At the beginning of the year, I promised that I would make a better effort to speak with people instead of this non-verbal life we’ve all created via social media. Recently, Ivonne Vazquez, whom I know on Twitter as @VIVAssistants, picked up the phone to make a live connection with me. I’m so glad Ivonne beat me to it, because she’s a person everyone ought to get to know…
Ivonne made herself known to me when she commented on a post I ran on virtual assistants on my other blog, The SMB Collective. Based on this comment, I coerced her into drafting a post for me there, too, and what a great writer she is! I’m slowly learning more about Ivonne and the services she offers via her own company VIVA (VIVA Virtual Assistants), which offers virtual assistant services to entrepreneurs and companies seeking to increase capacity by outsourcing or subcontracting administrative needs.
In addition to owning a small business, Ivonne is a single mom, with a 9-year-old son at home (and two older children away at college). She is head of household, bread winner, avid gardener (who wants to be an organic farmer when she grows up), mower of lawns and amateur photographer. Hailing from New York City, of Puertorican descent, she is now living in Maine. Ivonne has deep roots in her culture, is bi-lingual, and is doing more work with Hispanic marketing consulting for small businesses. Additionally, she was recently tapped on the shoulder to be Maine’s only Spanish/English bilingual and bicultural SCORE mentor.
She is one of the most supportive, engaging and lovely people I’ve met on Twitter. The other day I was having a hissy fit about my computer on Twitter, and Ivonne picked up the phone to call and help me. How amazing is that? It was such a delightful shock to me and a wonderful gift, too.
How she manages juggling her balls is a question for Ivonne:
First, thank you Jayme for being so wonderful and asking me to be part of this great concept that is Momaraderie!
As for juggling…I find that if you don’t think about how much has to get done, you don’t become overwhelmed and it gets done! Just like the old riddle “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”; the same applies to life and business.
Organization, structure, a work schedule and self-discipline are all key in maintaining efficiency, productivity and your sanity both as a small business owner and working parent; more so if you also work from home. Adaptability and flexibility are also essential. While structure is good, being too rigid in a routine or schedule can also be overwhelming and an obstacle in accomplishing tasks and achieving goals.
I maintain business hours with VIVA, this is when I am available to the public. This doesn’t mean that I’m not, on occasion working until 1:00 a.m. or up at 5:30 checking e-mail, etc.; having a schedule gives me the opportunity to dedicate a portion of my day to my clients while also attending to my family and personal life.
Mobility in my business is also critical, and one of the reasons why I can accomplish multiple tasks and projects efficiently. As a virtual assistant, which by definition means that I can work from anywhere at any time, having a laptop, smartphone, portable hard drive, hosting plan with File Transfer Protocol (FTP) for secure file uploads/downloads, access to cloud applications and secure WiFi access allow me to work from my home office, co-working office space, local coffee shop or my car…without missing a beat.
Ivonne, great interview! I use a daily schedule, but find that, like you, I have to be flexible. Or I should say, I have to allow for the occasional wrench in my schedule so I don’t freak out! On the other hand, because I juggle so many balls in the air (the business taking the majority of my time), I find that I must have a to-do list (pages long!!), a schedule to plug those items into, and a timer to keep me from spending too much time on one thing.
How many clients do you work with at one time?
Hi, Michelle. Thank you!
Yes, any working parent, and especially one working from home must have schedules, lists and the ability to know when to work and when to focus on the family. I have manually written lists, icalendar schedules and reminders/alerts.
I find I do my best work early a.m., during school hours and late at night (this time is usually reserved for my own business needs).
Because not one of my clients is the same as the other, nor are their tasks, schedules and overall business needs the same, it is easier to accommodate multiple client priorities. This allows me to focus on each client individually, complete a project and go on to the next clients’ work or task on the list.
So, there’s been a Twitter stream about the question “how do you juggle so many balls” as an offensive question to women. Michelle, you mentioned this was by a blogger in a story about Tina Fey? I’m a tad confused, but you may’ve explained that b/c there’s no easy answer to that question (that doesn’t sound like complaining), the question is offensive.
Is that the general gist? Ivonne, is that an offensive question to you?
Hi, Jayme.
No worries, I am not so easily offended. While I did not read the blog in question what I find unfortunate is that the celebrity or public figure is not doing any of this on their own. Between receiving help via personal assistants, housekeepers, nannies, Au pairs, etc. what exactly are you juggling? Perhaps that is the point?! I’d much rather read the blog from the perspective of the Mom living just above poverty level, several children, working outside of the home, just barely making ends meet, and still managing to keep it all together.
Hope you’re still getting these comments? Michelle just provided the full link to the story. I invited your guest post on this blog about this issue! How about it?
Jayme, Jenn Whinnem shared that article originally. It’s by Caroline Howard, and is called “What’s The Rudest Thing You Can Say To A Single Working Mother” [https://bit.ly/dYH0ge]. She referenced an article written by Tina Fey (not a single working mother, by the way) called “Confessions of a Juggler” [https://nyr.kr/fywiEq], in which Ms. Fey says that the rudest question you can ask a WOMAN is “How do you juggle it all?”
I didn’t read Ms. Fey’s article, but I’m sure it’s funny! On the other hand, Ms. Howard’s article lists the reasons she believes that the question is especially rude when asked of a single working mother. My read of her article left me with the opinion that she hates the question because she’s NOT juggling it all, at least not as well as she wishes she could. She’s just doing her best, and it’s never going to be good enough, because of the struggles single working Moms have.
Thanks, Michelle. Ivonne suggested we bring the tweets to the post/comment platform to capture it all. This response puts the icing on the cake and clarifies it all. Ivonne, how about you take this on as a blog topic?? You can guest post right here!
Sounds great, Jayme. My inspiration will be the many parents that I personally know who try so very hard each day to make it all work!
Ivonne, I’m so glad I’ve gotten to know you. As Jayme said, you’re a great writer and so talented.
Hi, Jenn. Thank you! You are so sweet and one of my most favorite people on Twitter!
Another inspirational Mom here. Glad to meet you, Ivonne. I love the addage of “how do you eat an elephant” – in business and all other aspects of life. While I think that I am managing the ‘scheduling life’ thing, you are ahead of me in the journey of tech mobility. Since I am now following you on Twitter, I am sure that I will be learning from you. Thanks.
Hi, Dawn. Nice to meet you.
It is wonderful to have the technology available that makes it possible to conduct business from anywhere. Let me know if you have any questions, I’ll be happy to share what I know (or at the very least, a link to more information). Thank you for the follow…I’m following you, too.
LOVE the new site, Jayme!
Muchos gracias, mi amiga!
Hey, that was a good and interesting post
Hi,
Nowadays Virtual Assistants are becoming a part of business .The delivery of Services are mainly made by using latest technologies. Not in service also for communication channels technologies as been updated. They can handle wide variety of support services through a single point of contact.And the best part is that you can relax and enjoy your vacation or holidays while all your works are done by your virtual assistant. Is this great?
Virtual assistant can make one’s life easier and better!
John V
virtual assistant
Hi,
Nowadays Virtual Assistants are becoming a part of business .The delivery of Services are mainly made by using latest technologies. Not in service also for communication channels technologies as been updated. They can handle wide variety of support services through a single point of contact.And the best part is that you can relax and enjoy your vacation or holidays while all your works are done by your virtual assistant. Is this great?
Virtual assistant can make one’s life easier and better!
John V
virtual assistant
I appreciate you sharing this story with us.. i enjoyed reading it. Thanks!