A virtual assistant or virtual employee is a person who can help you in your everyday business. In the last few years as an entrepreneur I’ve learned to accept what my strengths are and what my weaknesses are. Understanding what my weaknesses were led me to the single most powerful idea I’ve ever had since starting my business. The idea was to hire a virtual assistant.

After reading the well known book “The 4-Hour-Workweek” by Tim Ferris I quickly grasped the power and freedom a virtual assistant could provide.

Almost immediately I began a search to find a virtual assistant. I was amazed at the sheer volume of people that have chosen this virtual position as a career path. Even more shocking to me was that some of these virtual employees have been doing this for years. Some have even built their practice into a full-time business, creating jobs for other virtual employees as well.

I interviewed 6 candidates, all of which were from different continents than myself. I settled on a gal named Sonia from Chandigarh, India who was polite, proactive and most of all persuasive. She comforted me in the fact that she could handle the tasks that I had earmarked for virtual assistance.

Sonia started that same day. She began by finishing one of my websites for me. The website was previously being worked on by an American firm that was not only overrated but overpriced. In fact, for 1/8th the price and in a matter of days, the website that was dragging on and on for months was now completed. I was amazed.

I attribute this progress to the work ethic that Sonia has and still practices. She is from a place in the world where work ethic is still worth something. Sonia has basically built an entire business for herself based on her reputation and not only has my business, but also the business of many of my colleagues whom I’ve converted to the virtual employee model over the last 12 months.

I share this post with you not to market my own success but to help you achieve your own. As an entrepreneur you need help, we all do, and if I could make a humble recommendation to you, it would be to explore the virtual employee options for your business today.

Virtual assistance is a rapidly growing employment option for people who have a skill set that affords them the opportunity to work virtually. Some examples would be an administrative assistant, bookkeeper or travel planner. Some others that spring to mind include Web site designers, search engine optimists and software engineers. All that is needed to perform these jobs is an Internet connection. Due to this virtual skill set, a whole new labor force has evolved and the beneficiary is you.

The benefits of outsourcing to a virtual assistant are many. For starters, there is no need to pay for a salary, insurance benefits or maternity leave. Furthermore, most virtual assistants leverage their own workspace, using their own computer and Internet connection to work for you.

Virtual assistants also tend to be scrappier and more resourceful than the average employee. Let’s face it; becoming a virtual assistant is like becoming an entrepreneur. By working for themselves virtual assistants place a great deal of pride in their work. They realize that their reputation has become their brand and so they work hard to manage that brand effectively.

Finding the right virtual assistant can be daunting. There are several places to look online to find a credible candidate. Simply Google the term “Find a Virtual Assistant” and see what comes back. You will likely have 200 plus pages to look through, each of them providing a different virtual solution to choose from.

Virtual assistants also work by the hour. In most cases, VA’s are hired for a few hours per week to begin with and then work usually ramps up from there -provided the work is sufficient to continue of course.

So it seems that in an age of outsourcing, options for small business owners to leverage outsourcing to a virtual assistant continue to grow daily. If you are even remotely considering such a resource than I would advise you to begin immediately. Because just like the real World, the best virtual employees are being snapped up and utilized to full potential. Those that wait to jump on board will be stuck with mediocre talent at best unless they make a move today. Finding a virtual assistant is easy, finding an expert is another ball game of its own.

I’ve always used a free trial of some kind to get people to try virtual assistance. Usually this helps them reduce the stress of assigning me something and potentially having me screw it up (which never happens BTW). This seems to be the biggest fear amongst those that outsource. They realize that they will have to “train” me to manage their tasks.

However, despite whatever uniqueness a particular business might have, the tasks are almost always similar. This is key to helping someone overcome the resistance to trying a virtual assistant. Sharing success stories, testimonials or accolades that you have recieved will help your potential employers psyche and will make it less stressful for them to take the leap and partner with you.

I found a great article that shares one mans point of view on the same topic. Give it a read and see if it inspires you in some way: http://www.43folders.com/2007/09/25/enlightened-outsourcing-1

A virtual assistant or virtual employee is a person who can help you in your everyday business. In the last few years as an entrepreneur I’ve learned to accept what my strengths are and what my weaknesses are. Understanding what my weaknesses were led me to the single most powerful idea I’ve ever had since starting my business. The idea was to hire a virtual assistant.

After reading the well known book “The 4-Hour-Workweek” by Tim Ferris I quickly grasped the power and freedom a virtual assistant could provide.

Almost immediately I began a search to find a virtual assistant. I was amazed at the sheer volume of people that have chosen this virtual position as a career path. Even more shocking to me was that some of these virtual employees have been doing this for years. Some have even built their practice into a full-time business, creating jobs for other virtual employees as well.

I interviewed 6 candidates, all of which were from different continents than myself. I settled on a gal named Sonia from Chandigarh, India who was polite, proactive and most of all persuasive. She comforted me in the fact that she could handle the tasks that I had earmarked for virtual assistance.

Sonia started that same day. She began by finishing one of my websites for me. The website was previously being worked on by an American firm that was not only overrated but overpriced. In fact, for 1/8th the price and in a matter of days, the website that was dragging on and on for months was now completed. I was amazed.

I attribute this progress to the work ethic that Sonia has and still practices. She is from a place in the world where work ethic is still worth something. Sonia has basically built an entire business for herself based on her reputation and not only has my business, but also the business of many of my colleagues whom I’ve converted to the virtual employee model over the last 12 months.

I share this post with you not to market my own success but to help you achieve your own. As an entrepreneur you need help, we all do, and if I could make a humble recommendation to you, it would be to explore the virtual employee options for your business today.

Then why can’t more men break into this field and create a virtual practice of their own? I have started to provide virtual seervices under the title virtual assistant just recently. But really, I’ve been a virtual assistant my entire career. While working as a software sales rep I telecommuted to my office each day and worked virtually to create business for my company.

Within the last year I have begun consulting media companies on seach engine optimization and social networking stretegies. I worked virtually on websites such as www.SpecialEvents.com, www.MeetingsNet.com and www.DeliciousLivingMag.com.

So in reality, I am a virtual assistant. So my question is why don’t more men carry this title? I’m curious to hear your thoughts.