When people go to work, they shouldn't have to leave their hearts at home. — Unknown

 
Symantec Response

While I was delighted to see an article on your site describing the benefits of working with Virtual Assistants, I wanted to alert you to the fact that there are serious factual inaccuracies that will be misleading to your visitors.

The article reads:

**If your small business needs administrative help on an irregular or seasonal basis, or for fewer hours than a traditional full-time week, a virtual assistant may be the answer.**

and goes on to say:

**Holidays, tax time, vacation season, and other busy times of the year are great times for a VA. **

VAs only work in long-term and collaborative relationships with their clients. They don't do piece-work or project-work. They seek long-term, ongoing relationships with clients because it's there that they create their greatest value. Surely, entrepreneurs and small business owners need the tasks of today handled, and VAs do that, but they also climb into their clients' businesses, learn all they can, and then proactively work with clients to move the clients closer to the clients' goals — whatever they may be. Someone who is just used once or twice each year cannot provide that level of value, and it's that level of value that VAs most want to create for clients.

Additionally, the article reads:

**You can hire an assistant for any line of business and virtually any schedule. And because you don't employ them full-time, you are not responsible for paying benefits, setting aside space for them, or dealing with the extensive paperwork that can accompany an employee.**

VAs are never "hired" or "employed." They work "with" their clients, as equals in the relationship — another way they create their value. It's a huge distinction, not simply a semantical debate.

The article also reads:

**They can provide basic secretarial jobs, or more advanced duties like marketing, personnel management, advertising, and purchasing. You can even contract the services of a Chief Financial Officer, controller, and accountant over the Internet. **

VAs provide administrative and personal support, period. They are not personnel managers, marketing consultants, advertising execs, or purchasing agents. And while one certainly *can* contract the services of those professionals, as well as CFOs, controllers/comptrollers, and accountants, they aren't VAs, and your visitors would be better served learning about that in a different article. This is about what VAs can do... and the implications in this section of the article are absolutely and egregiously misleading.

Virtual Assistance is an emerging profession. I founded the profession when I began working virtually in the late 80s, before it was easy or cool. When I started my company in '97, I also formalized the profession as it is today. And while my company is mentioned in the article, I wasn't interviewed; had I been, I would have supported the writer in the creation of an article that is factually accurate.

As with any emerging profession, accurate description of it and the professionals within it is critical. For the sake of the profession, and your visitors, please consider making changes to this article.

If I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Warmly,

Stacy Brice, CMVA
President, Chief Visionary Officer, AssistU
AssistU
http://www.assistu.com

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