Currently, as a senior VA of an intern in the AssistU Internship Program and a mentee in the AssistU Virtual Mentoring Program, I get to see the beginnings of their businesses. The starting out.  The foundation work.

During a call with another VA last week I discussed my process for filling my practice.  At first, I played around with marketing. I was half-hoping that it would fill on it’s own.  We had a lot going on, I would bargain with myself, we moved right after my AssistU graduation, then we moved again one year later. I was in charge of the moves. Then I unpacked. Then I had my days back and I was scared. I hate marketing myself.

From September to November, I tried… I would send a letter here and there, research potential prospects, plan.  Life seemed to still be creeping in. Okay, I was allowing it.

December came, and I began contemplating finding a desk job in an office. I sent out a few resumes. I considered what a corporate job would cost me after all I had done to be a VA. I carefully thought through the benefits of keeping my practice full-time.

I already knew how many hours I wanted to work each week for clients. Was I in my office those hours? No. Was I currently working those hours? No. I didn’t have clients, so I didn’t see a need. However, really admitting that to myself allowed me to make a shift.

As I shared in a previous post, I calendar everything.  I decided to use this to handle my need to add clients. Here is the process I used:

• I clearly determined the hours I would work for clients during each of my work days.
• I blocked those hours off for marketing on my calendar.
• I calculated my hours per week, then per month.
• I took my retainer rate and applied to to those hours, like I was my own client.
• I used that multiple (retainer rate x available hours) and considered that my marketing budget.
• Then, I kept my butt in my seat working on marketing during those hours.

It wasn’t magic. It didn’t happen over night… but slowly, one client at a time, I gathered clients. I was actively (not passively) growing my business. I never stopped using those hours as marketing time. I still don’t. I keep hours each week to work on my blog, research new client opportunities, and keep myself alive “out there” and in touch with people who matter to me.

I never forget that regardless of how well I help my clients… if I don’t run my business… no one will. I can’t bring my best to my clients if I don’t run my own business as well as I help them run theirs. I need time each week to do that. I have to calendar it and I have to keep my butt in my seat.

How do you keep “working on your business” while you are working your business? Leave me a comment below and share your process!