What Is a VA?
Virtual assistance is a relatively new profession for administrative
professionals providing exceptional personalized support in
most, if not all, aspects of a client's profession and/or
personal life. Virtual assistance is distinguished by the
relationship between the Virtual Assistant (VA) and the client.
Virtual assistance moves beyond secretarial and piece-work
toward a long-term and collaborative relationship in which
both VA and client work together to take the client's business
to new heights.
It's all about the relationship.
Assist University holds
that "a VA is a highly trained and skilled administrative
professional who, as a support and growth partner to entrepreneurs,
business owners, and busy people, provides high level, long-term
collaborative administrative assistance, without having to
be physically present in the client's office."
Who would work with a VA?
VAs work with smart, successful people of all
kinds: life coaches, business and executive coaches, real
estate agents, virtual university owners, organizers, other
Virtual Assistants, CPAs, independent consultants, any microbusiness
owner, any home-based business owner,
...Anyone who helps others live their lives to the fullest
...Anyone who wants to take his/her business to the next
level
...Anyone who sees that the smart way to work and live is
to not do it alone
Why should you work with a VA?
“Think
of yourself on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole
clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!”
-Andrew Carnegie
Small business owners, home-based business owners, and entrepreneurs
have a need for administrative support, possibly a lack of
space and other resources to house an on-site employee, and
the need for a partnership-type relationship, which will enable
them to develop their businesses to the next level.
VAs own their own businesses and pay their own payroll taxes.
They have their own equipment and are highly trained. Clients
only pay for the hours they use their VAs.
VAs are committed to their clients' goals and successes.
Each task and project is completed within the larger picture
of where clients want to take their businesses. VAs are truly
partners for success.
What can a VA do for you?
Skillful Virtual Assistants handle a variety of services
that will help their clients grow and develop their businesses
as well as handle personal business. Even though VAs work
from a distance, the difference in location can be a benefit,
allowing you to find the best VA imaginable, unencumbered
by locale. A VA is used to thinking globally; she is not restricted
to local resources and services.
Because VAs also balance their personal lives with their
professional lives, they understand their clients' needs to
do the same. VAs work closely with their clients and get to
know them and their businesses.
What does that mean for you? Your VA will quickly become
familiar not only with your business, but also with the rest
of your life and can handle your business and personal tasks.
Clients who work with incredible VAs liken the experience
to being a kid unleashed in a candy store. "Ooooh! My
VA can do that and that and that and that..." And she
does.
“Alone,
all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.” -Maya Angelou
No longer must you work in isolation; you now have a “partner”
in business to bounce ideas off of, to listen, to provide
support.
How do you work with a VA?
Although the virtual relationship may at first seem impossible,
it is very feasible and actually quite simple. You get to design your relationship with your VA any way you want it - whatever way works best for you, your VA, and your business. You can
have monthly, weekly, or daily phone appointments, depending
on your needs. You can communicate via phone, fax, email,
and real time web messaging.
You and your VA create your working relationship together. As your business grows and develops, so does your relationship with your VA.
How do you find a VA?
Ready to take the plunge? Connect
with me, and we'll talk about where you want to go and what
we can do together.
Further Information
Many articles have been written about virtual assistance
and the value of partnering with a VA. Here are a few:
"Help
From Afar - Virtual Assistants handle mundane tasks" by Shannon Scully, My Business Magazine, February/March, 2002
“The
Top 10 Things To Know About Professional Virtual Assistants” by Stacy Brice, TopTen.org, February 15, 2001
“Do
The Laundry, Walk The Dog” by Jacquelyn Lynn. Entrepreneur.com, July, 2000
“Virtual
Assistance” by Stacy Brice, eWorkingWomen.com
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