21 Mar My biggest take away from AVAC2018

If you’ve known me for a little while, you would know that I often sprout the importance of networking and investing in your biz (and yourself!) and this past weekend, I did just that.

I got the train up to Brisbane and left my “normal” life behind for 48 hours and enjoyed being an adult and business owner (I also enjoyed room service, the bar and my own room without a 6 year constantly saying “muuuummm”).

The Australian Virtual Assistant’s Conference (AVAC) is an annual event organised by the Australian Virtual Assistants Association (AVAA) and sponsored by various small businesses and attended by VAs from all over Australia. This year’s event was held in Brisbane and over 50 VA business owners from every state made the investment into their business to attend. We were treated with speakers from complementary (and sometimes sub) industries such as business coaches and copywriters, along with copyright, podcast and time management specialists (and

others).

But in addition to the presenters, and maybe even more so, some of the best learning came from each other. The conversations we shared were personal, raw, honest, empowering and uplifting.

For many, they think the virtual assistance industry in Australia is in its infancy but in fact, it’s been around a couple of decades (one attendee has been in business 24 years)! Even before the internet and the online world that we know now, people were working remotely and conducting business via phone and fax. Now of course, everything is instant and we enjoy the conveniences of email, video chat, instant messaging and the gazillions of other apps we love! Much of the focus of AVAC was looking to the future – where is the industry heading, what do we need to be aware of and how can we stay ahead of the trends and “lead the pack” when it comes to knowledge and skillset.

My biggest take away from AVAC2018

I am exactly where I need to be.

Strategically, I am exactly where I need to be. I have goals and plans but right now, this is where I need to be. There is more learning and growing to do before I can achieve those goals.

Mentally and emotionally, I am exactly where I need to be. I am in the right mindset for the goals I have. I’m not stressed or panicked or too blasé about them.

Community wise, I am exactly where I need to be. I am surrounded by support – both online and offline and being in a room with these women (and one man) showed me that. I was literally surrounded by support and that was not only amazing but enlightening too. Being a member of numerous business groups I know that competition and bitchiness is common but you know what, I never felt that once. These VAs aren’t my competition, they are my cheer squad and I am their’s. And THAT, is exactly where I need to be.

It made me think though, how can I bring that same level of support to the clients that I serve? How can I help them feel they are exactly where they need to be? And so, from that, grows the newest mission of Your Virtual Asset – to get my clients to be exactly where they need to be.