Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business

by Chris C. Ducker

Overview

Entrepreneurs often suffer from "superhero syndrome"—the misconception that to be successful, they must do everything themselves. Not only are they the boss, but also the salesperson, HR manager, copywriter, operations manager, online marketing guru, and so much more. It's no wonder why so many people give up the dream of starting a business—it's just too much for one person to handle.

But outsourcing expert and "Virtual CEO," Chris Ducker knows how you can get the help you need with resources you can afford. Small business owners, consultants, and online entrepreneurs don't have to go it alone when they discover the power of building teams of virtual employees to help run, support, and grow their businesses.

Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business is the step-by-step guide every entrepreneur needs to build his or her business with the asset of working with virtual employees. Focusing on business growth, Ducker explains every detail you need to grasp, from figuring out which jobs you should outsource to finding, hiring, training, motivating, and managing virtual assistants.

With additional tactics and online resources, Virtual Freedom is the ultimate resource of the knowledge and tools necessary for building your dream business with the help of virtual staff.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781939529756
Publisher:	BenBella Books, Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2014
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
Sales rank:	869,867
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Chris C. Ducker has helped thousands of entrepreneurs around the world implement successful virtual staffing strategies into their businesses, releasing them from the shackles of the over-worked, over-stressed lifestyle that most business owners endure on a daily basis. His approach to leveraging time, as well as maximizing business systems and processes – all with a focus on running businesses from a distance – has earned him the title of the "Virtual CEO."

Ducker is also a popular speaker, podcaster, and video marketer.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Superhero Syndrome 1

