The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants (Paperback)

by Christine Durst (Author), Michael Haaren (Author) "Welcome to the new business world!..." (more)
Key Phrases: Let the Marketing Begin, United States, Foreign Service (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Virtual Assistants work from home, providing everything from administrative support to high-end consulting via email, phone and fax. Predicted to be a $130 billion industry by 2008, they don't commute, they set their own hours, and they get to spend time with their kids.

Based on the highly-successful Virtual Assistant training programs Chris Durst and Michael Haaren developed for the US Armed Forces and the US Department of State, The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants brings you the knowledge without the classroom!

Training program participants have billed over $30 MILLION since our training programs started in 2002. Now YOU can learn from Chris & Mike, too, and start your own successful VA business!

From the Publisher
Recommended by The Wall Street Journal, John Tesh, Dan Pink and others, The 2-Second Commute is a must read for any who wish to work from home.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Career Press (July 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564147924
• ISBN-13: 978-1564147929
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,962 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars VA Reference Bible, November 20, 2005

By	J. Gilmer "PetPassion" (US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you want to become a VA start your research with this book.

It is very informative, packed with details to assist you in every step of the process.

Not only does it cover all the topics you'll need to get started - from explaining what a VA does/is to setting up your business and your office - but it also gives you self-assessments that are valuable in and of themselves.

There is also a chapter that helps you to develop a 'Service Menu' for you business and this chapter is also quite valuable. Not sure what services you should provide? Work through this chapter and you'll know exactly what services are best suited for you.

And finally there is the VA Toolbox:Resources & Information section in the back of the book. Here it points you to many other places you can go to further your research.

I very complete and comprehensive book that all beginning VA's should have on their bookshelves.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A+, plus extra credit, May 22, 2006

By	Ingrid (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Since graduating from college, I have been an elementary school educator. It is what I have always wanted to do and I loved going in every day.

Last winter I was struck by a car while shoveling out my car and the resulting disability has made it impossible to return to my beloved classroom. I went through rehab. I went through a period of depression. And then a period of anger. And finally, a period when I realized that nothing would give me back the life I had and it was up to me to create a new one that I could love equally as well.

My therapist recommended The 2-Second Commute and suggested I consider starting a business in my home. One that would enable me to work in manner that would accommodate my new physical needs. Grudgingly, I purchased the book thinking, "I am a teacher. What kind of business can I start?"

Firstly, let me just say that authors Durst and Haaren lifted my soul, my spirits, and my sense of self-worth. No easy feat given the state I was in when I read the book.

As an educator, I truly appreciated their organization and understanding of the importance of not skipping any steps lest you create a situation you'll regret later. The exercises and self-assessments were wonderful measurement tools, and truly helped me see my value outside of the classroom.

I now have a bustling home-based business that fits my life. I am editing children's books, writing educational articles, and doing online tutoring. I never realized these things were possible until I read this book.

Thank you for the invaluable role you've played in helping me create my own euphoria!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marketing from the Masters of Media - My lucky day!, July 24, 2005

By	David Ranhoff "DRanhoff" (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

Fabulous!

I am not a virtual assistant, but as a Net-based entrepreneur I thought I would see what this book had to say about conducting business on the web.

Prepared for disappointment and repetition of things I already know, I was pleasantly surprised to find something quite different. The authors have provided the most comprehensive marketing information I have every seen gathered in one place. Getting "into the heads" of two people who have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Fortune, etc. is a dream come true for up and comers like me.

This section alone was worth 5x what I paid for the book.

If you are NOT my competitor, I highly recommend this book. If you are, please disregard the above and do not but this book.

David