Taken from https://michaelhyatt.com/7-reasons-you-should-hire-a-virtual-assistant.html
By Michael Hyatt
If you have followed my journey from corporate CEO to full-time writer and speaker, you know I am a big advocate of using virtual assistants. I couldn’t survive without mine.
But I have noticed that many of my fellow entrepreneurs are reluctant to take the plunge. So often they don’t get the help they need because they think hiring a full-time, physical assistant is their only option.That’s what I thought too. However, this is usually not the best option—at least not at the beginning. Perhaps ever.
In his new e-book, Bryan Miles, CEO of BELAY, explains why. He provides 9 Reasons to Rethink Your Approach to Staffing:
- It takes forever to find the right person
- Employees cost more than their salary
- You have to find a place to put people
- You need to keep the people you have busy
- Availability isn’t the same as competency
- Employees don’t really work eight hours a day
- Firing people is a hassle
- Your personnel budget is suffocating your margin for growth
- An affair will cost you more than you think
Granted, Bryan is biased. He co-founded a company that provides virtual assistant services to businesses and non-profit organizations, including churches. I am biased too since my virtual assistant, Tricia, works for his company.
However, I think he is right. Too often, we think that full-time, physical staffing is our only option. It’s not.
I’m convinced that virtual assistants are the future. Tricia has worked for me, fifteen hours a week, since last August. Honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. Many successful entrepreneurs I know are following suit.
You might need to consider hiring a virtual assistant if:
- You feel overwhelmed with your workload.
- You need help digging out from the administrative pile.
- You know you could really “move the needle” if you could focus more on what you and only you can do.
- You want to be more productive and less stressed.
- You know you need help but can’t afford someone full-time.
- You don’t want the hassle of recruiting, hiring, and training a physical assistant.
- You want—and need—more margin in your life.
What can an virtual assistant do for you?
Anything that does not require her physical presence.
Practically speaking, this means she can:
- Screen your e-mail and respond on your behalf
- Schedule and confirm your appointments
- Book your travel arrangements
- Make calls on your behalf
- Perform miscellaneous research
- Fill out expense reports and track reimbursements
- Create invoices and post payments
- Manage any projects you don’t want to handle
The truth is that most of my professional relationships today are virtual. I’ll bet many of yours are as well.
Almost all of my business transactions are conducted via e-mail and occasionally phone. It really doesn’t matter where my assistant is located. No one knows the difference.
All they know is that I have a sharp, responsive assistant who helps them get what they need when they need it. What I know is that I have a trusted business partner who frees me up to do what I do best. Maybe it’s time to consider hiring one for yourself.