Judith Morgan, Wealth Coach for Entrepreneurs

Create an online VA business to fit your life!

Among the many opportunities for online businesses there are a few that really are potential winners.  As a Virtual Assistant (or VA) you can utilise the administrative skills gained in the”real-world” as a PA, Executive Assistant, Secretary or Office Manager, transferring them to provide remote administrative services to clients from the comfort of your own home-office.

How do you make the shift and learn the skills necessary to run a successful business?  It takes more thought than simply setting up a computer with broadband connection!  Kate Bacon of Pier to Peer Coaching, who has run her own VA business for 5 years, has created a unique, specialist training programme for individuals wishing to turn their secretarial skills into a viable business. 

Graduates of the VA Business Start Up Course (the virtual group training programme) talk about how they’ve each created their own VA business for very different reasons. To read their inspiring stories, click here.  Pier to Peer are offering their next course, commencing Saturday, 3 May at 11:00am BST, as a Spring Special Offer.  To take advantage of this reduced price, click here remembering to insert the Reference Code: JM on the secure payment page!

Listen to me interviewing Kate to hear more about it.

The Elite Entrepreneurs Make Me Cry

During last week's Mastermind meeting of the Elite Entrepreneurs Club, I had to reach for the tissues not once, but twice!   One of my clients, with whom I have been working for a couple of years, came up with his best idea for his business yet.   An idea so stonking and so brave that I was in awe and the tears came quickly.   Another client managed to do the same thing to me, her achievements are awesome.   You both know who you are - thank you for making me cry, no really!

I wonder if anyone else other than a coach could know how precious it is to be present when your client emerges as an even better version of themselves?   More confident, more successful, more energised, more powerful.

One of the team even said to me "are we doing this next year?"   With results like that?   You betcha. I couldnt stop this work now if I wanted to.   Just to be present to the magnificence of my clients is a unique honour.   Not to mention the fun we had at the party the night before!

The Elite Entrepreneurs Club will indeed start again in September 2008 when we will re-convene a Wednesday Group and a Friday Group.   If you would like to talk to me now to make sure you get one of those precious seats in one of our EEC Mastermind Groups, then please don't delay, email me today.

Are You Looking for Love?

My coaching colleague Trisha Stone is launching "Kickstart Your Successful Relationship Year" on 6th March with a series of 5 teleseminars.   Trisha walks her talk, which is absolutely the best thing you can say about a coach.   Following the strategies she teaches, Trisha found the man of her dreams and although I havent met him, he sounds absolutely perfect.   Perfect for Trisha, that is!

Attracting a great relationship is an inside job as well as an outside job, which means there is some preparation work to be done - on YOU.   Most people are looking for love and in all the wrong places. If you are fed up with what you have been doing as it patently isnt working, how about letting Trisha teach you her own brand of dating wisdom?

There's an early bird booking discount just for Valentine's Day; how appropriate is that?   I believe she is also offering a one-day workshop in 8th March if you are free?   Read all about the mini-series here.

Sharing the Dream with new Entrepreneur Lorraine

Today I enjoyed a very surreal day out.   I was invited to be the guest of Lorraine Armstrong, the new owner of Share the Dream as she went to present an award at The Wedding Awards 2008 as a proud sponsor.   Lorraine recently acquired this business from Money Gym client Debbie Bissett.   Debbie and her partner Claire are serial entrepreneurs who have decided just to focus on their own recruitment business and thus divested themselves of their online wedding dress exchange.

WOW!   What an eye opener.   The wedding industry is HUGE.   I sat next door to two sisters who won the best wedding venue for the second year running for their Leez Priory in Essex.   My table also included a shoes lady, a wedding planner and a dress designer, but none of them won sadly and I was feeling part of their teams by then!

The Wedding Awards 2008 was a very pink event - yay!   The champagne reception was OK, the lunch OK but the highlight of the day was the awards ceremony itself, and my favourite bit was when Lorraine was on stage!   Let me share the story of Lorraine, who I was thinking about as I drove to the gig this morning...

Entrepreneur Sarah Escapes the Rat Race

I met with a new client yesterday, Sarah Rourke, and she has given me permission to share with you the email she sent me when she got home from our session.   It was entitled Thank You.   

"Hello Judith

I'm not very good at saying appreciative things to people (something to work on another day I think) so I'm just writing to say how relieved I am to have picked a brilliant coaching option! I feel a good sense of calm that I'm going to be able to do this and I don't need to panic. And I'm glad to have reaffirmed my belief that coaching really does not have to be as bollocksy as some would have it (and this from a fellow coach!). So, onwards and upwards - I'm going to turn my massive mindmap into a broken down set of tasks this week, with deadlines and everything."

