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Virtual Assistance as an industry is becoming more well-known. With that, however, comes a lot of potential for misunderstanding.

I recently read an article entitled Working Your Way Through Retirement which had a little paragraph about Virtual Assistants alongside other job opportunities such as cruise ship employment and part-time bookkeeping:

“This is a job you can do from your home. The main purpose of a virtual assistant is to assist busy business executives who do not have in-house staff to attend to various administrative functions. These positions have become available due to small companies trying to keep permanent overhead costs down. Training programs are available at community colleges, many of which offer online certifications. The duties of an assistant include making travel arrangements, sending out letters and providing other support services, which are easily handled remotely via email and telephone.”

This article is not one that I would hope any clients or even future VAs are reading. Virtual Assistance is not a nice and simple part-time gig you fall into when you’re retired and bored. Let’s get something straight: Virtual Assistants are experts and business owners.

As I was recently told by @Curt_Maly, entrepreneurs must keep in mind that “if they arrive late and stare at the wall for 20 minutes, they might not eat!” In other words, a Virtual Assistant, as an entrepreneur and business owner, must be constantly pressing forward in order to be successful. The VA must be handling back-end business matters, providing quality work for clients, and engaging in networking and marketing efforts. Can it be done by a retiree? Yes!! A motivated, tech-savvy, organized retiree could absolutely become a successful Virtual Assistant. However, it’s not a simple show-up-and-put-in-some-hours kind of job. If all you want is to cure the boredom and make some easy cash, you will be better off finding an employee position. (I have to say, that cruise ship gig does sound like the way to go!)

What are some misunderstandings that you wish you could clear up? Share them below!

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