In 2007 I was working in a corporate sales job.
(Really, I could end this post right there and many of you would get it.)
I remember going to my dear friends’ place for dinner one evening. They asked me, “So? What’s new? How are you?” and it all came flying out. That I have never felt physically worse in my life. That when I look in the mirror I see someone who is about 25 years older than I actually am. That my bones ached (I was 37! My bones shouldn’t have been aching!). That I felt so haggard and ripped apart all the time. That I felt so physically wrong, so SO physically wrong, that I kept going to my doctor and telling her SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME. LOOK AGAIN!
I also remember back in the workplace, hiding in my co-worker’s office and having long chats with her about how we could get out of management. She wanted out as badly as I did. (She has since left to stay at home with her children. YAY!) We were even talking about putting together a business plan and presenting it to the “corner office” – showing them how we could job share. Anything to get out of our current jobs and ease some of the stress.
We even joked that the next time a job posting came around for an admin role, or a position at reception, we should apply.
And then we stopped laughing, looked at each other and went “Hey,wait a minute! Why don’t we?!”.
You could feel that energy leap off of us and hit the fabric of the earth. Seriously. It was awesome.
And so we had a great discussion about doing just that.
The What Ifs.
The Hows.
The Whys.
Would corporate go for it, or would they be too embarrassed to allow it – after all, it would be a bit of a slap in the face (that was not our intent).
What would our spouses think – taking a massive pay cut?
And then the biggie: would we be doing ourselves a dis-service? We climbed that freakin’ corporate ladder! Now we want to climb back down? Would we be okay with not strategizing with the big players? Having less autonomy?
HECK YEAH!
But…neither one of us did anything. We went back to our cushy offices and carried on in our stress. Sticking with the perks of the job and not listening to our Self.
Fast forward to one exhausted morning in the doctor’s office. I did it. I actually did it. I created a whole business model around working in a supporting role. Around being an admin assistant (and around NOT BEING STRESSED!) I created my own reality. I designed my life around having the kind of life I wanted. I built a business to support others in easing THEIR stress.
Shall we say it again?
HECK YEAH!
I’ve been rewarded with having what I think are the best clients in the world. I’ve been rewarded with being there for my son as he grows up. I’ve been rewarded with an enriched life because I decided to start this business that I did.
And I’ve been rewarded, so rewarded, in that I can work in sweatpants (I haven’t ironed A THING since November 30, 2007.).
HECK YEAH!
You can call it Secretary’s Day, Admin Assistant’s Day, Clerical Worker’s Day, or Administrative Professional’s Day. Whatever you choose, it’s happening on April 25, and we’re throwing a party!
Join us on Twitter and Facebook for some tips on becoming a VA, tips on using a VA, tricks of the business, shortcuts to making your life easier as you work from home, 2 new products being launched, and discounts and giveaways throughout the day – but ONLY to those who join us online for the party, and ONLY on April 25!
Full details of the Admin Assistant’s Day party here.
See ya on the 25th!
Tweetable.
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When I was first starting out as a VA, I listened to WAY too many people. I listened to them saying things about making sure to put a little chart on my website showing just how much money people can save by hiring a virtual assistant instead of an in-house assistant.
April 25 is 
