Hi, I'm Nicole Paull, owner of Mainspring Enterprises. Here's the story of how I became a virtual assistant and what I bring to the people with whom I work.

During my fifteen years in the corporate world, I moved from being the person who typed someone else's letters to being the person who, as a technical writer providing sales support, picked engineers' brains and translated the information I gleaned into proposals that customers could easily grasp. That last position was what introduced me to the wide world of technology and made virtual assistance feel like a natural fit when I decided to abandon my hour-long (on a good day) commute.

I graduated from AssistU in April, 2008 and earned my stripes as a Certified Professional Virtual Assistant (CPVA) in the summer of 2009. I chose to pursue this certification because I wanted one that really stood for something. The CPVA exam is an eight-week client simulation in which you're tested on what you can actually accomplish and how you work, not just on what you can regurgitate on a written exam.

As a VA, technically I'm a generalist. But in fact, I do have a niche, albeit one without a name. The people I like to work with have all overcome some challenge and have developed proven-in-the-trenches solutions. Their businesses are built around sharing these solutions. The challenges have been diverse, which is why I say I'm a generalist. But the people have all shared this common thread.

Truthfully, administrative work isn't highly regarded by everyone, but it can make the difference between a business where things run smoothly and one where they don't. Done well, I consider it a real craft and I take pride in doing it well.

As far as favorite tasks, I surprised myself a bit by becoming quite intrigued with various facets of Internet Marketing. It's actually a lot of fun to find just the right target keyword, based on solid data, and then to craft and execute a campaign to hit the top ten in Google for that chosen phrase. It's a real charge to see the ratings climb!

I'm a lifelong learner who's a voracious reader. (Anyone who's spent a good deal of time with me will tell you that I am truly content with my nose in a book and I have the library to match!)

I love designing with a palette of plants (though I can't boast an equal attachment to weeding). I share my life with my husband, two sons, an uppity cat, and six very silly hens, including the magnificent, eggs-with-double-yolks-producing Rosie Bird.

Thanks for stopping by. If what I've shared resonates with you, drop me a line and let's see what we can create together!

For more information about Nicole, please visit her website at www.mainspringva.com.

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