A few months ago, myself, and a few other VA’s got together to go through the Get Clients Now book by C.J. Hayden. (Great book, by the way) We all read through the book and participated in weekly Skype calls to discuss our progress and the book itself. Once we concluded the 6 week Get Clients Now program, we decided that we enjoyed talking with each other, being able to discuss our industry and individual businesses, and just sharing about our lives. So, we decided to continue the calls on a monthly basis, and to choose a new book to read. Alas, the VA Book Club began.
Our first VA Book Club selection is 9 Lies That Are Holding Your Business Back: And the Truth That Will Set It Free (amazon link). We have only read through chapter one, “Lie #1: I Just Need to Know How to Do This.” This chapter discusses how many business owners spend all their time working on how to run their business, and forget about the want to. The want to is your reason for starting your business and for wanting it to succeed. So this post is about my want to. Why I started my business and why I want it to succeed.
There are a few reasons why I decided to go into business for myself. The main reason is for my family. In 2008, I was working for a homebuilder, managing the design center. I loved my job, although things were pretty depressing as the housing market crashed. But, my job was challenging, I worked with wonderful people, it was fast paced, and I was constantly learning. I worked my way up from a receptionist with no experience in homebuilding, to managing the design center. I had made it through round after round of layoffs. Oh, and I was pregnant with my first baby. And then boom, I get laid off. So, here I am 7 months pregnant with no job. That was a crazy experience. But, as is often the case in life, things happen for a reason. I was able to stay home my last 2 months of pregnancy because of my severance package, and then was able to stay home longer with my daughter than I ever would have had I still been employed. Having my daughter completely changed my outlook on life, and also what I wanted out of my life. Now, my number one goal was to find a way to work and challenge myself (I really need the constant growth in my professional life) and be there for my daughter. I racked my brain and researched business ideas. This lead me to the virtual assistant industry and I just knew it was a perfect fit for me. I could have my own business, and be flexible and in control of my time and life. So I went for it! My family is the absolute biggest and most important reason I have for jumping into this whole entrepreneur thing.
What I have found, as I have worked to build my business, is that I really love it! My want to is evolving as my business grows. The more I learn, the more I love the direction I am headed! The internet is an amazing world of opportunity. And I have just fallen in love with the possibilities. And, I really, truly, enjoy helping others expand their business online. As I said earlier, everything happens for a reason and I know I am exactly where I should be.
Without really understanding why you want your business to succeed, you may never succeed. Starting and growing your business takes a lot of work, and so you must be really clear on what you want and where you are going. If you don’t have the passion and drive, then you won’t make it through the bumps in the road. You will just give up. So stop and think about your want to. Why did you start your business and why do you want it to succeed?
