While reading fellow VA Rita Cartwright ’s blog, I came across an article she wrote speaking about outsourcing to offshore Virtual Assistants (link found below).  Needless to say, this topic sparks lots of emotions on both sides of the debate. 

Below are my comments posted in response.  I would love to hear what your thoughts are on the subject.  There are pros and cons to both, and I respect opinionson the subject.  These are my thoughts.  What are yours?

This is a subject that is close to my heart. While, I understand the economics of outsourcing, I have to agree with Ms. Kon’s observations. To me, offshore contracting in general is a major contributor to the economic downfall Americans face today. So many jobs have been lost to a company’s decision to hire offshore contractors and employees, resulting in Americans losing homes, cars, self-respect, ability to seek medical attention, being forced into bankruptcy etc., etc.

It’s just reality that Americans cannot compete with $2.00 an hour, less than what some Americans pay to ride a bus! And every time I see a posting from an American company looking to pay someone this type of rate for all of the work that they are doing it angers me a bit.   And one of the reasons is, not only do I feel that there is no loyalty to America and the sustainability of Americans and America’s economic outlook, but Americans businesses KNOW that they are taking advantage of the individuals who are doing this work at these rates. They know the true value of this labor.

So, while it may be great for business, operations are running smoothly, and you are getting more than you’ve paid for in many instances (however, in some instances you really do find that you got what you paid for) is it right? 

As a business owner, I could subcontract to an offshore VA and still make a good rate, but as an American, could I feel good about doing this?  No, I couldn’t.  And I’m not passing judgment on those that do hire offshore workers.  I’m simply stating that this is my opinion and saying what is right for me.

I am glad for the opportunity to have respectful dialog on the subject and wish everyone, on both sides, good luck, prosperity, peace and blessings!

Below is the link to Rita’s article.

http://rjswordprocessing.wordpress.com/

Peace and Prosperity,

Evelyn Mack

www.emackulateassistants.com

When I started writing my blog, I started off full of enthusiasm, bound and determined to make sure I post regularly, but that enthusiasm waned quickly. Not because I didn’t have the desire, but because I just could not find the time to do it.

What this told me really was I really needed to get a handle on managing my time. Now, don’t get me wrong, when it comes to servicing my clients, I am VERY organized, but when it comes to organizing my time, there is some definite improvements that need to be made.

When reading other VA’s blogs, I see a consistent theme, and that is to be a success, you have to have superior time management skills. In just trying to build up clientèle, I find myself working ungodly hours–I mean, it feels as if I’m working 24/7, and truth be told, it might not be 24 (not quite), but it’s definitely seven!

I was ranting to my sounding board–my Dear Husband (DH), and he made such a simple comment that just really spoke to me. He said, “Evelyn, you have to treat this as if you are working for someone else, and 8 to 5. Consider what your “work hours” are going to be and stick to them.” Get up, grab your coffee, start your day, take your morning break, take your lunch break, take your afternoon break and clock out after  nine hours.”

And you know what?  He’s so right! If I am up at 3:00 a.m. working, there is no way in H-E double hockey sticks that I should still be sitting there working at 8:00 or 9:00 at night!!

Ideally, I’d like to schedule my day to begin at 6:00 a.m. and end by 6:00 p.m. and have Fridays-Sundays off. Now, I know there will be occasions, where I will have to adjust my schedule and work earlier, later, or weekends, as necessary, but for the most part, I’m going to try to make this schedule work.

So, I’ve made a new commitment to really schedule accordingly, not take on more than I can handle by myself, look into building a team of VA’s I can call on to assist me because I am actually great at marketing and getting the work, but although I love to think of myself as Wonder Woman, I’m not. I know I can’t do it all.

So, we’ll see how it goes and hopefully, I can, as I had planned to when I started the Emackulate V.A., post to my blog on a regular basis. I’ve only been an official V.A. for nine months, so this is all part of the learning curve. So, stay tuned!

Virtually Yours,

Evelyn “The Emackulate VA”

www.emackulateassitsants.com

P.S.–I’d love to hear how you handle your workday scheduling issues!

When starting my virtual assistant business, the dilemma of what to charge literally kept me up at night. I had done my research, so I knew what the ballpark figures were that professional virtual assistants were charging. I also knew my value, but I’m just starting out. How could I possibly demand $25 to $60.00 an hour for my services? I thought, if I charge that, I’ll never get clients as a new V.A.!

