Networking With Your Peers

The power of networking with your peers.  I have been a member of the Yahoo Association of Business Support Services International (ABSSI) group for years.  I first joined ABSSSI back in the early 90s when I first started my part time “Home-base Secretary” service.  ABSSI provided me with a lot of the information I needed to know to grow my business.  Over the years, even after the association dissolved, I kept in the loop by joining the Yahoo ABSSI group and would read the emails and find great tips and information that I could use in my business.

I love the Virtual Assistant industry because we are more like collaborators than competitors.  Basically we have each other’s back and you just can’t beat that in the business world today.

This week I received an overwhelming amount of transcription from several different companies all needing fast turnaround.  So while sitting in my office around 10pm or so I thought about ABSSI and the numerous times I have seen people post that they need help.  So of course I decided to give it a try.  Of course at this time of night I wasn’t expecting much in a response, but to my pleasant surprise I received emails and phone calls of transcriptionists offering their help.  Why didn’t I think of this sooner?

I can’t wait to see how this all works out, but tapping into your network of fellow VAs is definitely a great support system when you have occasional work overload.