Things aren’t always going to work out between you and your Virtual Assistant. We all know just wanting something to work isn’t going to make it work. I’m not talking about money issues, personality issues or even capability issues. I want to talk about the three key problems that will kill your relationship with your VA that are all your fault. (Sorry!) The great part is that these three items are something that you can (and should) address even before you hire your assistant.
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A little over a year ago I was watching a live Facebook video of a health coach in my Facebook feed. She was in her kitchen, talking and cutting a melon. She used the tool in the picture you see above.
We’ve finally reached the end of my new car purchase saga. (Check out Parts One and Two if you’ve missed what has been happening.) As you can see from the picture above, I am happily the proud owner of new debt. :)
Last Saturday my husband and I took a 25 minute drive out to a dealership to check things out. Why so far away? They had some pricing that seemed a little cheaper than those dealers close to us, and when you’re talking about vehicles that are tens of thousands of dollars, every penny saved helps out. We met Joe, our sales guy. Joe greeted us in passing outside, asked us a question or two, and pointed us in the direction we needed to go. (No pressure. No hounding.) He came back around and asked us more questions. What did I want? What did I need? (Find out what the customer wants to point her in the right direction.) Had I done any test driving? I hadn’t. He grabbed some keys, a plate, and told us to go and check things out. (Let the customer learn first-hand about the product she wants to buy.) Joe offered up some pointers and features on the vehicle we looked at since, well, let’s face it. Cars have come a long way technologically speaking since my 2007 model! We even browsed some used cars just to see what the options were. The whole time there was absolutely no pressure to buy. Only information. Only assistance. Only problem-solving. At the end of our visit, we sat, we chatted, and he printed out some info for us to take home. Again - absolutely no pressure to buy. (I’m a geek for the no-pressure sale. There isn’t anything I dislike more than someone trying to make me feel guilty or stupid for not making an immediate purchase.) The next day I sent Joe an email. (That’s right - he didn’t badger me with more info.) We emailed back and for about pricing, colors, models. By the time Friday came around we had all the choices, paperwork and insurance completed and I just needed to sign and pay. It was so simple. Well, no. Initially, with those previous dealerships, it wasn’t. But with this dealer and our sales guy Joe, it was. Because it wasn’t about sales quotas or commissions. (Well, maybe it was, but it didn’t feel that way.) It was about helping me find the right car for me at the right price. It was making sure the customer was happy. And when the customer is happy, everybody is happy. I get my car. Joe gets his commission. And future business, too, because I had such a good experience. So - more happy people. And everybody wins. The new Fall TV lineup is in full swing. I’m watching one new show. Just one.
No, I can’t tell you what it is. No one knows. I record it and watch it the next day when no one is around. No one must know that I enjoy this show. I really shouldn’t even be writing about it here. Because the fates will hear. And then...CANCELLED. You see, I am the person that cancels your favorite shows. I watch them happily and am excited for the next episode. Only, there is no episode, because shortly after I start watching, the show gets cancelled. I am THAT person. And it doesn’t stop at TV shows. No, my adoration and appreciation for wonderful, amazing things can shut down just about anything. That amazing cigar bar? That was me. That fantastic cocktail and tapas bar - a gem in the midst of nothing. Closed. The 100+ year old restaurant with the amazing, homemade slices (hunks) of pie so fresh that they were still warm when served. Also gone. And that’s just here in Michigan. I’m afraid to think what chaos I’ve caused in my travels around the country. (I’m sorry, favorite hotels, restaurants and interesting places to visit!) And so, my dear clients, I will refuse to enjoy your communications. I won’t think fondly on your businesses. I might even sigh deeply and with great frustration when I do your work. Because I want our relationship to last. I don’t want your business to be cancelled. There is something that has been bothering me, and I need to get it off my chest.
A few weeks ago I was on Instagram and I happened to see a live feed from a business coach. I decided to stop and see what kind of motivation she was offering. For the first minute or two everything was going well. And honestly, I don’t remember exactly what she was saying, but I was still listening so I think it must have been good. But then she started talking about how she gains clients, and this is where she lost me. Now I’m going to paraphrase here, but this is the sentiment: “If someone is on the fence with signing up with me, I just ignore them. If they email me or call me, I won’t answer. I don’t have time for that. I don’t have time for people who are unsure if I’m right for them. That doesn’t make me money. So don’t waste time on people that aren’t going to make you money.” I shut down the video. Did I hear that right? A coach doesn’t want to help anyone that isn’t ready to commit and pony up the cash to her ASAP. Even now I’m throwing my hands up and my head is shaking frantically. HUH???!!!?!?! You’re a coach. Don’t coaches help people? Don’t they motivate them? Don’t they put them in the right direction? I can’t imagine giving up on someone I just met - someone who I know needs help, who came to me for help - and just because they were nervous about the steps, or the investment or whatever. And not answer their emails or calls. Lady, you’re in the wrong line of work. We are all in the service industry. Coaches, virtual assistants, social media experts, web designers, etc. - all of us. We sell ourselves as helpers, serving others so that they can benefit from our knowledge and have a strong support system to help them grow. Just because someone is hesitant doesn’t make them unworthy of help. If anything, they’re the ones that need more of your help. So someone can’t invest in you right now. It’s okay. Keep in touch with them. (Isn’t that what newsletters are all about?) And don’t people say it takes at least 6-8 touches before someone will feel secure enough to want to buy from you? So why would you let someone go after the first contact? When you choose to help people, it’s because you want to help them, not because you want access to their bank accounts. If that’s the case, you’re in the wrong line of work. |
Author28+ years of business experience. 15+ years of virtual experience. topics
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May 2020
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