My sincere apologies, the post that went out this morning was not complete and was supposed to be in draft mode. But it wasn't, and so you all got something that was entirely unfinished without all the extra material I'd intended for it. Stay tuned, it will come out complete soon and please forgive me if I've ruffled some feathers. That was not my intention at all. Kathie Thomas … [Read more...]
Loving the work you do
I really love the work I do, especially when it helps a client succeed in a goal. Some clients are long-term, some are short-term. Below is a story about a short-term client. One of my latest is a student at Swinburne Uni who has cerebral palsy. For the past 10 years, he's been writing his life story, with the help of his various carers. Two months ago I was contacted to see if I could assist in putting his manuscript into a format for publishing and help them get the book published. I have … [Read more...]
A Clayton’s Secretary – what does it mean?
The name has been with me for such a long time I forget that others might not know what it means. There is an explanation on the About page of this site but I thought I'd share the information here as recently at a VA forum one of the VAs mentioned she'd often wondered what it meant. It does not mean that I live in Clayton, or that my business was established in a place called Clayton as others have thought in the past. For those who were in Australia in the mid 80s, they may well remember … [Read more...]
Are you doing the work you love?
I fell into the Virtual Assistant Industry simply by being in the right place at the right time. I'd left a corporate job where I was feeling frustrated by the lack of opportunities for moving up the corporate ladder. I had good skills that I felt were going to waste and I was often looking for ways to add to my job while I was there. I know I made it difficult for my successor in that role, simply because the position had been molded around my own abilities. And I know the 8 Project Officers I … [Read more...]
Why did you start your Virtual Assistant business?
I was asked that question at a forum. Well, not me personally, but all the members of the forum. Got me thinking why I got started. I could sum it all up with just one word... frustration! There were lots of other reasons but frustration probably sums it up well. I was frustrated with growing up in a poor family and my parents not being able to afford things I wanted to do as a child. I wanted to make sure I could give to my children things that were necessary or because I wanted to. I was … [Read more...]
Are you a mum who wants to work at home?
Last weekend it was Mother's Day in many countries around the world. I was privileged to be asked to give the message for that day at my church, based on my own personal experiences of the Proverbs 31 Woman, whom I believe to be a work at home mum in biblical days. I had written a book in 2006, bringing the Proverbs 31 woman into the 21st century and wove my life around the verses in the book 'Worth More Than Rubies'. During the previous week I'd visited two Mainly Music groups of mothers with … [Read more...]
18 years today!
Hi everyone, today is my 18th anniversary of when I registered my business (on National Secretaries Day in Australia) and opened the doors to "A Clayton's Secretary". I had no idea what was about to be birthed only a short time later - the world wide web and a brand new industry - The Virtual Assistant Industry. Haven't we come a long way since those days? For those who are just thinking about starting a Virtual Assistant practice, or perhaps you've been going for a short time and wondering … [Read more...]
The end of another year… almost
Those of my readers who mix in the social media circles or forums to which I belong will know I had an accident on 12th December. The rest of you probably don't. Rather than repeat it all here I encourage you to visit my photography blog to read all about it. Because, after all, I was out on a photowalk when it happened. And if you subscribe (email) to that blog before end 31st December, you will go into a draw for a free print - I draw a prize each month at my photography blog. The short … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistant blog now 6.5 years old
This blog was started in April 2005. I had no idea when I started writing it how long the blog would go for and yet here it is with almost 800 entries. My most popular posts over those years have been: 5 Top Ways to Use a Virtual Assistant My heartfelt thanks to the Virtual Assistant Community My first business card Virtual Assistant or Virtual Worker 15 years in business (of course it's now well over 17 years for me) If you're a regular reader you might have a favourite post that isn't … [Read more...]