Virtual Assistants with Laura Renner

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:44 — 29.5MB)

In this episode, Alay and Laura discuss:

The #1 thing lawyers need to know when exploring virtual services.
Energy management and time management.
When a virtual assistant is a good fit, and when it isn’t.
Levels of delegation to find freedom for yourself.

Key Takeaways:

You need to know what gives you strength and what gives you energy, and that will help guide you to what you should be delegating first.
If you’re not ready to hire at your solo firm but need additional help, consider a virtual assistant. They are able to do more than you think.
Signing a client should not be delegated to a virtual assistant – nobody knows your business better than you.
Using a virtual assistant is a great way to get used to working with someone else without the expense and responsibility of hiring a full-time assistant.

Tweetable Moments:

“I call it energy management instead of time management. It might only take 30 seconds, but if it totally drains you, or makes you put off doing anything else, then it’s taking longer than that because it’s costing you energy.” — Laura Renner
“Having the virtual assistant collaborate with you to take the heavy lifting off of your shoulders, to build your process for you, and document it for you is a huge value add.” — Alay Yajnik
“Be really clear about expectations and how you want to work with your virtual assistant. Remember, delegation is not abdication.” — Alay Yajnik
“Virtual assistants can be fractional for time, but you can also fractionalize expertise rather than trying to find one person who can do it all.” — Laura Renner

About Laura Renner:

Laura Renner, a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, founded Freedom Maker Virtual Services out of a passion to help small business owners and military families. As a small business owner herself, she understands the stress and challenges that come with being a business owner and also the difficulties that military spouses have in building a career when they may be transferred at a moment’s notice. By founding Freedom Makers, Laura is able to create freedom for business owners AND military spouses.

Laura graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in English and a minor in Chinese-Mandarin. She served as a Public Affairs Officer before leaving the Air Force to earn an International MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In the Air Force Reserve, she serves as a Force Support Officer, which manages personnel programs.

Laura has worked for nearly twenty years dealing directly with people in foreign and public relations, education, and human resources. Throughout her career, she has studied people — what drives us, what inspires us and knows how to help people reach their potential. When Laura is not working to grow Freedom Makers, she very much enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and having story-worthy adventures.