Remembering to attend the kid’s recital, meet with investors, book a well-deserved holiday, and meet client deadlines can seem like a near-impossible task if you are an entrepreneur. You want your business to grow, while at the same time, you don’t want to neglect your personal commitments.
Our featured client, Nefeli Sidiropoulou, is a mother, a wife and a small business owner. She works from home and she used to spend hours trying to cross off the important things on her list in addition to the admin tasks to keep her business running.
We approached her and she was more than happy to answer the questions we had about using a virtual assistant from Outsourcery.
Has using a virtual assistant actually saved you time in your day to day life?
Definitely. I believe that it has given me more time. The thing about running your own business is that we tend to overlook the importance of admin tasks because we think they are so menial. It wasn’t until I was swallowed by these admin tasks that I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere.
Of course, this now means I have time to spend with my son and husband. Using a virtual assistant has made me more present in the home front.
What made you decide to look for and hire a VA?
I was swamped with all the tasks I had, and I work from home. My business is still in the foundation phase – I’m only two years in – and office space is the least of my concerns right now.
My home is where my family is and I am protective of this space, so I could not hire someone who would have to work in my space. I think an article about VAs popped up on my Facebook feed and I decided to look into the benefits of using a virtual assistant.
I got in touch with the Outsourcery team, which had awesome benefits on their website too, and they gave me the run down about what they can do for me. I was so surprised; it was as if they could read my mind about how much help I needed.
What kind of tasks does your VA help you with?
It started off with setting up my business appointments and managing my emails. Now that my business is growing and profitable, my virtual assistant now handles my credit cards and other bank admin. Soon she’ll be taking over my social media marketing tasks on LinkedIn and Facebook. So, to list the tasks, she helps me with finances, managing my calendar, and my emails.
Was it smooth sailing from the start, or was there a large time investment, in the beginning, to get things going with your VA?
Personally, I couldn’t wait to have someone to help me. By the time I was done speaking to Outsourcery, I had a list of what I would be delegating. My VA is extremely attentive, and we communicate easily. It was smooth sailing for sure.
She made an effort to understand my business and she always asked questions to ensure she was on the right track. Everyone’s experience of using a virtual assistant will differ based on the type of person they are. I trust her as an expert in what she does, therefore I don’t have to always micro-manage what she is doing. She is doing me the favour.
Would you recommend a VA to others?
VAs make life easier. That on its own is a recommendation! I would definitely recommend the services of a VA, especially to entrepreneurs who fulfil many roles in their lives. You don’t even have to be a parent and a spouse. If your business seems full of admin tasks that are taking too much time, it’s time for a virtual assistant.
Who do you think would benefit from hiring a VA to save them time?
Small business owners, travelling entrepreneurs and anyone who needs an extra pair of hands when it comes to their business or admin tasks.
At Outsourcery, we believe that time is an important asset that we cannot get back. Your time should go towards the things that really matter. Get in touch with us to get your time and energy back.
