Kelly McCausey
I'm a huge fan of Scott Stratten (UnMarketing.com) and I loved
his recent rant about 'looking the part' in business. (On
BizSlap.com.) If you haven't been there yet to listen, you
should definitely do that before you read any farther. I
wouldn't be a good Mom if I didn't warn you in advance that he
uses a colorful expletive that you won't want kids to hear - so
slip on the headphones or make sure little ears are in another
room.
Alright, so you listened? Great! You're probably experiencing
one of two common reactions: One possibility is that you're
laughing your head off at his boldness, agreeing with him the
whole way. The other possibility is that your ears are burning
and you're feeling picked on.
Either way - I have to say that I completely agree message. It's
true that a business website should look like a business
website. It's true that we need to be willing to spend money on
our business image.
Fair or not, work at home Moms do have a reputation for being
cheap about their businesses. Some say it's hard to get Moms to
spend any money at all and to some extent it's true. Some Moms
are starting their websites on a tooth floss budget, they can't
even afford a shoestring! They're looking for every penny
pinching opportunity that they can find.
Scott makes a great point. Why should he or anyone else spend
money with you when you're not willing to spend a little money
upfront to present yourself properly? I know it hurts, I know
money is tight - but you do truly have to spend a little money
to make a little money. And, as your business begins to grow,
you have to be willing to reinvest a portion of your profits
back into the business.
So, if I agree with him - why is a WAHM slapping back?
It's not the BizSlap itself that bugged me. It's the wide array
of responses posted on forums, blogs and networks around the web
that got under my skin.
Scott specifically mentioned Virtual Assistants so many of the
comments were aimed at new VAs, work at home Moms VAs to be more
specific. Several Virtual Assistants took the opportunity to
give their own 'slap' - attacking those who don't come up to
their business standards - calling them an embarrassment to
their industry.
The VA industry isn't the first to try to set some standards
that everyone should operate by and it certainly isn't the first
to create some kind of quasi-caste system; separating the
'haves' from the 'have nots'.
The message is clear. A 'real VA' presents them selves a certain
way, charges a certain rate and performs up to a certain
standard. Anyone who doesn't present themselves that way,
charges less, or offers fewer services - are just 'making the
rest of us look bad'. Who crowned who the VA fairy? Who gets to
decide what a VA is and what a VA isn't? It's not like being a
lawyer or a doctor - but they sure act like it is.
It makes me think of the lawyer who chooses a career with Legal
Aid instead of joining a big name firm. How about the doctor who
opts to serve in the inner city hospital instead of opening a
private practice? The lawyers and doctors who choose the high
priced specializations often look down on those who simply want
to help the Average Joe.
Should Virtual Assistants organize and try to raise the level of
professionalism offered in their industry? Sure. Any field is
going to organize and set up some simple standards that stand to
improve opportunities for everyone. Don't read the wrong message
in my words - I'm not anti-standards.
Set standards, make suggestions, provide resources and offer
guidance. Those are all good things. Just don't take things too
far and start condemning others who don't choose to sign up for
your ideology of business.
If someone wants to set up shop and offer virtual services of
one kind or another and calls herself a VA - she's allowed. If
she chooses to charge a fourth of what you charge - she's
allowed. If she chooses to have her kids around her while she
works - she's allowed! Why come along and shame her for it? When
you do this, you're no different than the high priced nose
doctor shaming the poorly paid ER doc for 'wasting his skills'.
Who are you to tell her what she should and shouldn't do, charge
or enjoy?
We need to embrace the beautiful diversity of the home based
business community. Some are highly polished executive types and
some enjoy a more relaxed 'fuzzy slippers' lifestyle. One is not
better than the other. Not all clients are looking for the
polished perfectionist. Many clients are glad to work with a
home based parent who can burp their baby while they work. I'm
one of them. And don't be fooled into thinking that the Mom or
Dad who chooses a child friendly home office environment is any
less of a professional or that they're turning out sub-standard
work. Parents are very capable of making a living with kids
under their feet and in their arms.
About the author:
About the Author: Kelly McCausey is the host of Work at Home
Moms Talk Radio (http://www.wahmtalkradio.com) and is co-coach
at Mom Masterminds, (http://www.mommasterminds.com) where Moms
learn process of building profitable internet based businesses.
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