Something good… found on Etsy by valentinadesign
Ok so I’ve been away for awhile and I’m not too happy about that but I hit a wall when it came to writing blog posts for some reason. My business is doing decently well and I have some super great clients but I feel like I am missing something.
I need to have fun!
I need to be creative!
I need to be me!
When I created my business plan last year I followed the rules that I read online. I looked at what other VAs were doing in their businesses and tried to make my business as similar as possible because that was how I thought it worked. It works for them right? Why wouldn’t I want to base my business on a model that works? So I created my website and started offering my services to anyone and everyone who would ever possibly need me! I forgot one thing though – me. I forgot to add my personality – my witty, silly, edgy, smart and sassy personality – into my business. So although I’ve gotten clients over the past 9 months (oh my gosh has it been that long!!!) I’ve been struggling to keep my personality in check because that’s what I thought I had to do.
Going forward into the new year there will be some changes. Changes to my business plan, my website and my attitude towards my business. Just because I make money doing this job doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy myself at the same time!
This will also mean a 90 degree turn in my business in regards to my target market. Who, do you ask, is my target market?
“Howdy! My name is Sara Carbaugh and I work with creatives to make their lives easier through my crazy awesome virtual assistant skills.”
(I am so excited about this I might pee my pants a little!)
Looking at my clients now, who I like working with and who I don’t, I discovered that this has been my target market all along! Why creatives you ask? Well because I have always considered myself a creative person. Whether it was singing karaoke with the rest of the swing choir at the bowling alley on Friday night or performing in plays and musicals throughout my school years (I was Miss Hannigan my senior year. Yup, I’m awesome!) I have LOVED being creative and letting that side of my personality show! I am a goofy, funny, smart, caring person and I love that now I can share that with my clients as well as my friends.
So, I am totally borrowing this idea from Chris Brogan but here are my plans and wishes for the coming year:
My Business Plans for 2010
- For my website, I need to be able to reflect my personality in my website so that when people go there they’ll say” Oh yea, that’s a Sara website.” I’m not sure what that will mean yet though. Heck it could mean Star Trek icons and Broadway tunes playing in the background! Who knows?! (I would totally go to that site…)
- For my marketing, I want to focus more on creative people as opposed to every single person in the world who needs a database created. This will include revamping my social media presence, my web site and my services and offerings.
- For my blog, I am going to focus more on bring “me” to the party. I need to write more about what matters to me instead of what I am “supposed” to write about. So be prepared for random posts on my daughter, TV shows, books, movies and random pieces of knowledge thrown in with my social media and organizing posts!
My Business Wish List for 2010
- I want to continue to learn through seminars and conferences about how I can help creative people. The main program will be an author’s assistant program which will be super awesome but now that I’m focusing on artists and actors as well I can start branching out to see what is available for them out there on the interwebs and beyond.
- I want to create programs and/or products that will help out creatives who want to get started in social media.
- I want to have lots of awesome and super great clients that make me love working and teach me just as much as I teach them.
- I want my daughter to learn to make coffee for me in the morning. She’s one now, she can handle it! hehe
So there you are.
Keep a look out for all of the great changes and shifts going on here at Right Click!
Have a great day!!
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I can’t help being inspired by this post, Sara. I need to do something like this myself. Thank you for being you. Also, you might want to wait a couple more years before teaching your daughter how to make coffee.
I can’t help being inspired by this post, Sara. I need to do something like this myself. Thank you for being you. Also, you might want to wait a couple more years before teaching your daughter how to make coffee.
Hi Sarah, When I started, I did everything I could to emphasize my professional experience and credentials and downplay the creative stuff (I’m a painter too). About a year into it, I realized that I was not playing to my strengths and was trying to fix any weakness that a generic audience might perceive. It’s so much more fulfilling to be myself in my business! And it’s so much clearer who the right-fit clients are! (for example, my audience doesn’t mind exclamation points because their interpretation of professional includes enthusiasm and passion). I’m thrilled to learn you have had a similar awakening and wish you the best.
Thanks so much Sharon! When I thought of professional I thought of vanilla, boring and stuffy (not so much fun). After I talked with my clients though I was amazed to find out that they thought enthusiasm was very professional and heck I’ve got gobs of enthusiasm! hehe
I am really excited to step out of my safe little box and bring more of my personality to my work.
Oh and you being a painter is super cool!! : )
Hi Sarah, When I started, I did everything I could to emphasize my professional experience and credentials and downplay the creative stuff (I’m a painter too). About a year into it, I realized that I was not playing to my strengths and was trying to fix any weakness that a generic audience might perceive. It’s so much more fulfilling to be myself in my business! And it’s so much clearer who the right-fit clients are! (for example, my audience doesn’t mind exclamation points because their interpretation of professional includes enthusiasm and passion). I’m thrilled to learn you have had a similar awakening and wish you the best.
Thanks so much Sharon! When I thought of professional I thought of vanilla, boring and stuffy (not so much fun). After I talked with my clients though I was amazed to find out that they thought enthusiasm was very professional and heck I’ve got gobs of enthusiasm! hehe
I am really excited to step out of my safe little box and bring more of my personality to my work.
Oh and you being a painter is super cool!! : )
This is crazy awesomeness, just like your VA skills! Can’t wait to refer you all over town to my crazy awesome creative clients & friends.
And I’m SO looking forward to hearing “Little Girls” & seeing William Shatner when I visit your redesigned site…
You are wonderful!!
I’ll start working on the Shatner version of “Little Girls” just to tie everything together!
“Little Girls. Little. Girls. Everywhere I go. I. Can. SEE. THEM!”
LOL
This is crazy awesomeness, just like your VA skills! Can’t wait to refer you all over town to my crazy awesome creative clients & friends.
And I’m SO looking forward to hearing “Little Girls” & seeing William Shatner when I visit your redesigned site…
You are wonderful!!
I’ll start working on the Shatner version of “Little Girls” just to tie everything together!
“Little Girls. Little. Girls. Everywhere I go. I. Can. SEE. THEM!”
LOL