Meet Terry

I’m sure you have lots of questions about me and just how a virtual partnership works. I’m giving you a head start by answering some of the questions I’m often asked.

What prompted you to become a Virtual Assistant? My administrative career was frequently challenged by downsizing and corporate mergers, so I decided to re-invent myself as a sales representative selling to designers and retailers. While on a sales trip, I listened to a recording of a workshop presented by Cheryl Richardson, Finding Your Passion, in which she mentioned Stacy Brice, Virtual Assistance and AssistU. I was moved to investigate the training options and the opportunities a virtual assistance career could offer me. I realized that I knew my passion but was not living it.

After an extensive search for the most professional and thorough Virtual Assistant training program, I applied and was accepted to AssistU. Less than half of those who apply are accepted to this rigorous 20-week training program. Since then I’ve completed and passed the exam for the next level within AssistU, earning the distinction of Certified Professional Virtual Assistant. I also have the honor of being a trainer for AssistU’s Virtual Training Program. Learn more from AssistU’s media kit.

AssistU graduates belong to a professional community where expert support and resources are unlimited. If you’re interested in becoming a Virtual Assistant, please Contact Me! I’d be honored and proud to share this fine community. AssistU graduates are recognized as professional, expertly trained and extremely qualified; our community of resources is unmatched.

What about continuing education? I love learning new organizational techniques and software. I’m always on the lookout for the latest program that will streamline my day and increase my efficiency. In the last year I participated in numerous on-line & teleclass-type workshops to include blogging and RSS to writing good copy, attracting clients and marketing. More recently I completed:

How will we begin our virtual partnership? First, we need to assess our potential for a partnership (see The Process) by scheduling two consultation appointments through my online calendar. If we decide to partner, I will send you an Intake Packet, including my Policies and Procedures Agreement which outlines my business practices and expectations related to our partnership. Once these forms are returned to me, we’ll begin by assessing your day-to-day operations. This may lead to streamlining your processes and/or adding some new programs to allow us both to work effeciently together. We’ll focus on your short-term and long-range goals to assure you’re continuing to move forward.

How will we communicate? By design Virtual Assistance eliminates the need to be in each other’s offices, and today’s technology allows us to work together as if I’m in the room next to you. Together we will determine what technological hardware and software will serve both our needs. As the Internet evolves there are a myriad of tools available for collaborating over the Web. There are two such web collaboration tools that I work with. Both BaseCamp and Groove offer project management, document and file sharing, and task management. Groove includes Outlook calendar synchronization. I offer BaseCamp as a complimentary service to my clients; Groove requires the client to purchase the software.

Another requirement for maintaining a strong partnership is a weekly meeting. We’ll accomplish far more if we touch base at least once a week in a regularly scheduled phone call which is scheduled through my online calendar. This call will be used to bring each other up to date regarding accomplishments and new tasks and priorities, as well as a brain-storming opportunity.

How will we work together effectively if we are in different time zones? I’m located in Colorado, so our time difference will be no more than two hours within the continental U.S. We will both need to learn to work with that time difference. If you’re on Eastern time, your day will begin two hours before mine which allows you time to get your day started, send me emails and/or faxes and respond to communication I’ve sent you the prior afternoon. When I get to my office two hours later, I receive your emails from the morning and begin my work. At the end of my day, I complete the work you sent me earlier in the day and send it to you so you see it first thing in the morning.

How is our work and your computer protected against viruses and failure? I regard security as an extremely important aspect of my business practices; I’m always on the lookout for the latest in virus protection and computer backup utilities. I subscribe to continuous online virus protection and receive automatic updates via my broadband web connection. My ISP also scans incoming and outbound email, and my wireless router acts as a firewall for my Internet connection. At least once a week I run a complete virus scan of my computer to assure nothing has been missed. I maintain a daily backup of “My Documents” (where client files reside) to an online backup service; major programs and files are automatically backed up throughout the day via the Internet. I also back up the .pst files (Outlook email, calendar and tasks) every time I exit the program.

Do I have to have the same software versions as you? I run Windows XP 2003 as my operating system, and Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007. For the most part, various versions of Word and Excel will work together (Microsoft now offers a free Compatibiity Pack for Word, Excel and PowerPOint 2007 files). The more specialized software such as QuickBooks and ACT will need to match.

What if I need you to run a software program that you don’t have? If that program is something I might use with other clients, I would pay for the software and would not charge you for the time to learn it. If the program is something specific to you and your business and won’t be utilized for any of my other clients, you would pay for the software, as well as the time spent for me to learn the program.

What kinds of clients do you work with best? I’m drawn to high energy, successful, goal oriented, determined, and creative people who are relationship oriented. I’m a self-starter and require very little direction, so you won’t have to manage me. I admit to being intolerant of whiners and skeptics.

What kinds of tasks, projects and work do you enjoy the most? Although I provide all the “normal” administrative support services, I thrive on web-related tasks and projects such as web site maintenance, electronic newsletters, blogs, article submission, web-based scheduling, research, shopping carts, etc. One of my strengths is the ability to see the big picture and logically develop the steps to get there with all details addressed and covered. The ideal client utilizes that ability as a resource for making things happen.

I consider myself to be a business development partner; brainstorming new avenues for marketing, research, and organizing are motivating for me. I have access to a large and very knowledgeable network of experienced business owners; if I don’t know how to do it or where to find it, I have resources immediately available to me.

I also enjoy the writing, editing and creating of newsletters, articles, and press releases and their subsequent submissions. I’m a versatile and quick learner, and I love to be challenged by learning something new, especially if it’s related to the computer.

Read what they’re saying HERE.

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