Others are already at home, perhaps as mums whose children are at school or about to leave school. Some are able to resurrect skills they once used in a previous career. They may still be coping with a family but perhaps have more flexible hours to offer from the beginning than someone who's trying to juggle a job and a business. Mind you, the latter has the advantage of already being in the working world, knows how businesses operate and is au fait with all the latest technology. Handling the isolation can be tricky at first, especially if you're used to working in a large office. Sitting at home in a spare bedroom can seem the loneliest place in the world and not everyone's temperament is suited to this modus operandi. That is when the value of support organisations becomes apparent.

Such groups prove, especially to beginners, that there are an awful lot of people in exactly the same boat. This kind of support is incredibly useful and helps to convince newcomers that you can make a living as a Virtual Assistant. Learning from others who are successful can be a tremendous inspiration. Even if you are fairly experienced - no one knows it all. It's a comforting feeling that if you have a query or just need a virtual shoulder to cry on, or a sounding board, there are like-minded colleagues who can help. You'll come across people who've not only been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt, they've probably washed and ironed the T-shirt as well!

Unless you're lucky and business takes off very quickly, it can seem as if you'll never make any money. It took me some time before I was able to break even and almost a year passed before I made any profit. For a long time I felt that I was just struggling to pay the bills from the business. We stayed afloat thanks to my husband's income. There are no shortcuts and you will have to work hard for every single client.

It's unlikely you'll ever lose the worry of whether you'll make enough money each month but such is the precarious nature of self employment. No one else will look after you. Suddenly you have all the responsibility of taxes, insurance, health and pensions to consider.

But persevere. For those determined to succeed, with the right professional attitude, there is a very satisfying living to made. There really is no substitute for being completely in charge of your own life. From the hours you work, to the clients you accept, to the place where you work. You decide everything.

Each week I choose what hours I will work - as long as my deadlines are met. I have the final say on whether I work mornings, afternoons or evenings. Some days I work all three, plus weekends as well! By contrast, if I have devoted long days to finish a project, I will often take a day off - even in the middle of the week! A decision completely of my choosing and I wouldn't change it for anything! The feeling of being in total control of what you do and when you do it cannot be beaten. Once you've experienced that, I guarantee you'll never want to go back to being employed.

Once you've made that transition, the hard part is not only retaining your existing clients and winning new ones. It's developing still further your own mind set to remember that you're no longer an employee.

Irene Boston
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