Sarah and I have been working together informally for some time.   She has a branch of The Cleaning Biz in West Hampstead and she has been coming to Cashflow games for a goodly chunk of 2007.   And here's the exciting news...

Travel Matters - Independent Travel Advice & Service

I had dinner last night with my old pal, Karen Simmonds, who runs Travel Matters in Clapham.   This is the travel agency I started about twelve years ago.   Being a Creator profile, I soon got bored with the project but Karen has taken it from a tiny acorn and grown it into a splendid, strong oak tree, far better than ever I could have done.

Now, why use a travel agent in this day and age when you can book and pay online?

Well, firstly it doesnt cost you any more to book with Travel Matters and they will give you their time in sourcing the right holiday for you for free so that's great for us time-poor types.   They have a wealth of experience in the travel industry, the tour operators send them on familiarisation trips so they can frequently recommend resorts to you in which they have stayed themselves.   Although they are based in Clapham, in SW London, there is absolutely no need to visit them, you can talk to them on the phone or email them and they will send you brochures etc. in the post or point you at web links.   

I have travelled frequently on holidays booked for me by Karen and her team and I thoroughly recommend them.   Join Karen's postal mailing list and she sends you out quarterly a gorgeous little glossy brochure with inspirational photos and ideas for your next break.   I'm just enjoying my copy now over a cup of Starbucks!

Travel matters to Karen and Travel Matters is a Great Little Business.   And guess who encouraged Karen to blog?

Yet Another Way to Make Money in Property

A disproportionate number of my clients invest in property, but many of us are keen to get the returns without actually being bothered with becoming a landlord.   My client, Peter Stanley, may have the answer for you.

Peter will take your money and use it in property investments of his own.   He will return it to you on a contractual basis, say six months, and pay you 2-3 times what you will get from leaving your money in your deposit a/c at the bank!   If you enjoy working with Peter and the enhanced monthly interest he pays, you may consider repeating the deal every six months.

Check this out: Click here.

A Taste of Sensuality - The Workshop

Former client, Andrea Semple, who runs a business called Sacred Sensuality, is launching her first ever workshop, called A Taste of Sensuality.   It runs on Saturday 29th September and here's what Andrea has to say about it.

"It’s a three hour experience starting at 1pm, and is for women at all stages of their journey.  It’s a total ‘non-nudity’ experience of fun and pleasure, as well as the serious grown up stuff of letting go of the old beliefs and embracing the new!  The new sensual YOU.   The workshop is for TEN women, only!  and is unbeatable value at £60.  There’s also a delicious goody bag and bootylicious beanbag to take home at the end of the workshop."

Read more about it here.

Complementary Therapists Wanted for Survey

  Last night I had to make a little speech at a meeting of www.networking4therapists.com which was jolly little get together of a lot of lovely folk, those who look after our health holistically.   I was talking to them about making a Great Little Business out of their therapy business, specifically to love themselves, love their clients, love the work they do and learn to love marketing and money.

Anyway, I met a Money gym client called Tunde and she asked for our help.   She is seeking 2,000 complementary therapists to complete her online survey.   If you are one, or you know one, will you help Tunde please by popping on over to her survey at www.corporateclients4massage.com - there's a free gift in it for you.

Thanks for your help.

Unleash Your Children's Potential

Inspired coaching colleague Alan Wilson runs a business and a website called Develop Your Child and a quick snoop round his website will reveal his passion and his mission to help parents and children.   Children don't come with a manual!   

If you would like to help children, teenagers and parents achieve a new kind of empowerment and achieve wonderful new relationships, then Alan's company has got some upcoming family coach training in September which you must get involved in.

Or you could simply hire one of his family coaches for your own family?   Read what Alan has to say...

Tales of the Lonely Entrepreneur (2)

The second contribution has rolled in today from Ann Harrison who runs no fewer than 4 (four!) coaching businesses and websites (note to self: must have a word with Ann about focus), but then you just can't keep a good entrepreneur down, thank Heavens!  Here's Ann's inspiring story:

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"By February 2002, I had had enough.  I used to go into the Ladies’ room, just across from our staffroom in the college where I worked, enter the cubicle furthest away from the door and just scream, silently, to ease my stress and frustration.  I must have looked like a perfect replica of Edvard Munch’s famous painting, ‘The Scream’.  Yet 15 years earlier, I had been a brand-new teacher, fresh from teacher-training college and enjoying my job immensely.  So, what had gone wrong in the intervening period?

Lonely Entrepreneur Stories

I had a brilliant idea today, of course I did.   Actually it wasn't the first time I had had this idea, but it was resuscitated during lunch with Happy Nurse, Claire Westwood, in the sense that during lunch I remembered I had had this brilliant idea again in the shower this morning and forgotten to write it on my To Do List.

