From Stefan and Loubelle

If life is duty dare it, if life is a burden, bear it. If life is a thorn crown, wear it. Though it breaks thy heart and body in pain, though the burden bears the down, close thy lips and stand the pain, first the cross and then the crown.

At around 2 AM today, my buddy up session with Stefan started. Stefan is one of the general task virtual assistants. Like me, he is also a trainee, and is currently in his 17^th day in the company. Even though he was waiting for a call from his client, he still took time out to show me the day to day tasks he does for his client who owns a company that processes peoples' insurance benefits/claims. Stefan had to make weekly/ monthly reports, sort out emails, discard solicitations/ advertisements, and forward necessary emails to his clients's other employees. He would sometimes make invitations, or do some transcription. His client would send him files that look like minutes of meetings scanned straight out of a notebook. He had to make sense of it and write it in a more understandable format. Sometimes he gets files containing instructions on how to do a complicated-looking spreadsheet file or, a list of jumbled and /or missing information such as email addresses, which he had to sort out and fill up. These tasks could be so tedious that it would sometimes take him several days to complete it. Stefan emphasised that tasks vary depending on the client so I just have to wait and see what my client would be like.

By 4 AM I sat in between Loubelle and Tita Presci and listened as they described their respective clients. Loubelle's tasks with her clientare mostly email related. She manages the client's campaigns, sorts out and forward email messages, answers Skype messages and downloads and uploads videos of the client's campaign. Her tasks are not that complicated but they are pretty tedious. There were times when she had to manage the email accounts of Norbert's associates too. Loubelle has to be always alert and meticulous in doing her tasks.

Judging from what I've observed, virtual assistants have to be well-rounded, capable of multi-tasking, have strong desire for continued excellence and must have genuine the desire to help. I've noticed that virtual assistants are pretty much exposed to delicate and secured information and trade secrets of their clients. Its indeed very important that they are able to observe and maintain confidentiality. Looking at Stefan's and Loubelle's tasks, I can say that I still got a lot to learn in order for me to become an efficient virtual assistant. I have to strive to be one...first the cross and then the crown