My name is Cheryl. I’m a homeschooling work-at-home-mom with three cool children. I work as a social marketing/internet virtual assistant and transcriptionist. I am also the ringleader for a small band of budding homeschooled general transcriptionists who are getting on the job training with me. And let me tell you, these young people are really good!
What’s a Virtual Assistant?
This is a common question that doesn’t have a standard answer. It’s kind of like homeschooling. No one quite knows what to make of you and how you do what you do. So I’ve spent some time looking for a definition that I like. Here’s one I put together from a variety of sources around the web:
“A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a highly-trained independent contractor/freelancing entrepreneur who provides a myriad of business support services virtually via phone, fax and internet based technology to support and meet the growing needs of businesses worldwide. Although we assist you in taking care of the administrative and technical side of your business or life we are more than just a home-based secretary.
Before setting up their practices, most VAs held prominent positions in the corporate world. The Virtual Assistance industry comprises former corporate trainers, publicity agents, marketing executives, paralegals, executive assistants and many more. Partnering with a VA reduces stress, protects cash flow, eliminates administrative hassles, and enables business people to find the success they originally set out to achieve. A VA is your right hand person helping you to succeed in your business. The irony is you may never meet your VA as odds are they live nowhere near you!”
Personally, I am building a niche with internet and network marketers providing transcription, writing and social media services. I have over 20 years in corporate America working for companies such as Morgan Stanley, Marsh & McLennan, and TimeWarner, to name a few. During that time I’ve done everything from calendar management, word processing, proofreading, research and pretty much everything in-between.
Why I Do What I Do
My business serves two purposes. One to provide the finances that we need to live and experience what life has to offer. But my other purpose is to continue homeschooling which is one of the most important contributions that I feel I can make to the world. I have been deeply affected by a publication called The Puritan Gift: Triumph, Collapse and Revival of an American Dream
The United States became a power to be reckoned with because of the combination of hard work, faith and education. As the book relates the history of how the United States grew, one thing is clear — our country is in its current mess because we have disregarded these elements for far too long. (According to the authors, the beginning of our loss of dominance began in the 1970s when MBAs were considered more important than actual experience in the field.)
So, as homeschoolers we need to also be engaged in some kind of cottage industry, service industry, etc. We need to teach our children how to create an income for themselves. Two resource that are being available to help do others to do that can be found at www.EducatingForSuccess.com and www.HomeschoolingEntrepreneurs.com. The first site is geared towards parents looking for ways to make money from home, while the second provides education and ideas for our children to explore the world of finance and independence. I encourage you to check them out.
