My name is Sylvie and I am owner of Optim Office, a French (Paris) based VA business. Prior to that, I held various EA/PA positions at board level for over 15 years. My decision to go to EA/PA to VA stems from another big project to adopt a child.
I have been working on the VA project since early November 2009. It took me quite a while to register my business (Dec 2009), set up a website (Feb 2010) and a blog (March 2010).
I am so excited to join this wonderful forum and connect with such great professionals.
Looking forward to learning and contributing,
Sylvie

Welcome to the group Sylvie. I'm sure you will find the boards and the members here are a virtual fount of information which will certainly help you out along the new path you have chosen. I'm sure you will be an asset to the boards as well with all your experience. Best wishes as you begin your VA business and congratulations on the decision to adopt a child. It is truly a special gift you are giving some lucky child!

__________________
Serita Diana, the List 2 Close Assistant
REVA Academy

Hi Sylvie,
Welcome to VAF. It sounds like you have a great background to becoming a VA. I wish you all the best in your new venture. I am adopted myself and so know what a wonderful thing you are doing for a child.

__________________
Claire Baber ~ Horizon Virtual Assistance

Hi Sylvie - Welcome to the Forum and best of luck with your new ventures.

Welcome to the forum! I look forward to having even MORE contact with you. I hope your business is thriving soon!

__________________
Lisa Olinda of Olinda Services
Keeping you on the path to success!
www.olindaservices.com

Bonjour, Sophie! Bienvenue au Virtual Assistant Forums. Je m'appelle Tia et, comme vous, je suis inconnue au forum.

(It's too late in the day to speak more French, it's been awhile I spoke it fluently).

This is a fantastic place to work and bond with fellow VA's. I've gotten so many wonderful tips and hints, and am starting to be able to give back some advice. I hope you enjoy the Forum as much as I have.

Cheers,

__________________
Circle Assistants

Welcome Sylvie! You have chosen a wonderful forum for great advice, information, resources, and friendship. The members are very supportive and provide an extremely valuable service to us "newbies". Plan on spending lots of time reading the forums as they are very addictive.

Good luck with your VA business and with your adoption.

From a fellow Sylvia.

__________________
Sylvia Mesaros
The Alliances

Thank you all for your welcome messages!

__________________
Sylvie Guiziou
Optim Office

Hi Sylvie, welcome to the boards. Everyone here has been so friendly and helpful, you will soon find yourself deep in the depths of things you thought you knew but didn't.
Welcome and good luck.

__________________
VA-Karen
www.elite-va.com

Hi Sylvie,
Welcome and good luck. I really like it that there are quite a few European VAs now on this board.
Hilde

Thank you all for your kind messages.

__________________
Sylvie Guiziou
Optim Office

Hi again Sylvie... We have created a new Regional group - European VAs - we are just 4 members so far... and don't have any great plans... yet! ;-) But it would be nice to be connected with everyone on our time zone! Bonne journee, Donna

__________________
Virtual Assistant in France
www.farmhouse.fr/donna

Hi Sylvie,

Welcome to the forum. Your well on your way to success read, read and read and It will benefit you and your business soak up all the information.
Good Luck!

__________________
Destiny Davis
Destinys VA for You!

Hello Sylvie,
I am also european, spanish, and struggling to develope this business in Spain where entrepreneurs are a little reluctant to virtual working. I like to hear there are other europeans in this forums, as we have a common regulations it will be useful to share information and impressions between us.
Hope to hear from you.
Luisa

Welcome Sylvie - I too am new to the board and working on launching my business it has been great on VAF for me so far everybody is willing to help in anyway they can so take advantage of the awesome information and great support on the board.