I'm married to Ken, and together we have seven grown children and six grandchildren. With so many offspring, it's quite possible that the nursery rhyme about the "old woman who lived in a shoe…" was written about me; except that I found AssistU, and I do know what to do!
I began my career in the late 1970's when the biggest thrill was to have an electric ball typewriter where mistakes were erased with the help of white-out tape. In the corporate world I was a telecommunications manager, manufacturer's sales rep, facilities manager, and assistant to corporate executives.
Like many other AssistU VAs, I found out about virtual assistance and AssistU while listening to a CD series by esteemed speaker, coach, and author, Cheryl Richardson. At that moment my life changed significantly.
As a Virtual Assistant I've been able to design my business to work within my standards and boundaries; allowing more time for my family, friends, and hobbies. My virtual life is fulfilling, and my clients enrich my business and my life.
Music has played a significant role in my life and has included the oboe, clarinet, glockenspiel (that was heavy!), guitar, and years of classical piano. After all those years and countless lessons, I found my mezzo soprano voice, and… the rest is history. Today if I'm not at my computer, or on the phone with clients, you can probably find me on stage singing lead with my championship Barbershop Quartet.
My artistic side continues in interior design and sewing skills. At one time, long ago and far away, I even taught men's tailoring and women's dressmaking through the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Now, just give me a computerized sewing machine and a serger, and I'm totally in my own virtual world.
Additional Questions Answered By Terry
1. Describe what you do as a trainer. What do you love most about it?I am a compassionate listener, and I work hard at facilitating productive discussion among my students. I love to watch their growth; they are anxious, worried, and apprehensive at the beginning of the 20-week VTP. My reward is seeing their metamorphosis into self-confident, well-rounded Virtual Assistants at the end of the program.
2. Exactly what does AssistU bring to the table in training VAs that will give them a different perspective than any other training could?
There are no other programs (that I know of) that train VAs to be business owners and partners. Most other programs teach the mechanics of how to work in the virtual world; AssistU teaches VAs how to develop, foster, and maintain relationships of equality, and how to create the business that fits their lives. Students are enlightened by the fundamental principles of abundance and attraction that are taught during the VTP. Then the students are stretched to identify and put into practice their own boundaries and standards for their lives and businesses.
3. In your opinion, what does it take to be successful in the VTP?
I've found that the most successful students are those who are open to anything and everything that is presented during the VTP. They have confidence in themselves and are not afraid to try the concepts and principals we share. It's all about attitude and expectations. They are positive and expect to be successful.
4. Being an AssistU officer and alumni really puts you in the position of role model for new VAs and the VTP students. Being a role model requires lots of good decision making. What do you think the best decision is that you've made in building your own business?
Besides achieving the CPVA designation, the best decision I made in my VA practice was to limit the number of clients with whom I partner to four or five, each of whom agrees to a minimum 15-hour retainer. This allows me to be a significant contributor to my clients' businesses, and my clients are guaranteed a minimum time commitment from me each month.
5. What one piece of advice would you give to anyone considering the option of starting their own VA business?
Be open to changing your paradigm from that of an employee to that of a business owner and partner; research what that means by interviewing other VAs. Then seek the best training and support you can possibly obtain (AssistU, of course!) and be present in each moment of this life-changing event.