Office Help From Afar

摘要

Val Williams' executive-coaching busi-ness grew so fast when she started it four years ago that she quickly fell behind in billing. She got rid of the backlog by getting help from someone she still works with but has never met in person―a virtual assistant (VA) who lives in Michigan and communicates with Williams' Edison (N. J.) office by e-mail, fax, and telephone. The VA, referred to Williams by a business associate, took over "invoicing, collections, personal errands such as sending flowers to my mother, and getting train tickets," Williams says. As a result, she is "now free to do the activities that only I can do―coaching, delivering a seminar, or marketing."