In this episode of VA Diaries, we feature a talented virtual assistant from Singapore who has been in this line of service for 10 years now. She has been actively collaborating with VA-SG from day one, and there is no shortage of dramatic stories that she has had to endure with since the beginning of her journey as a virtual assistant.
Disclaimer: *Names of characters have been altered to protect the lives of the innocent victims or guilty perpetrators. Any resemblance to actual persons, living and hopefully not dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Story written by Sufiyani D. Suteri*
I’ve been in the virtual assistant line of service for a decade now. My journey began many years ago when I was caught between having to juggle my twins and the lack of income in the household.
Everything seemed to be falling apart until I came across the possibility of becoming a VA. I was good with my organisational skills and managed to pick up some document control tips on my previous job, so this opportunity seemed fitting at that time.
Ten years on, my network has grown. Having joined VA-SG, I feel like I’ve risen to a new pedestal in my life. My little world with my family and professional life just gets more interesting by the day.
When I say interesting, I mean that as no laughing matter.
While I often have clients who are a breath of fresh air, there are times where I feel like giving up on this line of service. It takes a lot of patience, tolerance, and punching my pillow to gather myself to continue on days when things just don’t seem to fall in place.
You would too if you had to face clients these.
I have come across several insane bosses. Demands for late night pizzas, and on one instance, the nerve of a client to deduct $5 from my pay because he needed to buy toilet paper as an emergency and didn’t have the cash on him. The reason why I got the butt of his toilet-issue? He was on the way to meet me for the first time and claimed that in his nervousness of working with a VA for the first time, he needed to run to the loo.
Really, now?
In other not so ha-ha moments (in retrospect, that is), there were cases where I had to face a lot of unnecessary drama. I recall a half-hour long discussion about why I should use a Macbook instead of a PC for my work, because, as per this client, “it’s just better”. It didn’t matter that I was using the same software. Plus, as a VA I was already aware of the difference between the two operating systems – and had already worked to fix any possible issues a long time ago. Nothing would convince him that it was not going to cause any issues in the long run.
I clearly didn’t work with that client for long.
Collaborating with teammates can be another hard nut to crack. The women I work with are, more often than not, loveable, fun and very caring towards each other. Unfortunately, all hell breaks loose when it’s the time of the month. And as theory has it, women tend to “sync” up their monthlies when they are around each other too much. Long story short, you can just imagine the mood-swings and tantrums that come at one go when we’re at work.
Still, I’ve not left my calling as a VA. It comes as a blessing wrapped in a lot of layers of hardship. If you have the patience and perseverance, determination and passion, anyone can join this line of work and create a wonderful life for themselves and ease the tensions of so many others.
I clearly have it in me to handle these trials and tribulations and to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Do you?
A MORE IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This fictional piece of work was written in jest to celebrate April Fool’s Day in a light-hearted manner. No such person above exists. We truly cherish every moment with all our clients and teammates.
Story written by Sufiyani D. Suteri*
I’ve been in the virtual assistant line of service for a decade now. My journey began many years ago when I was caught between having to juggle my twins and the lack of income in the household.
Everything seemed to be falling apart until I came across the possibility of becoming a VA. I was good with my organisational skills and managed to pick up some document control tips on my previous job, so this opportunity seemed fitting at that time.
Ten years on, my network has grown. Having joined VA-SG, I feel like I’ve risen to a new pedestal in my life. My little world with my family and professional life just gets more interesting by the day.
When I say interesting, I mean that as no laughing matter.
While I often have clients who are a breath of fresh air, there are times where I feel like giving up on this line of service. It takes a lot of patience, tolerance, and punching my pillow to gather myself to continue on days when things just don’t seem to fall in place.
You would too if you had to face clients these.
I have come across several insane bosses. Demands for late night pizzas, and on one instance, the nerve of a client to deduct $5 from my pay because he needed to buy toilet paper as an emergency and didn’t have the cash on him. The reason why I got the butt of his toilet-issue? He was on the way to meet me for the first time and claimed that in his nervousness of working with a VA for the first time, he needed to run to the loo.
Really, now?
In other not so ha-ha moments (in retrospect, that is), there were cases where I had to face a lot of unnecessary drama. I recall a half-hour long discussion about why I should use a Macbook instead of a PC for my work, because, as per this client, “it’s just better”. It didn’t matter that I was using the same software. Plus, as a VA I was already aware of the difference between the two operating systems – and had already worked to fix any possible issues a long time ago. Nothing would convince him that it was not going to cause any issues in the long run.
I clearly didn’t work with that client for long.
Collaborating with teammates can be another hard nut to crack. The women I work with are, more often than not, loveable, fun and very caring towards each other. Unfortunately, all hell breaks loose when it’s the time of the month. And as theory has it, women tend to “sync” up their monthlies when they are around each other too much. Long story short, you can just imagine the mood-swings and tantrums that come at one go when we’re at work.
Still, I’ve not left my calling as a VA. It comes as a blessing wrapped in a lot of layers of hardship. If you have the patience and perseverance, determination and passion, anyone can join this line of work and create a wonderful life for themselves and ease the tensions of so many others.
I clearly have it in me to handle these trials and tribulations and to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Do you?
A MORE IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This fictional piece of work was written in jest to celebrate April Fool’s Day in a light-hearted manner. No such person above exists. We truly cherish every moment with all our clients and teammates.
All jokes apart … if you have what it takes in you to become a VA, contact us today!