I’m a professional, I run my own business and I’m organised NOW!- But let me tell you, it’s not always been this easy, in fact I was so stressed and felt like I was playing continual catch-up. Let me explain:
…
It’s Monday morning. It’s early and I’m in my office, gazing out the window drinking coffee. I daren’t look at the piles of paper on my desk. I really don’t want to turn on the computer. And I’m beginning to stress about the clock ticking over to business hours and the phones starting.
I put the coffee mug on the closest stack of paper and debate getting a second – just so I don’t have to start the millions of things I know I need to do today.
I know it’s good to be busy, but I never knew just how much I would have to do just to keep the business ticking over.
Work for yourself, they said
It will be fun, they said
I want to strangle them with their own lying tongues.
Rolling my shoulders I press the start button and turn the phone off silent, cursing the blinking messages already. I turn the phone over so I can pretend I didn’t see them.
Admin – I hate it but it needs to be done. Just like everything else.
I ignore the email button and open the spreadsheet that needs updating before I send it to the bookkeeper.
The phone rings again, but I’m in the middle of this stupid job so I let it go to voice-mail. I’ll get to it later.
It looks like later will be tomorrow, or Wednesday at this rate.
I drag my eyes to the clock on the wall as my stomach rolls and rumbles. I’ll get food in a minute, after I’ve returned a couple of phone calls.
I finish one call and try and update the contact sheet, the trouble is, I can’t for the life of me remember what I need to send, and calling back will make me seem stupid, so I’ll just wait for them to contact me. The phone rings again. Who needs to eat…
I race home at the end of the day wondering why on earth I agreed to go out tonight. I’ve got so much I need to do. I could cry off and try and catch up. But I’m tired and a bit of girl time may do me some good.
It’s not working, I’m stressed thinking about the work I should be doing and everything I have to do tomorrow, I can’t relax, and the voices are grating on my already frayed nerves. I’ve already snapped at one of my friends. I just don’t know what’s wrong with me.
You want to tell me what’s going on?
I turn my head to snap out a retort but I can feel tears welling and that’s not like me either.
She put a hand on my arm – you’re not happy, what’s wrong?
So I told her. It was a relief. But I wasn’t prepared for the answer she gave me.
What do you mean I need help – I’m not going to the blinking doctor for some stupid pills!
She laughed – not THAT kind of help – you need a VBA
A what?
Virtual Business Assistant
I do have some issues with that suggestion. I don’t have room for someone else, I don’t want to send my stuff offshore – I mean I hate getting those kinds of calls so wouldn’t want that kind of service for my clients, I splutter
You’re confusing a VBA with a call centre. They are so much more than a call centre.
As she explained further, I felt a weight lifting – could it be that simple? But I don’t need someone full time.
It doesn’t have to be full time, mine isn’t – but we get so much done in the 4 hours a month.
4 hours!
How did this not come up in conversation before?
What do they do for you?
Essentially they’re me:
- they take my calls and send me a message, though they are able to answer most questions.
- they book my appointments into the calendar, the only thing I need to do is ensure I am where I need to be and when – which is easy when they’re doing everything I don’t have time to do and certainly don’t want to do.
- they can follow up with clients, chase outstanding money and anything else I can think to give them.
- The best news is they’re here in Perth, so your clients don’t know they’re dealing with another company.
- AND get this, they can work remotely from their office so you don’t have to worry about additional overheads and getting a bigger office.
Who are they and will they help me? I ask eagerly
I’m sure they can, let me give them a call…
It’s Monday night
So
Sure enough, one quick phone call later, and a meeting was arranged for the following day.
They came out to my office and we discussed, over a Map the Way (and several cups of coffee), what it was I was struggling with. The 90 minutes highlighted what assistance I needed and was time well spent.
So now I leave the calls to them, they book my appointments, and I’m thinking about handing over the blasted paperwork next. I have more clients – they even got me some of those, all my clients are happy and better yet, I even have a lunch break.
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