Let me take you back in time to a world where the PC barely existed with dial-up and DOS. Life before even MySpace and did we even have Craigslist then?
Well back then, I had my 1st taste of what life could be like virtually! I started dabbling in brokering our own semi-truck-loads of lumber or grain or whatever I could get my hands on, through a few states in the west. I was living all country-like in the mountains in Idaho. I loved working with a PC with the wide-world and taking care of family at home at the same time.
Life changed and I moved to the big city of Portland, Oregon, entering a world of new adventures, and went to work in Corporate America. All through the next 9 years, I dreamed of working for myself virtually. Many of my skills were honed during this time. In 2007, I was laid-off from Corporate America. I was scared! Free to fly, but scared. It was a new world out there with all these new PC’s, Windows, LANs, WANs, and DSL. Facebook was making an appearance, and Twitter was big. I found that working from home virtually with companies was still very much a new concept, and I just couldn’t break in to it yet. Still night dreaming… A few months later I went to work for a small business, soon to be laid off again in 2009.
By then the economy was shifting. Companies were downsizing and starting to see the benefits of hiring virtually. Facebook and Twitter were huge. I could find many virtual assistant networking sites. I became a sponge finding as much material as I could. I decided to see if I could make a way into the virtual world. I put my ad up on www.virtualassistants.com. I started a website and twitter account, using my direct selling name of shopwithannie putting VA (virtual assistant)at the end. I started talking about it on my Facebook profile.
My 1st client came from Elance several months later. He was a writer who needed client/vendor management. Shortly after, I received responses from my ad on a VA website. Virtual was happening. I love my clients, love my work, and love being virtual and still being a vital part of growing companies. It makes me smile to know I have finally made it to virtual-ality!
Welcome to the world of virtual! What an inspiring story. Can’t wait to hear more!
Silvia
I’m always interested in learning how others navigated the often rough waters of the virtual work world. I find the most important component is great communication – with your clients and the rest of your team!
How exactly did we survive before Facebook, Twitter, and Craigslist?
Flying solo is a scary proposition. Like most, people are force to take flight and find their wings. Your story will inspire others to pursue their true desires and realize it is possible. Nice read.
Annie! This is such a great article and inspiration to many of us getting started in the virtual space! I am slowly moving more of my business transactions online. Your article is another affirmation to me that I too can be successful operating this way. Thank you!
Annette:
I love the way you reminisced old school style! LOL. It took me back a bit too. Keep up the good work!
Shilonda Downing
Virtual Work Team LLC
Annie,
Welcome to virtual-ality! It’s hard to even remember when we didn’t have high speed internet and computers were rare! Technology has definitely changed and I am so glad you were able to embrace these changes and creates a successful business. It’s truly a blessing to be able to say you “love” your job!