This question comes to light often these days because so many people (and countries) have variations on what they believe the term 'Virtual Assistant' means. It came about because a business coach named his assistant that title as she worked miles away from him (in the US) and he coined the phrase 'virtual assistant'. The coach was Thomas Leonard and the assistant, Stacey Brice. This was back in the mid 1990s and the term stuck and gradually the home-based secretarial industry adopted the phrase … [Read more...]
What is a Virtual Assistant?
I can tell you what a Virtual Assistant (VA) isn't: Not an iphone4 Siri Not any other machine, mobile or android app, or anything like that, although we do use technology Not an automated online service Not an employee - we invoice our clients directly and not through an agency or some other type of service. People seem to use the term 'Virtual Assistant' to describe all sorts of things these days. But I'm here to tell you what a VA really is. We are like a PA or other office based … [Read more...]
What is a VA and where do you find them?
I've been invited to be the Guest Expert at the Business Forum of Experts starting from tomorrow and we will be discussing the above topic. If you're an Aussie business you might like to join this forum and explore what there is to offer. One of the things that I find in my industry is that all too often people who have heard of VAs do not seem to know where to find them, and they will have a vague idea of what we are and what we do, based on what they've heard or read from someone … [Read more...]