Don’t Be A Slave to Your Admin Tasks – Grow Your Business!
[tweetmeme]Inwardly and logically you know it, in your business everything can be delegated except that which makes you unique. There are many tasks that do not require your focus to get done. Ask yourself how much value you are getting versus if you had an assistant. How depressing is it to be looking at a long to-do-list every day and realizing there won’t be enough hours to get through everything. If you spend all your time “in” your business and not “on” your business, your frustration level impedes your ability to challenge yourself as a thinker and innovator who can move your business forward.
You may not have the space or number of hours to justify an on-site employee. The answer is an Online Office Assistant whose hours are billed strictly on the actual time spent working for you. All your repetitive daily/weekly/monthly items can be taken care of, and other tasks/projects can be handed over on an “as needed” basis. The initial “letting go” understandably could trouble you, but your motivation to be free of so much administrative work and the vision of having real time to devote to your customers, and to new strategies and initiatives, has to be your inspiration. Thousands of entrepreneurs have taken that leap of faith, and a burden has been lifted. (more…)
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By Irina Patterson / Blogger – May 20, 2010
Today our guest is Jaimie Skultety, a gutsy 41–year-old mom of a 5-year old boy who didn’t sit around long when she lost her job, she just went out and created one for herself. So, let’s get started.
Hi Jaimie, tell us what you do?
I am a Virtual Assistant. Not only do I provide administrative support to my clients, who are mostly small business owners, I help them with their communications and marketing needs as well. I get a lot of requests for social media marketing, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. I create PowerPoint presentations and YouTube videos. In effect, I become my clients’ virtual marketing and administrative departments.
Where did you get your idea for this business?
I have worked in an administrative capacity for over the last 25 years, including working directly with senior executives, and my skill set can be applied to virtually any type of industry.
Any particular reason that led up to this venture?
I had been laid off about a year ago from my most recent position due to the company filing bankruptcy. I realized I would be competing against new college graduates coming into the job market and that they would be willing to work for less pay. Taking everything into account, I decided to become my own boss.
What about your competition?
Virtual Assistance is a relatively new field, yet it is growing very rapidly. I have found that the Virtual Assistant community is a very welcoming one. We each offer different services, specialties and rate structures, so we actually view one another as potential sub-contractors and not as competitors. If I have a client who needs a service I don’t provide, such as bookkeeping, I subcontract work to an experienced Virtual Assistant with whom I have developed a relationship with that specializes in that area.
Tell us about your clients?
My ideal client is typically a small business entrepreneur or solopreneur who works from their home office. They know they need an assistant, but they don’t have additional office space, extra equipment and software. My friend became my first client and she referred two of her associates to me as well, so I had business immediately and ever since. Most business comes to me through word-of-mouth referrals.
Tell us about your business finances?
I bootstrapped the initial costs of marketing and networking and it is now paying dividends beyond my initial startup costs.
What is your growth strategy?
My vision for growth is to have a team of Virtual Assistants on staff to provide the service and that I would be in charge of marketing and promoting the business to new clients and maintaining relationships with current clientele.
Any thoughts about exit strategy?
I do not have, nor do I plan to have an exit strategy. I have invested my time wisely in marketing my business in a positive way for which I am very proud. So for me, the sky is the limit.
And where people can learn more about you?
On my site: http://www.AVirtualAssistant4You.com I have a presentation titled “10 Benefits of Working with A Virtual Assistant 4 You”. I can be reached at 877-798-7701, via email at Jaimie@AVirtualAssistant4You.com, on Twitter @AVA4YOU, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Thank you, Jaimie. I hope you inspire many people who still can’t find a job to create one of their own.
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