One on One with Louise Feddema - Virtual assistant
COURTNEY SHERWOOD Columbian staff writer January 29, 2007; Page E1
Most people have never heard of a Virtual Assistant. What does it mean?
A VA is a highly trained office support person who doesn't normally work face-to-face with people, although I do some work with people face-to-face locally.
I've cared for the business affairs of a few local deployed soldiers. I have worked with up to three soldiers at once, right now I have only one. These are not 18-year-old kids with no responsibilities in the world, but adults with ex-wives and bills coming in. I took care of the leasing of a house for one soldier, plus all of his property bill paying and such. Others, I usually get their snail mail, scan it and attach it to an e-mail, so that things can be dealt with in a timely manner. This work has been done at a much reduced rate, when I have charged at all.
I have a couple of attorney clients, who send me (audio) files from California; Usually I just transcribe depositions and such. They save a lot of money by not paying the hourly rates for a full time employee in California - and they only pay for those hours I work.
I'm preparing an employee handbook for a networking company. I'm doing a directory for an archdiocese. I have an artist from California that I just did business cards for.
The thing I would prefer doing more than anything on earth is my art, of course, but I've never been able to support myself on strictly those products.
Tell us about your art.
I've done everything from stone sculpting to ancient forms of painting. I used to do mostly stuff in acrylic, but in the last few years I've been doing computer-aided art.
What's the path that led you to start your virtual business?
A few years ago, I was involved in a business with a couple of partners. It was fun, but it grew to the point where we had employees; it got complicated. I like the start of a business, but when you grow and start hiring people, it gets less fun.
I got out of the business I had started with my partners, and I took some time to evaluate what to do next.
At one point in the past, I did some project work for SEH America as a temp, and I enjoyed it. I decided to find a way that I could do projects for people, a way I could use all this wealth of knowledge I've obtained through my life. I took some course work on consulting, and one of the people I met through the course work had hired a Virtual Assistant. I got really excited about the idea.
Lets learn a little history about you -- What was your first job?
I worked for Equifax. At the time, it was called Retail Credit Company. We did background investigations and we investigated some insurance claims. I was 19 years old. We did things like count the number of people in a theater to see if a claim about lost business was accurate.
What did you learn there?
Organization and discretion. Everything I learned at Equifax, I can say I use today. From filing and record-keeping to understanding privacy and discretion. I cannot think of one thing I learned there that I haven't used. I don't have an actual IBM typewriter anymore, but I sure have the keyboarding skills.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field today?
Just be confident in your skills. Brush up your skills so you have a right to be confident.
What career choice have you made that makes you the most proud?
In my first career path, I worked with money and eventually became chief financial officer for Interstate Commerce Corp. Then I decided to quit and go back to college to study art. I had always wanted to be an artist. It was a scary decision to make, but it was a good one. Now I always make sure there are creative aspects to my work.
What business decision do you regret most?
Getting involved with friends as partners. It put a huge strain on us. The choice had to be made to end my involvement with the business to hold on to the friendship.
What do you do when you're not working?
My husband and I never vacation - we're both workaholics. I play with my dogs. I have Harlequin Great Danes. I used to show them locally. I also have three grandchildren now, and I enjoy them.
What does your husband do?
He owns his own business, Fast Specialities. It's a brick-and-mortar store - and dirt and oil and grease. He specializes in auto racing technology here in Vancouver.