Becoming a Virtual CEO 3

It's Time to Make a Choice 7

Why Build a Virtual Team in the First Place? 8

Getting Started with This Book 9

Section 1 Finding and Hiring Your Virtual Staff 13

The Fundamentals 14

Reality Check: The Myth of the Super-VA 15

Introducing the General Virtual Assistant (GVA) 16

Creating Your 3 Lists to Freedom 20

Getting Ready to Start 24

Understanding the 2 Different Types of Outsourcing 25

Freedom Spotlight: Jared Croslow, Cliconomics.com 27

Defining the Different Types of Virtual Workers 28

Case Study #1: Todd Beuckens, Elllo 38

Finding the Right Virtual Staff 42

The 10 Elements of a Good Job Description 47

Case Study #2: Tom Libelt, Libelty SEO 52

The Interview Process (and the 10 Questions You Should Ask) 55

Confidentiality and Contracts 60

NDAs (Nondisclosure Agreements) 62

Section 2 Training Your Virtual Staff 63

The Biggest Problem with Training Virtual Workers: You! 64

Case Study #3: Tristan King, Shopify Ninjas 70

Get to Know Your VAs 73

Develop Your Training Tools: The VA Training Trifecta 74

Case Study #4: Kyle Zimmerman, Kyle Zimmerman Photography 80

Best Practices When Training Your Virtual Staff 84

Throw Your VA a Curveball 86

Your VA Success Equation 88

Freedom Spotlight: Pat Flynn, SmartPassiveIncome.com 91

Section 3 Managing Your Virtual Staff 93

Don't Be a Virtual Vulture 94

Case Study #5: Steve Dixon, Dixon Clothing Group and Breakthrough4Business 101

How to Manage Different VA Roles 103

The Difference Between Revolving Tasks and Projects 114

Using Project-Management Software 118

Reports from Your Virtual Staff 121

Freedom Spotlight: Justin Fulcher, Kinda IT 125

Paying and Motivating Your Virtual Staff 126

Section 4 The Big Question: Stay Local or Go Overseas? 133

The Advantages of Staying Closer to Home 134

Why Outsourcing Overseas Is Not for Everyone-or Every Business 138

What About Customer Support? 140

The Outsourcing Destination of Choice: The Philippines 141

Case Study #6: Fiona Lewis, Super Savvy Business 144

Things to Remember When Working with Filipino VAs 148

Case Study #7: Paul Holland, VideoTise 153

Section 5 The Next Level: Building Your Virtual Team 159

How Different Types of Virtual Employees Will Work Together 160

Case Study #8: Nate Ginsburg, Onset LLC 178

Setting Company Goals and Rewards 181

Meeting Everyone in Person 183

Setting Up a Social Network for Your Virtual Team 186

Freedom Spotlight: Joe Daniel, The Football-Defense Report 188

When to Create the Virtual Project Manager Role 189

Section 6 The Case for Content 199

Why Your Business Needs to Produce Online Content Consistently 203

What Is "Good" Content? 209

The P2P (People-to-People) Philosophy 212

Case Study #9: Joshua Van Den Broek, Fitco Health Technologies 214

The Importance of Being Remembered 218

Getting Your Virtual Team to Do (Almost) All the Work for You 218

Freedom Spotlight: Natalie Sisson, The Suitcase Entrepreneur 229

Section 7 Time to Get Started 233

Your First Six Months 234

Conclusion 237

Bonus Section: Top 10 Virtual Team-Building Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!) 239

Resources 255

Gratitude 265

About the Author 267

Index 269

Editorial Reviews

"Think about the most useful book you've ever read. It will now become the second most useful. This is the field guide for building a team, outsourcing, and taking back control of your life."
—Jay Baer, New York Times bestselling author of Youtility

"Chris Ducker explains exactly how to get more done in less time—and, as a bonus, get back the life you gave up when you decided to go into business for yourself. Virtual assistants are the key, and Virtual Freedom gives you everything you need to know."
—Michael Hyatt, New York Times bestselling author of Platform

"Chris Ducker passionately teaches freedom. His manifesto is a wake-up call for all entrepreneurs seeking to take back more of their time – in business and life."
—Michael Covel, bestselling author of Trend Following

"Set your ideas free, and you'll think bigger. Set your entire work system free, and you'll grow bigger. Chris Ducker is on to something here. Get in fast!"
—Chris Brogan, New York Times bestselling author of Trust Agents

"Who would you rather trust to learn about building a virtual team, to help grow your business? Someone who 'talks' about outsourcing, or someone who LIVES it? Chris Ducker lives it – everyday - and this book proves it!"
—Derek Halpern, founder of SocialTriggers.com

"Countless business owners are getting bogged down dealing with mundane tasks. Chris Ducker, has the book you NEED to read. He takes the fear out of virtualizing your business and shows you how to live your life, while your business works for YOU!"
—Peter Shankman, bestselling author of Nice Companies Finish First

"This book shall become the bible on how to build your dream business, without working yourself into an early grave!"
—John Lee Dumas, host and founder of Entrepreneur On Fire

"In Virtual Freedom, Ducker gives incredibly practical, proven advice for getting our time back so we can live a life of true freedom with the most luxurious of luxuries: choice over what we do with our time.
—Kate Northrup, bestselling author of Money: A Love Story

"Your small business won't grow without a team behind you. Chris Ducker has written a step-by-step guide to building and managing a virtual team machine. Follow his framework and watch your enterprise grow into your dream business."
—Melinda Emerson, bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12-Months

"Have you ever read a book that you just couldn't put down because you simply need to know what's on the next page? Virtual Freedom did that for me because what Chris has produced in this book will literally change your business, and your life!"
—Pat Flynn, bestselling author of Let Go

"I'm not going to lie: my business used to be a stress-fest, until I unleashed the power of outsourcing on it. When it comes to learning how to do this, there's no better expert than Chris Ducker, and no better bible than Virtual Freedom."
—David Siteman Garland, mediapreneur and host of The Rise to the Top

"This is a book for a new world of business, where technology - not subways or planes or cars - connects people to their offices and team members to each other. It offers you a prescription that'll lead you to a more flexible, efficient, and (ultimately) more productive business."
—Ann Handley, bestselling co-author of Content Rules

From the Publisher