Similar questions, in a dead-heat in frequency, vary around a theme such as "What tool should I use to...?"

Know-how and tools. Go to any forum on net, on almost any subject, and you will find hundreds or even thousands of people exchanging information on know-how and tools. "What is best way to write copy?" "Which autoresponder script is best for my business?" "What hosting is best for me?"

Very infrequently will you come upon a marketing discussion that talks about creativity and determination. Even more rare is a successful product that shows people HOW to be creative and determined. This is because tools and know-how are so much easier to write about.

If this, then that. Such a small phrase, yet it is bulk of what internet marketing training is all about if you have read even a small pile of ebooks geared toward making you a better sales producer.

And formula sells - bigtime.

But then, why are there so many people failing at marketing their business online? What is IT that separates masses from relatively few truly successful onilne small businesses?

It is this: You cannot teach people creativity very easily. Some would say it's impossible. Art classes are simply tools to weed out people that don't have IT so they can get busy pursuing another line of work!

And it is this: Determination (including work ethic, stick-to-it-ivenss, seeing something through to end) is even harder to simply instill in a person with written word or teleseminar. You cannot reach through your ebook to slap someone everyday to recapture their focus for them and keep them on-task.

The problem is compounded when you have one of above and not other. Creative people very often have no business sense or drive necessary to acquire it. Determined people fail gloriously in a gallon of sweat at five in morning without creativity. Nothing is probably more disheartening than having one or other. It must be like being able to see over fence, but not have what it takes to climb to other side.

Tools are tools. We must use them in any profession to best of our ability. Henry Ford used tools to create Model Ts. But did you ever read a story proclaiming that Ford won day with his tools? Of course not. The stories are about determinaion and creativity and that's it.

You can go out right now and get best software, most expensive copywriter, best programmer, and even best product since sliced bread. And you can fail. It's been done more times than success by a long margin throughout history.

This article is not about how to succeed at internet marketing. It is not about tools that will help get you over fence where grass is greener.

A Virtual Assistant (VA) is much like a traditional Administrative Assistant in many ways. VA’s handle correspondence, scheduling, customer support, website updates, writing and design projects, data entry – pretty much anything you can think of that an online company would require for their day-to-day operations.

Many parents who want to stay home with their children have opened their own VA Service. It is a perfect career choice for Mothers of young children, or people who must take care of older relatives. You work out of your home office as an independent contractor. Often times schedule can be quite flexible.

This is an ideal position for women who plan to return to workforce when their children are older. It will enhance your resume’ and inevitably you improve your old skills and acquire new ones.

Basic skills and equipment you will likely need include following: Microsoft Office – Excel, Access, Outlook, and Word HTML skills with either Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft FrontPage Instant Messaging software – ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger Cable Modem or DSL – Dial up is far to slow for pace most online entrepreneurs are accustomed to working at.

The above aren’t always necessary – but acquiring each and learning to use them will only increase your desirability and worth.