Archive for September, 2008
What is a Virtual Assistant, exactly?
According to Wikipedia.com:
Virtual Assistants (typically abbreviated to VAs), are business owners who provide professional[1] — usually other independent entrepreneurs and consultancy small businesses. Virtual Assistants work from their own office (hence “virtual”), thus making it a fairly popular (and growing) profession in centralized economies[2] with “fly-in, fly-out” (FIFO) staffing practices.[3] It is estimated that there are as few as 5,000-8,000 or as many as 35,000 Virtual Assistants worldwide.[4][5] administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients
Common modes of communication and data delivery include the Internet, e-mail and phone call conferences,[6] online work spaces, and fax machine. Professionals in this business work on a contractual basis and a long-lasting cooperation is standard. Typically 5 years of administrative experience in an office is expected at such positions as executive assistant, office manager/supervisor, secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, et cetera.
- A virtual assistant is an independently contracted business owner, not an employee. They work out of their own offices, manage the work from their clients and how it is carried out, set their own rates, as well as operating standards and policies, and pay their own self-employment taxes.[7]
- Virtual assistants help small businesses expand their business instead of dealing with administration duties. Virtual assistants are cost effective because you only pay them when they work. Since they are independent contractors they are tax deductible.
Labor Day Memories
Yesterday the States celebrated Labor Day. What made it extra special for me and my family was it also marked what would have been the 8th birthday of our youngest “Fish” family member, Hannah Grace.
Hannah was born on September 1; baby-Fish #5, (all girls by the way!) we were so excited to have her as part of our family. She was truly the most happiest, calm baby I had ever seen.
Her story unfolds like this… she came into this world as quiet as you can imagine; squooshy, soft, chubby and calm! On her 1st birthday she ended getting a “chest cold” , this was treated by our physician, it went away, then came back about 3 weeks later; the cycle repeated itself until November 25, 2001 where we spent 12 hours at our local E.R.
At that time the current physician was ending her shift and the next doctor was beginning his shift. At that time, the entering physician came back to the observation room to do his rounds and noticed that the I.V fluid was entering Hannah’s body but was not exiting. The fluid was collecting around her heart..with that diagnosis she was life flighted to a Children’s Hospital 45 minutes away. It wasn’t until then that the heart specialists were called to work on her, it was then that we were told she was suffering from Cardio Myopathy.
A few short minutes later, on November 26, 2001; Hannah took her last breath with mommy and daddy by her side, as she entered Heaven’s gates to meet Jesus.
It wasn’t until that moment that I could get a clear view of Heaven, Gods purpose, the preciousness of life, the process of a vapor and the hope of eternity.
Every year on Hannah’s birthday we clean her stone, decorate it with something special, enjoy an ice cream dessert at a local restraurant and give thanks to the Lord for welcoming her home and giving us the ”Hope of Eternal Life” with Him.
To God Be The Glory, Great Things He Hath Done! Enjoy some of our favorite pictures Remember Hannah Grace
