About Me

The Virtual Wire is written for entrepreneurs, consultants, and small business owners who are dedicated to virtual working partnerships.

For us, "virtual" means employing technology to collaborate and contribute to another's business without being present physically. Technology available today makes being geographically distant a non-issue. The talent pool is wide open. People can work together with thousands of miles between them almost as easily as they can separated by only two feet.

What's special about The Virtual Wire is that it's written by five AssistU VAs with the occasional input by our clients (and those of other AssistU VAs). What's shared here is the real deal, based on trial, error, and ultimate accomplishment in finding what works.

Columnists
The Virtual Wire columnists are (in their own words):

Gloria Luzier: A July 2005 graduate of AssistU, Gloria is the founder/owner of Superior VA Solutions, LLC , a newly-launched Virtual Assistance practice located in St. Louis, Missouri. Gloria has found herself in steady transition, learning and growing from each new life experience. Her varied background includes more than 25 years of professional and executive-level administration experience in various industries, including executive management consulting, and the legal field. Much of her exposure to management and leading groups has been in the not-for-profit sector, where she thoroughly enjoyed working with teams of volunteers and coordinating women’s workshops and events, and working with teens. Through caring for her aging parents as they suffered with Alzheimer’s, she developed a keen awareness of the critical role caregivers play in the lives of many people today. As a wife, mother of two and a *new* grandmother, Gloria cherishes time spent with family and friends.

Petra Boucher: I’m a real geeky tech person. It doesn’t mean I know how to do everything with new technology or on the internet, but I love to know what we can do and just love new gadgets and finding great bits of software that just make my life easy. If it can help me do it quicker and just be plain fun then point me to it, because no doubt I will love it and buy it pronto – much to the delight of my credit card company.

I do what I love and I love being a Virtual Assistant. If you look at my web site, you'll see that my business logo depicts 2 people one behind the other. I am the one at the back; in the background and a solid support to my client. I love getting to know my clients and their business. What makes them tick and what they want to achieve. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of helping them achieve success. It is my ultimate goal!

I always describe myself as “A Rebel without a Cause,” and I consider ‘the norm’ to be whatever sits well with me; whether it sits well with society or not does not concern me. I am ambitious, friendly, confident, strong-willed, gentle, thoughtful, sometimes shy, extremely modest and very often generous. It is important for me to give back wherever I can. So I avidly recycle, donate to charity and help my family whenever I can.

I love to read and eat up books like they are meals. I am both addicted to non-fiction and fiction books, but must admit if I need to relax there is nothing I love more than an interesting story.

It will be my pleasure to share my experiences on virtual and small business practices both old and new. I hope you will participate and teach me also.

Sharon Broughton: I graduated from Assistu's premier training program in June 2002 and have been a virtual assistant ever since. I recently acquired my CPVA designation and I am very proud of that accomplishment. I was also awarded the coveted award "Volunteer of the Year 2008" from the Assistu community for my hard work in planning the AU10 celebration in 2007.

My practice includes several highly successful online marketers and some clients that are going to be in that group very soon. My practice is full to capacity and I enjoy working with every single one of my clients. I am always learning new technology and will soon be branching out into teaching other virtual professionals how to uplevel their skills and have amazing, full practices like me.

I live in sunny Sacramento, California and I am a single mom with three wonderful children—-my son Casey (17 years old), and my daughters Lisa and Emily (14 and 11). We live in a beautiful area with lots of room for gardening and playing. We also have two beautiful boy cats, "Muffles" and "Oreo" who keep me company during the day. Muffles enjoys sleeping in my shredding basket under my desk and Oreo hangs out on the blanket by the sliding glass door that goes to the backyard (watching the birds no doubt).

Choosing virtual assistance as my profession has allowed me to do what I enjoy most—working with dynamic individuals with a thirst for adventure and a desire to have it all. It also allows me to be home for my family when they need me.

And featuring past TVW bloggers whose posts can still be found here:

Rob Neilly: Rob is a trained Virtual Assistant (VA)–a graduate of AssistU–and a college professor who delivers basic computer skills to students at both Humber and Seneca College.

