I Bought My Rod, Now I’m Off To Fish

Please keep in mind that these are random thoughts (quite literally) and these thoughts are not in article form. Eventually this may be a great piece, once it all comes to together.

I saw this picture and it simply struck me, like an AHA moment. Why? Because it made me think of the old saying “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author Unknown

Some Virtual Assistants loathe research. Since there are so many forums out there, they are under the impression that if they post a question someone will answer it and no additional research will need to be done. Am I telling you that it is unacceptable to ask a question? No. However before you ask the question, make sure that you have done some of the research yourself. When you post a question let everyone know what you have come up with first and then perhaps ask if this is the best way to proceed. When you show that you have done your due diligence the VA community is more apt to assist you. Learn how to fish, don’t expect the fish.

Some Virtual Assistants loathe spending money, after all being a VA is an easy field to crack because this is a business that can be started on a budget or no budget (PS - this is a myth, but we will dispel that in another article). For those I have this advice. Stop, look, listen and observe. Stop and take stock in your business. Are you where you want to be? If not, why not? Look around, what differentiates you from Sally? Both you and Sally started at the same time, but she is much more successful. Could it be because she is spending money on growing her business? On education? On marketing? Lastly, I want you to listen. Listen to those around you and quietly observe their techniques. Why are they successful? How did they get that way? Do have a coach? We have to buy the rod, don’t expect the rod for free.

Think back to grade school, high school or college to the time when there was no internet (maybe I’m showing my age) and you didn’t have the answers at your fingertips. What did you do? Chances are you researched until you found the answer. Remember the card catalog? Searching through those 3×5 cards for magazine references, books, etc. it was fun wasn’t it…it’s probably bringing back fantastic memories I am sure. Also think back to what you learned through that process. Your brain was stretched and expanded and you learned things you never thought possible. This knowledge was tucked away in your brain and called upon at a later time. You learned how to fish and in the process you are still being fed.

Becki