Have you ever had a client interview and felt that “something isn’t right” feeling in your gut?
Have you ever started a working relationship with a client and within a few days or a couple of weeks you were frustrated and felt stifled by your new client?
Have you ever had a client that doesn’t respect your business policies and consistently invades your space not allowing you to do your work effectively?
If you’ve felt this way and wanted to break free from clients like this than this week’s video blog is going to speak directly to you.
In today’s video I talk about the concept of turning your virtual assistant business into a VIP club and I’ll explain why it’s critical that you put that red velvet rope outside of your awning. I’ll explain why it’s so important to say no, even more important than saying yes.
When have you wanted to say no and didn’t and what became of the working relationship as a result? Let me know below in the comments.
Rock on, Reese
0 thoughts on “When Saying No Is Key To Growing Your Virtual Assistant Business”
Reese,I agree in principal but right now I’m begging for the opportunity to say yes! Hopefully some day I can be more choosy but until I get started I’m going to try to accommodate. I don’t remember if you addressed this in the video but even when no is the best answer I think it best to try to refer. I had a potential client the other day that needed someone that knew HTML. I don’t but put her in touch with someone who did so if she should ever need my services she might still be a potential client.
Quay, this is exactly the point I am trying to make. Sometimes we are so desperate for work that we let anyone in because we need the work. That said, your sanity and health is worth more than working with someone who doesn’t respect you and causes you undue stress. I’ve worked for far too many clients who just don’t get it. It’s not worth the money, trust me.
I think what’s really helped me to avoid having to say no is setting ground rules. When I was just starting out with my business, I had not put together any ground rules. That was a big mistake and clients drove me up the wall really demanding things every hour of the day… I had just started out and had no idea what I was really doing. I have now set “business hours” and my general business practice standards. I think letting them know these things up front really weeds out the ones I don’t want to work with. I also say “no” during the week to current clients by NOT answering their text messages after hours. That is setting the precedence of what they expect all the time and I don’t want to be available 24/7 or I will never feel “free” in my own personal time. In this role, I really have learned to set boundaries. The really great clients that I love respect these boundaries (without me having to even say anything). The great thing about having your own business is being the boss and being able to say no. I’ve said no to people on certain projects that I just don’t feel passionate about and I always refer them to someone else.
Great advice, Gerly! Thank you so much for sharing with us!
I had a 1:1 on-site meeting with a potential client for help with organizing and de-cluttering. She talked at length about irrelevant family and health issues, could not stay on topic despite my organized interview questions, and wanted a 50% discount off my regular rates. She sent my contract out to a lawyer for review (I had paid a lawyer to write my contract), then returned it with key areas redlined and rewritten.
I told her that my company policy does not allow me to revise my contract, that I work only with contracts, and was therefore unable to help her. So she went to Florida and spent all the money she had budgeted for this work, I was told later by the friend who had referred me.
In retrospect, there were red flags at every turn. Just keep your “ear gates” open to what potential clients say and do before you sign that contract.
Helen, spot on! Didn’t you feel like it was such an utter waste of your time to have to meet this client on-site? This is why we call our selves “virtual” assistants. Next time I am sure you won’t agree to go to a face-to-face meeting unless you’ve ironed out all the details first. 🙂
Totally agree.
In my experience people are also relieved to hear ‘no’. I mean in those instances when I managed to end client relationships because it wasn’t feeling right, they most likely had the same feeling about myself, but didn’t know how to address it. Being the brave one who takes the first step really pays off.
Agree with Reese that referrals may come in – especially because you were professional enough to talk about the elephant in the room and not tiptoe around it.
Ulrike, EXCELLENT advice! Keep it coming! 😉
Great video Reese! I feel like Quay these days. But I do know when to say no. When you have so much on your plate and you have that 1 client that’s a real bear, it can create havoc in your business life. Say NO to the bear! 🙂
Thanks, Linda! SAY NO TO THE BEAR! XOXO
It was horrible, I kept saying yes to everything. they began to dump on me but did not want to pay. Complained when I could not get all they wanted done in the hours they wanted…..after six years, yeas six years, it ended and not nicely….all because I could not say no!
Wow, you held on for 6 years? Goodness gracious, Evonne! So glad that’s behind you. Onward and upward as I say!
You inspired me to write a peice my first peice I have ever written go to my blog at emlvirtualassitant.com
Hello Reese, i wish i had read all of this before.All the things that you posted, happened to me.
I started working for $10 an hour, not happy about the rate, but it was my first VA opportunity, Hungry for work and money i accepted.
Had to Prove myself and the quality of my work, so he would raise the rate from $10, to $18 or $20 per hour, after 4 months of hard work nothing happened, i gave him an ultimatum, he gave bs excuses and never paid more than 52 hours a months, i invested a lot of time and energy, and this guy just made fun of me, i feel very frustrated, and upset.
Currently im out of Job again , living in Panama Central América , and mother of two, i would like to learn how and where to invest all my efforts with the right people, thanks!
Hang in there! Focus on growing your skill set and networking. You’re doing great! Don’t lose faith. xo
Hey Reese!
I hear ya… I said Yes when I REALLY wanted to say no because I wanted to be nice. My mistake! I know better for next time.
Thanks,
Lillian