Eventually, I settled on an hourly rate between the median price ranges. However, in my quest to obtain clients, I found myself accepting whatever the client wanted to pay,  and soon became very disillusioned.  Because I had to start earning some money, I began answering ads from people who wanted to pay hourly rates of $15, $10, and oh my gosh, I even accepted a job for $8.00 an hour. This was performing marketing-related services. I began thinking to myself, “I can’t do this.” Evelyn, what the heck are you doing?” I wasn’t that desperate. Was I? I cannot sell myself short. I haven’t made $8.00 an hour since I was a freshman in high school for God’s sake! If this is what it’s going to be like, I’m going to back into the corporate world, where I was at least paid a decent salary and received benefits!

However, my husband, who is my sounding board and head cheerleader, reminded me that starting this business is what I had been praying for and that I had to press on; but to be consistent and not to sell myself short. I have great skills. I’m good at what do. I have over 18 years of professional experience. I successfully ran programs with budgets of almost a half a million dollars.  Sure, I was in business, but I didn’t feel proud of myself knowing I was allowing myself to be taken advantage of. I felt violated each and every time.  I signed up for an account at oDesk, an outsourcing resource website.  It produces great leads, but I haven’t secured an assignment through them yet. And the likelihood, is I probably won’t.  This might be good for some, but I don’t think this is where my clients will come from.  I was quite shocked at some of the hourly rates people wanted to pay and equally shocked at what some V.A. “professionals” were willing to accept. I’m talking as low as $5.00 an hour. I realized, very quickly, that many of the VA’s,  as well as clients were in overseas countries such as India where fees like that are commonplace.

Now  when I receive a call from someone interested in my services,  I found out their needs, tell them my fees, and at  that point, we either continue with the conversation, or they scoff.  If the latter, I politely suggest that perhaps I’m not the V.A. they are looking for and suggest they post at oDesk or Craiglist,  wish them luck,  and disconnect.

I want clients that understand that V.A.’s are professionals. We are entrepreneurs and we are running businesses ourselves. I want the type of clients who view us as partners and potential assets to their company’s success.

Wouldn’t you be weary of a doctor who charged $30 for an office visit,  or a computer tech who would repair your computer for $10, or a lawyer, who’s hourly fee was $20 an hour, a hairstylist who would wash, set, and cut your for $10.00,  or, well you get the picture.  What I’m saying is these are all professionals, who you expect to have to pay a certain fee to and so is the Virtual Assistant.

Those old adages, “you get what you pay for” and “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” ring very true. I have faith in my skills; faith in my experience; and faith that doors will open and clients will come….they have come. I WILL NOT sell myself short.  There is no way, I am going to go backwards. I am realizing my dreams; I can’t give up, nor can I give in and neither should you.

My advice to V.A.’s starting out…. don’t sell your souls or your talents. Know your worth and stick to it. I’m not saying there’s never any room for compromise, but there’s a huge difference in compromising, and giving your services away!

I’d love to hear your thought and experiences.

Peace and prosperity,

Evelyn Mack
The Emackulate V.A.
www.emackulateassistants.com
“Relax, Release, Reclaim™…Help is Just a click away.”

Do not panic! Houston, we’ve got a problem! But thankfully Google had the answer. I was in the middle of a transcription job; on my last hour of six hours of transcription, when low and behold I pressed some odd combination of keys and my screen turned sideways! What the heck is going on here?! I didn’t know what combination of keys I pressed, nor did I know what combination of keys to press to fix the problem. So I thought okay. Turn it off and back on. That usually fixes a problem. I turned it off and on….screen was still sideways. Okay, Evelyn. Don’t panic. You got this. While I’m trying to figure out what to do, I’m beginning to get a crook in my neck, and I’m thinking, “I can’t possibly finish this job with my head turned like this, ” but I would have if I had to. Whatever it takes to get the job done, right? Thankfully, I was able to get to the Internet and Google “Help! Screen went sideways,” and whoo hoo, a solution was just a click away. Should this happen to you, press Control, Alt and the Arrow up key and you’re back in business. Google is MY FRIEND!

