| Several months ago I read the following definition | | | | provide. As such, they are typically very efficient |
| of insanity;"the act of doing the same thing over | | | | and often charge fees that are half of the cost |
| and over again and expecting a different result". | | | | of getting the same task done by typical full time |
| As I related the definition to my small businesses | | | | workers. In addition to their hourly pay, routinely |
| (a business brokerage firm and a spa and salon | | | | employed staff cost their employers a bundle |
| business) I couldn't help but think, "I resemble that | | | | including; a matching portion of their state, federal |
| definition!" After years and years of beating | | | | and sometimes local taxes, health benefits, paid |
| ourselves performing the same rote tasks over | | | | time off, office space, utilities, office equipment, |
| and over we began to realize that as our costs | | | | supplies and more. Some experts have calculated |
| went up so did our unresolved problems and | | | | that certain routine office work products or that |
| issues in certain areas. | | | | cost an employer of regular staff $76,960.00 (1 |
| We logged in our time for two weeks and | | | | FTE person at $20.00/ hr., taxes, benefits, time |
| learned, much to our surprise that my partner | | | | off, limited productivity, etc.) would cost the same |
| and I were spending nearly 50% of our time | | | | employer for the same work products $36,400 |
| performing tasks that did not relate to the | | | | or slightly less than half the money. (Source: |
| growth or quality improvement of our businesses. | | | | Virtual Assistant Networking Association). |
| The United States Small Business Administration | | | | You can learn more about your options and find |
| (SBA) tells us that the average small business | | | | virtual assistant candidates easier than you think |
| operator spends 40% of their time performing | | | | through websites such as and |
| routine administrative tasks. They also report that | | | | shorttermsolutions.com, (legal VA personnel), the |
| many small business operators report up to 60% | | | | Virtual Assistant Networking Association and other |
| of their time is spent in routine administrative | | | | sources as close as a Google inquiry. |
| chores. | | | | Whether it's bookkeeping chores, attempts at |
| In our business, we noted that follow-up in certain | | | | website design, marketing and promotion material |
| areas was not consistent with best practice | | | | design, word processing functions or staff who |
| functioning. It seemed that our personal attempts | | | | are capable of helping prospect for new client |
| at business tracking functions, bookkeeping duties | | | | leads on the phone, I suggest that you get off |
| and several other jobs that could and should be | | | | the merry-go -round of doing the same thing |
| outsourced were driving us crazy. We had | | | | over and over by finding virtual. My partner has |
| convinced ourselves that it would be impossible to | | | | been heard saying to some of our colleagues "find |
| give up certain tasks we had always held onto as | | | | virtual...find sanity." I've been heard saying that the |
| sacred but finally agreed we had to in order to | | | | jury is still out in his case. |
| refocus our efforts to grow revenues and | | | | We both see our families earlier in the evening, |
| expand certain product lines within the businesses. | | | | get a little more sleep and have actually golfed |
| A boss I once had used to pound home the idea | | | | three times this past summer, three more times |
| that "success is finding the perfect balance | | | | than last year. Strategic focus on business growth |
| between cost and quality in order to produce a | | | | and quality improvement...we discuss it every |
| fair profit for our efforts". We have learned that | | | | morning in lieu of our former rote tasks and then |
| Virtual Assistants (VA's) add greatly to quality | | | | follow it up by making time to work at it every |
| outcomes by providing us with that right person, | | | | day. Business is growing at a time when most are |
| highly motivated, an entrepreneur in their own | | | | not and we did it with fewer FTE's (by attrition) |
| right, well trained in the niche service that we | | | | and lower overall costs. Think about it, map out |
| need, at a cost that is a fraction of a full or part | | | | how it could work for you and give it a try, |
| time staff person, marketing agency or local | | | | perhaps instead of hiring that new staff person |
| personnel service. | | | | you've been considering. |
| Efficiency engineering experts report that most | | | | We know the VA trend is here to stay and |
| businesses experience somewhere between 45% | | | | expect to capture opportunities to be more |
| and 60% productivity from their full time | | | | efficient as effective as we go and would |
| equivalent (FTE) staff. Apparently somewhere | | | | encourage you to do the same. We're going to do |
| between morning break, lunch, afternoon break, | | | | our best, if there is any downsizing in the future, |
| smoker's breaks, sick leave, calls from home and | | | | to help our people convert to thriving VA |
| stories that really need to be told to co-workers | | | | entrepreneurs for themselves. We expect to hire |
| our hourly paid U.S. workforce is truly getting | | | | them for certain functions while they increase |
| some work done...at least about 45-60% of their | | | | their incomes, obtain work flexibility and the |
| paid time. | | | | experience the good feeling that comes with |
| The majority of the fast growing Virtual Assistant | | | | being an entrepreneur capable of creating and |
| workforce is paid by the job for a job that they | | | | growing a thriving enterprise. |
| are extremely well trained and experienced to | | | | |