The thing that attracted Rob to AssistU can be summarized in one word: passion. There are other words—respect, courtesy, thoughtfulness, professionalism, and many more—but in and within the individuals he encountered in the AssistU community, he found something he had within himself.

Over the years, his career path was divided between working as an Executive Assistant (sometimes Administrative Assistant) for senior executives, working in communications, and of course training, presenting, and teaching. The industries he was involved in included IT, finance, health, education, and logistics. He has worked in both the profit and not-for-profit sectors.

Rob's academic background includes training in virtual assistance, communications, radio-TV announcing, web development, and adult education.

Among the things he's done in his spare(?) time are a handful of stints as an Extra in movies; jumping out of a plane (once); bungee jumping with his wife (also once); and jogging. His other interests include music of all kinds (but jazz in particular), photography, a large video / laserdisc / DVD collection, ancient Egyptian philosophy, technology (of course), effective communications, and aspects of many different philosophies.

A native Torontonian, Rob currently lives in the Don Mills / Leaside area with his wife of 15 years, their two cats, and a collection of fish! Both he and his wife have a passion for the romance of the rails, movies, life outside of the city, and an ever-growing variety of international and specialty beers.

Tiffany Odutoye: I am a Certified Paralegal and Professional Virtual Assistant – thanks to AssistU!

I’m a native of Philadelphia. PA (city girl at the core) and life’s travels have led me to Columbus, OH, where I presently reside (refined by nature).

Through the mobility of my life’s work (community volunteer work) from the East Coast to South America and the Dominican Republic to the Mid-West, I have truly discovered and followed my purpose in life, and that is to embrace the joy of “serving” and “being of service”. This is a driver for me in business, and my personal life. It also helps me to remain balanced with the use of my time (I tend to be a little “over the top”). I believe that you have to nurture yourself (for me the most important way is spiritually, physically, and emotionally) so as to have the framework to support others.

Currently, I’m in a support capacity on the home front – taking care of my only parent, my mother, who is suffering with Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). While this has its challenges, we find so many reasons to laugh – our family motto is “you gotta laugh to keep from cry’n”! Humor truly can nurture the soul – especially when you are looking for the bright spots…you often can find them.

Recently, our family decided to test the waters and sell our home (so as to create reserves of time, energy and resources). Most people, who know us, understand why we purchased a home - specifically to take care of my mother. Now we’re SELLING our home. It makes no sense to anyone but US. Funny! The big question from onlookers has been “so where are you going? And what’s your plan?” My answer is simply “our plan is that if it’s supposed to sell, it will, and it will all work out!” That mentality moves me and keeps me grounded. I do my part, and rarely sweat the other stuff. Prior to the house being listed on the market, we got a call. It was regarding our next place to live – things have just worked out. I’m not sure what you call it, but to me, we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing, when we’re supposed to be doing it!

I highly value honesty (in all its forms), collaborative partnerships, creating thinking, family, spirituality and “being here now”. I’m driven, a visionary, optimistic and enjoy learning new things. Ultimately to me, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it matters how you play the game!

Stacy asked for a short intro, but as you can see – brevity is not my strength.

Sydni Craig-Hart: She liberates Executive Assistants from the corporate world by showing them how to become savvy, self-employed Virtual Assistants. Her business, EAtoVA.com gives Executive Assistants the support, tools and information they need to successfully transition into a profitable career in Virtual Assistance. She is also the co-founder of Craig Hart Consulting, LLC, a full-service small business consulting and Virtual Assistance firm that specializes in helping entrepreneurs boost their revenue, maximize their Internet presence and run productive, efficient businesses. Because of her extraordinary work as the founder of EAtoVA.com and co-founder of Craig Hart Consulting, she was nominated for the AssistU Virtual Assistant of the Year award in 2008.

For Sydni’s FREE special report, “The Liberated Executive Assistant: How to Break Free From the Corporate Grind and Become Your Own Boss,” and FREE subscription to her bi-weekly newsletter, “EA to VA Insights,” visit www.EAtoVA.com. In this report you’ll find out everything you need to know about the Virtual Assistance industry, what steps you need to take to get started and run your own successful Virtual Assistance business.

Sydni enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, wine-tasting, and anything spa related. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she currently lives in Emeryville, CA with her amazing husband and business partner, Wil Hart.

