Janet: Thanks for stopping by, Vanessa. It’s great to meet you.
Vanessa: Thank you, Janet! I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time. I’m honored to be here.
J: Thank you. That’s nice to hear. Why don’t you give my readers an overview of your e-book series?
V: I’d love to! The Adventures of Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant series is a collaborative effort between me and my writing partner, Melodee Patterson of Short-term Solutions. I knew nothing about the Virtual Assistance industry when I left the SafeRight Insurance Company after being the President’s Executive Assistant for a number of years. But after doing some Internet research on the subject – which I discuss in the first e-book – I decided becoming a Virtual Assistant was the perfect solution for me.
I did tons of research on all aspects of becoming a VA – such as what kind of business structure was best for me, how to set up my home office, how to determine my rates, the best ways to market my business, getting over my fear of networking, and how to blog. It was hard work and took a lot of time!
J: So you decided to share your findings with other prospective Virtual Assistants?
V: Yes, exactly! Melodee and I wanted to save other VAs the time and frustration of plowing through all that information themselves. We used my research notes and the forms I created for my own business as a blueprint for the series.
J: I understand you had some interesting adventures while starting your company. What happened?
V: Oh, Lordy. For one thing, my mother – she reads auras for a living – was bound and determined to “help” me. You wouldn’t believe the things she mailed me from Sedona, Arizona! And then there’s my ex-husband who had the nerve to tell me I couldn’t possibly start my own business without his help! Luckily, my friend Marci was very supportive and helped me through the rough patches. Anyway, it’s all in the e-books. I wanted prospective Virtual Assistants to know that life may throw some roadblocks their way, but becoming a VA is worth the effort.
