When the time comes that you’re just too overwhelmed with working in your business, that you can’t work on it to make it more successful, you are pretty much in need of help.

If the thought of employing someone full-time is too much to consider, a virtual assistant might be a great alternative.

I suppose I now have to qualify what I mean by the term virtual assistant.

This is not Siri or the disembodied voice from your countertop as Alexa or Google Home tells you the time and the weather. A well-chosen VA can do just about any task that you set, providing it doesn’t require boots on the ground in your location – but even then he/she can probably locate a person who can do that too. Think to research for a book or a blog post; editing and proofreading a listing; checking on your competitor's reviews; preparing your books for the accountant; creating checklists; preparing graphics for a website…I could go on and on.

A decade or more ago, when the role of virtual assistant was in its infancy, hiring someone who would remotely access your business documents and handle administrative tasks was a little risky. Freelancer sites abounded with a vast range of skillsets offered, but the task of picking someone who would not only meet the promises of their profile but also stay the course of a project was challenging.

While the number of skilled people available has actually increased, methods of selection have improved. There is much more help in sorting through freelancer proposals, interviewing has been made easier with Skype and Zoom allowing face-to-face connections, and there’s been some consolidation in the freelance market with Upwork now being the major online provider.

Another option is to engage a freelance agency to deliver help across a range of topics, so if you need help with content management, general administration tasks, or even want someone to research your next vacation for you while you get on with making money in your business, they can provide the assistance from multiple assistants.

In this episode, Jess Ostroff Tyson shares how her company, Don’t Panic Management, acts as a matchmaker between chaotic, overworking entrepreneurs and focused, calm virtual assistants. She says it’s her goal ‘to provide new, painless options for people to get work done as the future of virtual work becomes a reality.’ Their strapline is “Proactive, neighborly assistants who turn chaos into contentment, frustration into focus, and panic into productivity.”

Transparency alert here – Vacation Rental Formula is one of Jess’s clients. While this episode is more of an explanation about the how and why of employing a virtual assistant, we do endorse Don’t Panic Management from personal experience.

In the interview, Jess mentions a Life Audit she suggests that clients complete. This identifies the tasks that may be better outsourced and could make your life significantly less overwhelming while leaving you free to do the stuff you love. Jess wanted to share this with our listeners so go here to download it.

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[/thrive_2step]In the interview Jess shares:

• How the role of a VA has changed
• The questions to ask when looking for a virtual assistant
• The most common tasks VAs are asked to do
• Some of the unusual jobs requested
• How communication takes place between entrepreneur and assistant
• The top communication platforms
• How Don’t Panic Management works to reduce your overwhelm

Sites mentioned:

Don’t Panic Management

Upwork

Fiverr

Asana

Slack

Basecamp

Zoom

Trello