Last week I wonderful visit with a therapist client from Los Angeles who was passing through town. It’s always great to meet clients in person especially after I have worked with them for quite some time.
In my virtual coaching business I have been able to work with all kinds of interesting people from various parts of the world. I love this International aspect to my business and wouldn’t change it for anything.
However, having an International client base is not the only benefit to having a virtual business. A more significant one for me is that my coaching practice is location independent. This means that I can work from any geographical location since I work exclusively by phone and Internet.
In fact, when I began my coaching business over 10 years ago my vision was to spend a fair amount of time working away from my home office in Vancouver. Although I have done this for short periods of time over the years, for one reason or another I have yet work for extended periods away from Vancouver.
After 10 years, I am excited to say that this is about to change…
In the late fall I will be doing some extended travel while running my business (more on this in the coming months).
People often tell me that I am “lucky” because I work at home, set my own hours, can work in my pajamas (even though I don’t) and can work from anywhere. When I hear these comments from others, I inform them that the benefits I enjoy from having a virtual business have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with luck.
Rather, these benefits have to do with having a vision of the kind of lifestyle I wanted and then finding a way to make it happen.
Why am I telling you this story?
I am sharing this with you as a way to encourage you to check in with yourself and assess how closely your business is aligned with the lifestyle that you want to live.
Why Did You Start Your Private Practice? What Was Your Vision?
There are many reasons why you might have gone into private practice. Perhaps it was to have more flexibility and freedom? Or maybe it was to make more money, or to be your own boss or to work with the type of clients that you love to work with? It could also be that you wanted to work from home or to take more holidays?
Whatever your vision was, how close are you to actually achieving this vision?
If you are not living the life you want is it because you have lost touch with your vision? Have you become complacent or discouraged and given up on your dream? Perhaps you are on the path of making it happen but it hasn’t yet come into fruition? Or perhaps you never had a clear vision to begin with?
It goes without saying that the closer you are to living the life that you want, the happier and more fulfilled you will be. In turn, you will provide a better service to your clients and be a better role model for them.
If you are one of the many who has never established a clear vision, perhaps it’s time you did. Having a vision for the kind of life you want, will inspire you in your work and increase your motivation to take the steps necessary to make your vision become a reality.
If you are not yet living the lifestyle you want, what do you need to do differently?
I would love to hear your comments and personal experiences on this topic. Please add your comment below by clicking on the comments button.
What an awesome blog post, Juliet! As a Virtual Assistant, I also share the same vision and have had wonderful encounters of living my dream of working remotely. So far, I’ve experienced working in my home office, in an RV, at a hotel, a coffee shop, and while I’m staying with friends during visits with them. I have even worked on the beach – my favorite vacation spot! Thanks to technology and the many resources available today, I’m still able to receive phone calls, emails, and faxes wherever I may be!
I have found that working from remote locations only deepens my passion for the work I do, as it’s refreshing and so invigorating to experience my career and personal goals coming true. It has also allowed me to meet new clients throughout my travels that I would have never met within the four walls of my home office. I also homeschool my children via the Internet, so my entire family can be location independent. It has been an amazing, fulfilling and absolutely wonderful experience!
To your continued success,
Lanita Gaul
Virtual Assistant
Juliet,
Thanks so much for this post. You really are an inspiration and a great reminder that when you have a goal and continue to focus on it, you can make it a reality.
Such a big part of this is having a clearly defined vision and to continue to revisit your vision. You have inspired me to get even clearer about exactly what I want my life to look like.
I have had a taste of this now and am more excited about moving towards my vision than ever. Thanks again!
Clinton