June 2006
The Trickle Down Effect;
Using IAVOA Members as Sub-Contractors
by Clara Fyffe IAVOA Corner
I'm sure there have been times in the running of your businesses that you've become overwhelmed either with your work itself or with needing help and advice for something that's got you stuck and at a standstill. These are the times when subcontractors within our VA industry shine brightest. They help bring us up to the surface again and set us back on track.
Deciding who you want to choose as your subcontractor requires that you involve yourself in IAVOA so that you become familiar with the members and what kinds of services they offer. But you can also get a referral from just about anyone you know on the membership list. The friendships we nurture within IAVOA can and will carry us through good times and bad.
The past few weeks were hectic and stressful for me. I was recently approached by a former client with a huge transcription project involving 40-plus digital files. Having had very little work for the past couple years during my recovery and re-training, I was thrilled when this research client decided to take me back and give me the opportunity to move my business ahead again. She was tolerant and understanding with me and let me know she had faith in me, that I would do the best for her as she had come to expect in the past.
I accepted the project, but soon came to the realization that there was no way I could get it done on deadline. I only had a few days left and desperately needed help. I turned to my friends through IAVOA for that help.
You've probably heard of the "trickle down effect" that generally deals with government or finances. Overall, it means that one thing affects another thing that then affects something else and on and on down the line. That's kind of what happened with how I got my help through this group.
I called my good friend Kathy Ritchie, our esteemed editor here at the Herald and owner of Ritchie Secretarial Service (www.thebestva.com). Kathy has stood by me through thick and thin and has a compassionate, understanding, and caring personality that's kept me going many a time. I frantically told her of my need for good transcriptionists to help with this project.
Within just a few minutes, Kathy had contacted Cheryl Callighan of EOffice-Virtual Assistants (www.EOffice-VirtualAssist.com). Cheryl, in turn, contacted Michele Wong of Reliable Cyber Solutions (www.reliablecyber.com), Michelle Spadavechicca of OfficeWerx (www.officewerx.com), and Lynne Norris of Norris Business Solutions (www.NorrisBusinessSolutions.com). In the meantime, I had contacted another IAVOA friend, Rita Ballard of Healers Helper (www.healershelper.com).
Each and every one of these terrific Virtual Assistants basically dropped what they were doing in order to help me meet my deadline. What I find amazing about this is that I hadn't "met" some of these women, yet they were all willing to work with me - and, trust me, it wasn't for the money! They were all part of the IAVOA group, professional businesswomen with their own practices, yet willing to take the time to help a fellow VA in need.
These VAs accepted the files, required very little direction, and returned the completed files to me in record time. I was able to meet my deadline, my client was pleased, and - thanks solely to all my new VA friends - I remain in good stead with that client. I thank each of them for stepping up. I am truly grateful to all of you.
This wasn't the first time that I'd had the opportunity to work with other Virtual Assistants from IAVOA, and I've been on both sides of the fence. I've been privileged to sub for others with their projects, and I've used subs before in my own business. Knowing there is someone out there somewhere who is knowledgeable of just about any skills you might require is comforting.
The topic of subcontracting comes up often on the IAVOA list. I want to emphatically state here and now that the place to go for a sub is to our membership. My recent experience has clearly proven how important this group is to one another. Some of you mention "lurking in the background" as you learn from the posts on the list. I want to suggest that you actively join in. Everyone has something to contribute, and no question is too "dumb" to ask. Let us learn from you as you learn from us.
Becoming familiar with one another is important for many reasons. We learn about all the different aspects of running a business. We find out better ways to utilize our time. We glean little snippets of info about shortcuts within software programs. We're given information about new software and/or equipment. By interaction, we learn about one another in a personal way, rather than just business. We know who we can count on when we need a sub or have questions. Most importantly, we gain true and long lasting friendships.
Clara Fyffe
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