I had the "secretary" bug early. When I was a little girl, I loved to play office. My cousins lived down the street from us, and in the summer we often had lunch together and watched "My Little Margie." I concentrated on the secretary parts! I would set up my little table with a toy typewriter, a little red plastic phone, and pens and paper. I used a transistor radio as the intercom system. My pretend boss would call me into the office, I would write down his orders, and then I would go back to my desk to type and make phone calls. Sometimes I would get my little brother to be the office errand boy!
My daughter definitely followed in my footsteps. For her seventh birthday, she wanted a stapler and a rolodex. Like mother, like daughter!
I graduated from high school in 1970. No one really encouraged me to think about college, even though I was always an 'A' or 'B' student. I took all the "office" courses I could-typing, business machines, shorthand; you name it - I loved them all.
Early in my career, I went to work for St. Joseph Hospital. I started out as a billing clerk, but worked my way up to executive secretary in the Public Relations Department. During my interview for that job, my soon-to-be new boss asked me what I hated to do the most. She was expecting me to say "filing," but my answer was "laundry" (I was the mom of 4 after all)! She hired me on the spot.
In my VA practice, I currently have two terrific clients; one I've been with since right after my VTP graduation, back in March of 2000. He is a retirement consultant with the Port Authority, and I think he was as nervous about working with a VA as I was trying to be a VA! But we hit it off immediately. My other client is a doctor of pharmacology. She is the most intelligent and caring person I've ever met.
In my personal life, I've been married for 35 years, and have four great kids. One is a business executive, one is a surgeon, one runs the billing office of my husband's company, and the other is a recent graduate as an audio engineer.
Additional Questions Answered By Sandy
1. What's your position at AssistU? Describe what you do. What do you love most about it?
I am the Registry Manager. The Registry is a place where clients who want to find a Virtual Assistant come to fill out an application. I process the client applications and send them to VAs who match certain criteria.
I really enjoy the contact and follow-up with clients. I truly believe in virtual assistance and what it can do for a business owner's life.
2. How has AssistU/being a VA changed your life?
It's given me the opportunity to have my own business and work from home, two dreams I had for many, many years. I only wish AssistU would have been around when I was working 50+ hours per week, and raising four kids.
3. What do you consider to be the most important value of AssistU?
Definitely the education you receive about working virtually and all the other wonderful VAs who are part of the community. A wealth of resources exists right at your fingertips.
4. What's the most important thing that being a VA has taught you?
That I can trust myself. When I was working for other people, it would always dawn on me that things could be done more efficiently, cheaper, and faster. Now, I am able to put those thoughts into action.
5. You've owned your own VA business for some time now. Why did you decide to become a VA? Was there a particular moment or life circumstance that lit the entrepreneurial path for you?
I had spent the final 9 years of my working career as the Director of Volunteer Services. At the time I also ran the hospital's Auxiliary-along with its fundraising events. Finally, and in addition, I was the buyer and the stock/clerk and trainer for the hospital's Gift Shop (which was staffed totally by volunteers). For emotional and health-related reasons, I decided to resign.
After being at home by myself for six months, I got antsy. It was then I saw an article in the business section of our daily paper about a woman who was a VA. It listed AssistU as a reference. After finding every sham internet "work at home" site, I looked at AssistU's website, and I was relieved to see that it had integrity. After discussing the financial commitment with my husband, I signed up. I knew I enjoyed working, and loved the thought of working for myself. AssistU gave me the opportunity to do it my way.
6. What one thing you would want people to know about being a VA (or business owner)?
You must have confidence in yourself. It's easy if you just trust your instincts. You don't have to know everything about running a business, but you can't be afraid to look for the answers.
