FROM THE BLOG

In early 2015, I was looking for a change from my role as an Executive Assistant/Office Manager at a growing digital marketing company. I had no idea what I wanted to do. Actually, that is not entirely accurate. I had A LOT of ideas, but I was held back by the uncertainty of starting something new in unfamiliar industries.

I wanted to start something that allowed me to further apply my management degree and my eight years of executive assistant experience to a new venture, and utilize what I had learned working with entrepreneurs, CEOs and business owners. After spending several hours getting lost in Google search one evening, I discovered the increasingly popular career of Virtual Assistance. I reviewed several articles and made a few connections with people who were running successful Virtual Assistant businesses. To say the least, I was intrigued.

I made one very important connection with a local gal named Madelaine, who I came across on a Virtual Assistant membership website. She was young, modern, approachable, and I felt like I could see myself in her shoes. She even lived in my neighbourhood! So, I reached out and she graciously agreed to meet me for coffee.

February 1st, 2015, was the day that I decided to be a VA.

Screenshot of the email I sent to Madelaine on February 1st, 2015.

Madelaine was doing it, and she was doing it well. So well, in fact, that she eventually started her own course teaching others how to become Virtual Assistants, to help the many people like me looking for somewhere to get started. She’s a real gem, and I continue to be thankful for her guidance and her friendship since that day we met at Just Us Coffee House.

Madelaine and I working virtually at Lion & Bright in Halifax, NS.

Fast forward to November, 2017. I now successfully support several entrepreneurs in growing their businesses, and people continue to reach out to me for guidance and support. They want to know how to start their own VA business, or how to find a VA to support their business. I have always enjoyed connecting people, and I am looking forward to launching my program “Leading, Virtually” in January 2018 with additional consulting packages. I want to help business leaders find and collaborate with the right Virtual Support.

See ya (virtually) later,

Tonya