The Value of VA Training with VACT

Amanda Johnson is often asked whether someone needs to do a Virtual Assistant (VA) training course, and why they should choose VACT over other VA training providers. When faced with this question, Amanda likes to reach out to the VACT community and ask them about the impact of the VA Momentum Course (formerly known as the VA Mastery Course) on their business. Sandra Storoni, the owner of Paperweight PA based in Luxembourg, was one of Amanda’s VIP clients. Let’s hear her experiences in this case study.

Sandra’s Experience with VA Training at VACT

As Sandra prepared to celebrate her first business anniversary, she attributed much of her success to the fabulous Virtual Assistant Training course she completed with Amanda Johnson through her Virtual Assistant Coaching and Training Company (VACT).Sandra was delighted to share her experiences of training with VACT in this guest blog.She had been following Amanda and the VACT blog for a few years while still employed full-time as an Office Manager/Executive Assistant. At the time, she was curious about becoming a Virtual Assistant, and the weekly blogs piqued her interest. Even though they were often relevant for Personal or Executive Assistants, they also applied to Virtual Assistants.When the idea of starting her own VA business grew from a pipe dream to a reality, Sandra had already decided to talk to Amanda.One phone call was all it took for Sandra to decide that Amanda was the Coach and Mentor she wanted to work with, and the VA Training Course (now called the VA Momentum Course) was the perfect Virtual Assistant training course to help her get her business off the ground.

Why Sandra Chose the VA Training Course

Sandra knew she had the skills and experience to support potential clients from her 11 years as an Executive Assistant to Senior Management. However, she had serious doubts about launching a business and whether she could make it a success.Sandra opted for the VA Training Course with one-on-one coaching and mentoring because it was perfectly formulated to take her step-by-step through all the stages of launching a VA business.It was a large investment, but well worth every cent!During the modules, Sandra covered all aspects of setting up her business, from having the initial idea and testing her commitment, to deciding on her niche, creating a logo and branding, all the way through to marketing her business, creating a website, calculating pricing, finding those all-important first clients, and successfully onboarding new clients.By the end of the course, Sandra had her business plan in place and a clear vision of where she wanted to take her business. More importantly, she was filled with self-belief and confidence that she was capable of making a success of it. As she said, “You can’t put a price on that!”

The VA Training Course Structure

Each module of the training course covered a different topic in depth and was supplemented by additional resources in the form of PDFs, podcasts, and webinars, all of which Sandra still refers back to regularly today. Her VA Training Course files have become her very own VA Bible!

At the end of each module, there was an assignment to complete and submit, which really enhanced the learning for Sandra and was the key to her success. It’s easy to read, listen to a podcast or take part in a webinar, but it is only when you actually apply what you are learning that you really start to make progress and get results.Amanda would always revert quickly with awesome comments and constructive feedback, supplemented with suggestions and ideas from her own experience of having worked as a VA. This all helped Sandra to keep pushing forward, get clearer on her vision and goals for her business, and helped keep her motivated when doubts tried to resurface.

What Sandra Loved About the Course

What Sandra loved about the course was that she could work through it at her own pace. However, Amanda was always there giving support, or a gentle but firm push when required, and kept her accountable.The real icing on the cake for Sandra was having monthly 1:1 calls with Amanda, when she could really dive deep into the topics, discuss the various issues that were coming up as she prepared to launch her business. Amanda was also there to answer all her questions and generally dispel any doubts she might have been having.

Additional Support

Another super valuable aspect of taking part in any VA Training Course within the VA Training Academy was the various private Facebook groups that Amanda runs, which gave Sandra the opportunity to build her VA network, share ideas, ask all her burning questions, and learn from the experience of other VAs who might be further along in their journey. It is a super supportive and collaborative community that Sandra loves being a part of.

In addition, Amanda runs regular monthly webinars and the occasional weekend workshops. So, there are plenty of opportunities to continue learning and adding to one’s knowledge and skill set. The weekend workshops are not to be missed. They are not only an opportunity to meet Amanda in person but are also a dynamic environment to get together with her and other Virtual Assistants to network, brainstorm ideas, and get some hot seat coaching thrown in too!