barter”. Immediately my mind flashed to a flock of seagulls fighting over a chip that has been tossed onto the sand.
Why would we, as professional business people, carry on like this over the prospect of finding out where you can get work for $5.00 per hour. Where you bargain for a one off job where the client wants you to work as cheaply as possible, just so you can add to your client tally. I was so surprised to read that one VA actually bartered her services … I don’t know how many bills you would pay bartering your services so that then begs the question is this running a business or just simply having a hobby?
I wrote a blog not long ago 5 Things a Virtual Assistant is not where I gave clients a serve for treating VA’s as substandard workers, and then I find this post where the VA’s themselves are doing exactly that. What hope does the industry have if VA’s put on this type of display in a public forum?
I’m backing it in that each and every VA that is reading this has seen what I have seen while reading the posts on forums and social media groups.
The moral of this little story is, if you run a business you should conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times. Especially in a public forum. You will not do yourself any favours when these types of conversations are seen by people who may have been interested in your business services, or by others who may have been interested in collaboration.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t just a reminder for VA’s, it is also a reminder for all business people. No one likes to see displays of unprofessional behaviour in a professional setting.
So if you are serious about being a VA and running a successful business then my advice is to think twice before hitting the post button on online conversations that may have an impact on who you are and what your business is all about.
Once it is out there … it’s out there.
I’d love to hear what you think about this topic, please leave a comment below.
