Kim Gray

Kim Gray Quick Facts

Main Areas: Business Development for Virtual Assistants and New Coaches
Best Sellers: The E-Myth Revisited, Book Yourself Solid, Get Clients Now
Career Focus: Business Mentor and Coach
Affiliation: WECAI, NAVAC

My passion to serve has been part of my life for so long that I don't know where to begin. I have been an administrative professional since I left the military in 1985. My Air Force career was in rebellion to my natural talents. I refused the tendency to travel the road all the women in my family had traversed. For 10 amazing years, I thrived in the Air Force as a sheet metal repairman and then a construction manager. In 1985, I had to decide to either continue for another 10 years towards retirement or leave the Air Force. I chose to leave and focus on my family.

That decision changed my life dramatically. I never realized how differently people worked outside of the military environment. I had to learn patience, how to negotiate, and that the chain of command didn't include me. Wow! My first civilian job was as the In-School Suspension Officer for a middle school in Michigan. The principal hired me because of my military background. He felt I would be the perfect disciplinarian! Boy was he wrong! I loved that job and was devastated when funding caused it to end.

My corporate career started in 1990 when I returned home to Massachusetts and worked for Fidelity Investments, Work/Family Directions, and Bank of Boston. I enjoyed the various roles I played and responsibilities that came with the roles. Some of my administrative titles included the following:

• Executive Assistant to Investment Managers
• Senior Administrator to the Director of Quality
• Senior Process Specialist of Customer Information Systems
• Project Controller for Deposit Account Management

You see, the military taught me how to lead and be lead. Corporate America taught me how to be an effective leader and collaborative team player. However, I was always plagued by one thing -- I didn't complete my degree program while in the military. This lack of judgment caused me to lose out on growth opportunities in my career. It wasn't until I moved to North Carolina that my life changed yet again.

Even in North Carolina, the lack of a degree got in the way. So, I swallowed my pride and got it done -- finally my BA in Business Management! By then, I had decided to leave the brick-and-mortar to pursue business ownership as a virtual assistant. I wanted to be self-employed! I figured that I had all the talent, was technology savvy, and could run circles around the best of them.

From 1999 until 2006, I worked as an independent contractor delivering workshops on conflict resolution and team-building. What I didn't realize was that my employee mentality was getting in the way -- a huge obstacle. In 2007, I launched Emerging Virtual Assistance after attending Assist University to get the mind shift from employee to business owner that I needed.

Since 2007, Emerging Virtual Assistance has allowed me to help over 25 coaches develop healthy relationships with their clients by creating systems that reflect each coach's values and standards. Collaborating with coaches has allowed Emerging Virtual Assistance to remove the administrative tasks from their plates so they can impact the lives of others.

Here are some of the measurable goals that Emerging Virtual Assistance has helped my coaches achieve:

• increased client base by 25% using a web-based system that allows clients to schedule their own appointments and keep track of their progress
• increased revenue by 50% by teaching coaches to narrow their focus to identify ideal clients and create relevant marketing materials
• increased web presence by 50% by publishing a content-rich website with relevant keywords to boost traffic
• increased customer engagement by 25% with a multi-media product that generated passive income

In 2009, Emerging Virtual Assistance joined The Coaches Console as an independent contractor to revise their Virtual Assistant Console Training Certification program. The result is our signature VA Boot Camp where VAs receive training on how to effectively setup and use The Coaches Console system. In addition, I also manage the Certified VA Team for The Coaches Console and its members delivering exclusive support, hosting monthly workshops, and as a contributing writer.

At the end of 2009, the economy hit everyone like a lead balloon. Most VAs were impacted because our 1-on-1 services were connected to our clients' ability to pay. Sadly, VA services were the first to go for many coaches. It was at that time that I vowed to make a change in 2010 that would impact not only my family, but others too. I decided to introduce my product-based model to the VA industry through my new association -- National Association of Virtual Assistants for Coaches. You can't imagine the credibility that comes with an association that sets NAVAC apart from non-Association training programs.

With NAVAC, I strive to help each member find a new voice where she can speak boldly about who she is, confidently about what talents she brings to the table, humbly about how she has impacted others, and courageously about her worth. Plus, NAVAC will help her build a revenue-generating business model to combat the shifting economy. Coaches have been using this model for years, and Coaches VAs can serve proactively based on experience and with NAVAC's assistance.

I know that there is a lot of change involved in building a sustainable business that you love. I also know that most VAs don't move forward out of fear. NAVAC can erase the fear by providing nurturing environments for the change, allowing each member the space and time she needs to own the change, rewarding every effort and accomplishment -- shouting it from the rooftops, so to speak. NAVAC is here to assist each other as we support our coaches. I hope you'll join us.

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