I’ve often spoken, here, about feeling like I could use some help with the everyday minutiae of my business. But because glaciers move faster (and are more decisive) than me, I’m still here, handling everything myself, wondering if maybe I should find a way to get some assistance. I know—I’m really impressed with me, too. Ha.

Anyway, after a previous post here about needing an intern, I was contacted by Michele Wilcox, owner of Vineyard Virtual Services. Michele is a Virtual Assistant, and wanted to let me know that help is available even when that help can’t necessarily show up here at my office.

Michele was kind enough to let me pick her brain, just in case you—like me—didn’t really know what a Virtual Assistant is all about. She’s not just a fellow solopreneur, she’s someone whose job is to help other solopreneurs. Which is kinda cool.

Mir Kamin: Tell me what a virtual assistant does.

Michele Wilcox: Basically, a virtual assistant does everything that any other assistant does, virtually. Calendar management, email management, contact management, personal tasks, phone calls, messages, mailings, letters, just about everything. And really, like with most things, the job is what you make of it. The bottom line is that a virtual assistant assists someone, whatever that assistance entails.

MK: What are the benefits/challenges of working remotely vs. being there in person, in a job like this?

MW: Some benefits for me personally include being able to do my work early in the morning, and late at night if necessary, and still being able to be there for my kids and elderly parents. If I get a call from the school, or an appointment comes up, I’m able to do work-arounds. I’m not tied to a particular environment, or a particular mindset Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. This really helps me manage the things in my life that before, in the corporate environment, were stressing me out. Sometimes, in a traditional setting, an assistant can start to feel “owned” by the supervisor. As an independent contractor, I don’t feel that loss of identity. There are, of course, challenges. I certainly have to make sure I’m aware of boundaries. Just because a client might know I’m working at 5am doesn’t mean that they get to call me at 5am. I need to remember that if I’m up and working at 5am doesn’t mean I just keep going, integrating everything else, until I fall into bed.

In terms of the work, it can be challenging when it comes to hands-on hardcopies. But you learn what works and what doesn’t based on each client’s needs. Because we use technology, sometimes you take on the task of tutor, in order to get the client up and running. That comes with the territory. In addition, a lot of executives are used to having their assistant RIGHT THERE, and don’t necessarily like that they can’t get a hold of me right that second, and may need to send an email. That can be very difficult for a client to get used to. But the client gets benefits too. They can get someone who, as a business owner, is vested in the relationship succeeding. They get an independent contractor that they don’t have to pay payroll taxes or benefits for. And the vast majority of virtual assistants, myself included, have an underlying resourcefulness and varied experiences that really bring a partnership to the table to assist, rather than just answer a phone.

MK: Who needs a virtual assistant?

MW: Anyone who’s in business for themselves in any capacity, in my opinion.

Take a freelance writer, for example. They write. That’s what they do. But in order to stay in business, they have to handle their queries, manage their projects, handle their money, keep track of invoicing… All tasks that take time from them that they could spend writing.

Take an entrepreneur, as another example. They’re trying to sell a product or website or idea. They need to develop that product, and they need to market that product. Any time spent handling their emails, or entering contact information, or mailing out that package, is all time spent NOT forwarding their business.

Basically, if you’re doing stuff that maintains, but doesn’t grow your business, you’re probably in need of one of us.

MK: If you knew someone who really needed an assistant but was a complete control freak and had trouble letting go enough to let anyone help her, what would you say to her to help her see the light? And stop looking at me like that.

MW: I would say that they need to learn to delegate. Bottom line? You’re one person. There are 24 hours in a day. Start taking away time for eating, sleeping, hygiene, family, household, and any other tasks you normally do to get through the day. Now you’ve got what’s left for work. How much of that time is actually spent working. Not maintenance tasks like mail, email, adding contacts, looking stuff up, mailing things out etc. Actually working. Now make the connection that you are and always will be ONE person. And you will never get MORE hours in the day. You’ve just capped your productivity. However you could have someone who is contractually obligated to take things off your plate. Hours free up. Monotony is replaced with productive time. Busy work is magically getting done without you doing it. How productive could you be then if you didn’t have that invoice you’ve got to get out in the back of your mind?

MK: How did you decide to start this business?

MW: I’ve been in administration for over 17 years, with the last 10 at the executive level. I’ve worked in non-profit, Human Resources, Information Technology, and the Entertainment industry. I’ve worked as assistant to groups, as well as the executive assistant to Vice Presidents, Presidents, and CEOs. All of them were extremely different environments—but used my same resources: my technology skills, my administration skills, and my resourcefulness. When the balance between my personal life and work life became too much to bear, I decided to strike out on my own from home. I realized that those skills weren’t tied to a particular job, or a particular place, but to ME.

MK: What’s the best part of your job?

MW: Being able to say, “Yes, I’ll be at your concert—wouldn’t miss it!” to my kids. I’ve had to say, “I’m sorry, but I have to be at work.” And that face. I’m present now for my kids—and while that’s got nothing to do with my job—it’s the absolute best part.

MK: What do you want to talk about that I missed?

MW: People need help. But people think that it’ll be messy, or too complicated, or they can’t trust a virtual assistant. But I want to leave a reminder that these are business people too, who want to succeed. There are contracts and non-disclosure agreements to protect the parties. There are wonderful resources, and software, and websites that make staying connected a breeze. These assistants—I—exist to assist others. I really believe that people who are in business for themselves are doing themselves a disservice to their businesses by not getting help so they can be productive.

Thanks so much, Michele, for taking the time to chat with me!