Antonette Artiz: I am a fun-loving person. I enjoy learning and discovering new things, but not new foods. I think I have a terrific sense of humor. My biggest hurdle in business has been adjusting to my manager’s hat. Currently, it is fitting pretty snug, but I’ll keep you posted. I love my business, and am looking forward to sharing my adventures with you.

Jan Beasley: I first learned about Virtual Assistance several years ago when I was living on the Gulf Coast of Florida and looking for a way to make a living that would allow me to return back to Colorado to be near my family. After graduating from AssistU in June 2001, Virtual Foundations was born, and in early 2003 I became a VA full time as I moved to Colorado.

In my practice as well as my personal life, I enjoy looking a little deeper below the surface and embracing the small details that make an experience richer and more fulfilling.

Raised in an Air Force family, I got used to moving around the country, and still love to travel. I have a passion for Italy, nature, gardening, music, motorcycles, languages, photography, self-exploration (that's an unending quest!), reading, writing, and so much more. My interests and tastes are best described as eclectic!

I am a firm believer in the value of this wonderfully supportive AssistU community, and look forward to meeting more of you, and contributing what I can as part of The Virtual Wire team.

Laura Allen: Someone asked me recently, ‘Are you always this happy and enthusiastic?’ I answered authentically, ‘Yes!’ I thought about why this was the truth for me. I love life and living! I am incredibly grateful to be here, and it shows. I am alive to experience meaningful relationships, to love and be loved, soulfully. I joyfully practice the principals of abundance, attraction and intention. My attitude creates my reality, and is reflected in the blissfulness of what I do, how I do it, and who I do it with. I am in awe of the serendipity and synchronicity involved in my journey, which began with joining AssistU's VTP only a year ago. I was delighted to begin my practice, Virtual Works of Wonder, in September 2005! My greatest joy would be to pass on the inspiration, light, and kindness I have been gifted with along the way.

Will you come out and play?

Roxie Hickman: In a group of people, you can spot me right away. I'm the quiet one. I've always been more comfortable with expressing myself in writing, and definitely more comfortable being the in the background. So I'm really happy to be a part of this blog, and to be a virtual business owner because these experiences are a perfect fit for my personality.

I'm a 2002 graduate of AssistU's Virtual Training Program, and the owner of The Virtual Connection. In my practice, I have been fortunate to work with a variety of dynamic women business owners. Each, of which, has made me astutely aware of what's possible for me as a business owner and a woman. With the variety of work I do for my clients, what I enjoy most are tasks that encompass my two best assets, speaking (I'm great on the phone) and writing.

Along with having a certain penchant for writing, I have an absolute passion for reading. I am so excited when I find myself with enough free time and peace and quiet to actually sit down and read something (book, magazine, blog, whatever).

Being a wife and mother of four daughters (though two are grown and gone), does not leave me with much of my cherished free time.

My two girls, 12 and 9, their stuff, along with all my stuff (VA practice, part time job, board member of a local networking organization) assure me of some pretty packed days.

Franni Ferrero: I officially graduated from AssistU’s Virtual Training Program on May 9, 2006, and my business, Very Virtual , is steadily growing. I married Jeff in May 2004. We met on the Internet over six years ago and we gifted each other with an incredible extended family. At the age of 60, I feel as though I’m starting a wonderful adventure and AssistU is such an integral part of the changes going on in my life. As I stated in my student profile, “I attempt to embrace change as a new adventure and view life lessons (no matter how difficult!) as adding another flower to my life bouquet.” Welcome to my journey!

Margot Thompson:

Creative, self-disciplined, fun-loving, intelligent, accountable and enthusiastic;

Mother, wife, daughter, sister, and truly loyal friend;

Loves to create, manage, innovate, build, grow and laugh;

VA, coach, trainer, writer, ethics-friendly internet marketer and budding web designer;

Freshly established with her state-of-the-art VA practice full of vision, talent and originality;

Who needs the internet, her tooth brush, interesting books, her family and friends;

Who gives her clients much integrity, her family much love, her friends much support;

Who fears violence, losing those she loves and social injustice.

Who would like to own a Harley, win the lottery, see world peace in her lifetime;

Who is a joyful resident of Canada;

As real as she can be.