What's the single, most important thing you need to be a successful Virtual Assistant (VA)? It might not be what you expect.
And chances are, you already have it! Some advocates of the Virtual Assistant industry recommend having at least five years of solid administrative experience, preferably at an executive level.
If you do have that kind of background, you'll be well-prepared for your role as a VA.
But, if you don't, don't let that little detail hold you back.
You have other valuable experience that you can draw on, and what you don't know, you can learn.
When starting out as a VA, it can also be useful to have sharp business acumen.
In other words, it helps to have insight into how business works and an awareness of how to deliver desired results.
This is where five years of administrative experience would be beneficial, if you have it.
If your understanding of business is lacking, not to worry.
It may take you a little longer to get your enterprise where you want it to be, but you can still do it.
Taking some VA training, interning for an established VA, or following a program like the Virtual Business Startup System will help put you on the right track and speed up your progress.
Most newbie VAs believe they need strong technical know-how to run a successful VA business.
Again, if you do have good technical knowledge, consider it a plus.
Since a VA's work is virtual in nature, it's handy to know how to use the tools that will help you do your job.
But, if you don't have good technical skills, don't let that stop you.
You can usually outsource what you don't know until you can learn it.
A VA training program or interning could be helpful here as well.
The one quality that almost everyone agrees a successful entrepreneur should have is self-confidence.
The trouble with self-confidence is that it normally develops over time, as a result of previous successes.
If you're just starting out as a VA, you may not have a lot of confidence in your abilities just yet.
You can help build your self-confidence by volunteering as a VA, interning, or by taking small projects you can easily manage.
Over time, your confidence in yourself and your abilities will grow.
So, again, if you don't have it right now, don't throw in the towel.
Just start looking for opportunities to succeed.
When you're starting out as a VA, lack of administrative experience, business acumen, technical ability, or self-confidence, can all be compensated for.
They will grow naturally over time as your business grows.
But, there is one thing that you do need right now, if you're serious about success as a VA: Determination.
Your own desire to do whatever it takes to make your VA business successful.
Everything else I've listed will come over time, as long as you have the determination to stick with it and make your success happen.