My brilliant idea of today is to collect and share the stories of the Lonely Entrepreneurs and then publish them in a book, profits to charity.   Let's find out who we really are, us rabid entrepreneurs, and why we do it!

Outsourcing for Entrepreneurs

Kate Bacon is not only a top notch VA herself but runs a coaching programme training other VAs, has asked me to share this article with you:

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Are you a small business owner who never has enough time to do everything? Maybe you are ready for your first outsourcing relationship! 

The first outsourcing relationship for many businesses is getting help with their administration.  The most cost effective way of doing this is to work with a virtual assistant, or VA.  The concept has been around in the UK for less than 10 years but has already proved to be of untold benefit to many small business owners. 

What are the advantages of working with a VA over hiring an employee?

Continue reading this article on Kate's own blog...

Anne's Motorhome Challenge

Earlier I told you the story of Anne Jackson who now lives in Crete.   Anne is ready to sell the trusty motorhome which bore her and her son and their pets and possessions on the 3,000 mile journey to their new life.

What we are looking for, Universe, please is someone (or two) to fly to Crete and spend a few days with Anne and then drive the motorhome back to the UK and sell it on Anne's behalf.   We are up for proposals, offers and deals.   Apparently the vehicle will sell better in the UK and is worth about £14,000 and yes, we appreciate you will have costs and time involved in this which will be repaid to you along with your percentage for handling the sale of the van for Anne.   Up for it?   It could involve a few days' holiday with Anne and a fun drive back, stopping at your leisure (within reason!).   You will need to hammer out a deal with Anne herself, and I can put you in touch.

For those of you who know about these things, here are some crucial facts...

Anne Jackson is Living The Dream!

I made a new friend yesterday.   Virtually.   I spoke to coach Anne Jackson who lives in Crete.   Yes, I know, she's living MY dream.   Anne, who is a single parent in her Fifties, sold up her house in chilly Scotland, packed her teenage son and her possessions into a motorhome, along with her dog and cat (I think she said) and drove it all the way to Crete.   Go, that woman!

She's living in a 3-bed maisonette with two bathrooms, two sun terraces, lounge, dining area and kitchen, all for £300 a month!   That's her view and yes, she does have full wireless Broadband.   I knew Greece is good at that tech bit.

Surviving Divorce with Jackie Walker, The Divorce Coach

Jackie Walker, one of the UK’s leading divorce coaches has developed a series of teleclasses for divorcees.  Whether you are contemplating divorce, in the thick of it or you’re at the stage after the dust has settled – you will know how difficult it is to get rid of the feelings of harbouring grudges against the unfairness of the system, your ex, and your current circumstances. 

Important fact – the simple structure and easy methods and tips included in the free classes guarantee those who join in will have their own personal situation addressed.  In order to provide this level of personal service, participants are limited to 10 per call.  If you would like to join this anonymous session, or find out more about how she can help you, please send an email Jackie and you will be sent ...

What Drives Your Business?

Driving Your Business is a full day event being held on 21 June 2007 at the impressive Williams F1 Conference Centre in Oxfordshire.

Learn how to get your business onto pole position; find out how to keep your business finely tuned; discover the secret to effective pit stops; find out what happens after you cross the finish line; and walk through the glamorous history of the Williams F1 racing team.

Read more about this by clicking here.

Tickets are limited so to request a booking form email chantal@appletreeuk.com.

Lucie's Site Goes Live!

There's almost nothing I would rather do in a blog posting than proudly announce a new arrival. In this case it is the wonderful website, movie, book, e-book and forum created for the bereaved by Lucie Storrs, who has laboured for a year to create this marvellous resource called The Light Beyond.

Many congratulations to Lucie for her hard work, focus and professionalism.

Ready to Run Your Own Home-Based Business?

Kate Bacon set up her Virtual Assistance business KateBacon.Com four years ago.  She has created a niche specialising in  working with executive and business coaches and trainers.  Prior to that she had 12+ years experience as a PA/Executive Assistant working for blue chip companies in both London, UK and Seattle, USA (particularly within the Executive Recruitment and Consulting industries).  In addition to being a VA, she holds a Certificate in Coaching from Coaching Development, who run one of the only face-to-face, International Coach Federation accredited coach training programmes in the UK.

Baby's Got Blue Eyes

My colleague and client Sue Kennedy of Blue Eyes Photo has a new venture.   Sue is a talented photographer who I have known since 2003 when she took the photos for my website.   I hate having my photo taken, as so many of us do, and do not regard myself as photogenic at all.   So I seize upon any photo of myself I like and use it all over my online marketing materials.

The session with Sue was painless.   Sue loves to use natural light and she took lots of shots both inside and out and we had some fun using my Beetle car.   Sue instantly knew when she had taken a shot I would like and there were at least three within the shoot I could use.

Now Sue has a new venture.   Kids Photography.