I don’t normally panic easily, but with a looming morning deadline, I must admit I was beginning to panic just a wee bit. Good news is I learned something new today. Bad news is…well, luckily in this scenario, there wasn’t any really bad news. What did we ever do before the Internet and Google?

Well let me jump back on that deadline. I just had to share. Remember Ctrl + Alt + Arrow up.

Evelyn Mack
Emackulate Assistants
www.emackulateassistants.com
“Your Virtual Partner to Entrepreneurial Success”

Seven months ago, I was unemployed-but very employable-and praying for a way that I could earn a living and have the flexibility I desperately needed at that time in my life.

My husband had suffered a major stroke (at 38…listen to your body folks!) and is on dialysis, which necessitates my being available to take him to doctor’s appointments and so forth. Also, we live in the Atlanta area, where traffic is horrendous. My last job as a project manager for a well known international ministry had me commuting two plus hours each way, and I worked 10 plus hours a day. I couldn’t do that any longer. My family was my priority and I while it was a great job, with great pay, my family was suffering, and I wasn’t there for them like I needed to be.

So I left there and began to look for something less demanding and closer to home. During this time I began to pray diligently to find a job with the flexibility I desperately needed. While surfing the web, job hunting one day, I came across an article about virtual assisting. Eureka! I think my prayers were being answered. I had the skills, the office and equipment, the demeanor and professionalism it would take. Darn it! I’m going to do it. So I stepped out on faith; stopped searching for jobs and started searching for clients.

I chose my name — Emackulate Assistants. Catchy, huh? I thought it was pretty darn creative to incorporate my first initial and last name to phonetically spell “immaculate” which means perfect, which I am striving to be… or as close to it as one can be. I designed my website (also my first time), created brochures and business cards, secured an 800 number, obtained my business license (I didn’t do this in any particular order)….just a few of the myriad of “little things” that must be done when starting a new business. Being a sort of closet techie, I already had a complete-home office and tons of business and creative software.

I began to do research on virtual assistants; read everything I could get my hands on regarding the field. What I have found is education and networking are two keys to success. And know that I will have to always continue to educate myself, keep up with trends, and network, network, network. Not long after I made the leap of faith, my phone rang, and it was from the business manager of my old company, who asked if I was interested in doing some freelance work as a closed captioner….well heck yeah! (I had that experience and the software needed) . I’m cooking with hot grease now! I was so excited.

Shortly after starting that gig, and sending several hundred emails later (well, maybe not hundreds, but it sure seemed like it), I got a response and I landed two more clients. I was a legal word processor for 10 years, and while I had long ago left that field, that skill came in very handy, and I began doing transcription for these two clients.

It was slow going for a while, but perseverance paid off and soon I had three regular clients and few small one-time clients here and there. Whoo hoo!

I’ve decided to step it up a notch this year, and really knuckle down and get serious about building my clientèle and making Emackulate Assistants a success. I know that as a V.A., you should really have a focused area, but I have worked in so many fields over the course of 20 years. I’ve worked in the legal arena, non-profit, education, project management, music business management and consulting, event and meeting planning. Eventually I will focus more on a limited area, primarily, but right now, mama has bills to pay!! One particular thing that I think will give me a leg up is I know how to close-caption and have the software to do so. Eventually, I think this might become my niche, providing closed captions for ministries.

So I’ve made a list of goals to accomplish this year (I’ll update you as a go along). But jumping into the “blogasphere” was one of my goals this year… I love to write and I love to talk. So in the words of Hannah Montana….it’s the best of both worlds.  Hey I’ve got a teenage daughter. What can I say?

I am thankful that I was blessed with the skills and experiences that have afforded me this opportunity and am beyond determined to make it work. It’s not as simple as hanging up your shingle and going to work, and it really isn’t for everyone, but I think my career path and experiences prepared me for this time in my life and I have what it takes to be a good–no, make that a great–V.A.

I believe that it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a village to be a success…so if you have any tips, suggestions, or simply want to send up a prayer that Emackulate Assistants is successful, I sure would appreciate it.

I’ll keep you posted on my V.A. journey and what’s happening in my world. It might be a bumpy ride, but stay tuned.

Till Next Time,

Evelyn Mack

Emackulate Assistants

www.emackulateassistants.com