Web URL: www.RescueDeskVA.com
Years in Business: 5
Type of Business: marketing/communications support and high-level executive assistance
Works: 95% virtual. We occasionally go on-site with a local client if a special project requires it.
Facebook Page
LinkedIn
Twitter @virtualfastlane

Ruth: It’s great to have Rachel Rasmussen of Rescue Desk Virtual Assistant Service here today. Welcome. Tell us about your business and what you and your team do there.

Rachel: Rescue Desk was launched in early 2008, and we provide virtual assistant services in the areas of marketing, communications and executive-level support. We primarily work with business owners and busy executives who need to get high-level support tasks off their to-do list; however we also partner with associations and non-profits to assist in areas such as communications, marketing and event planning.

We're a bit unlike other virtual assistant businesses, in that we have both a few employees and a few independent contractors as part of our firm. While each client has a dedicated project leader, our structure allows us to provide an entire "team" of experts to support our clients (not just a single "virtual executive assistant").

The types of projects we tackle vary, but generally fall under the categories of executive support (special projects, calendar maintenance, developing administrative processes and systems), project management (working with vendors, meeting/event-planning assistance, etc.) as well as communication and marketing (writing, editing, graphic design, social media maintenance, e-mail campaigns, etc.).

Just about any administrative or marketing task that we can put a process, system or calendar behind is fair game!

Ruth: I love that your team is a mix of employees and independent contractors. It’s a fine example of a business model that works well to meet your vision for your business and fully serves your clients. Would you share what led you to consider a virtual profession and how you got started?

Rachel: Rescue Desk is a culmination of all my years of experience in publishing, marketing and communications. It was a way to combine all the things I loved doing (creative work, project management, marketing, communications, professional partnerships) into a much-needed service to help a specific group of people I LOVED spending time with ... business owners!

The clincher to launching Rescue Desk came when I found myself at a career crossroads. Most of my background was working in small business (the largest company I worked for had about 40 people). But I took a professional leap and found myself working the marketing department of a large technical college. While the position certainly had the potential to push my career up the corporate ladder, I realized I simply wasn't "built" to work in a cubicle nor be a small cog in a big wheel. I was much happier working in small-business settings and having the chance to think and act "outside the box." I needed to make a positive impact on everyone in my professional sphere, not just be one small piece of a much larger puzzle.

The experience of working in such a large organization was the kick in the pants I needed to launch out on my own in order to do the things I loved doing for people I thought my expertise could help the most -- the owners of small- to mid-sized companies.

So, I jumped the proverbial corporate bus (while it was moving... !), and I haven't looked back! Today I get to spend my days doing what I love. There's nothing better than collaborating with my fellow business owners to help them grow and reach their goals, and leading a small team of highly dedicated project experts here at Rescue Desk to push our clients to the next level

Ruth: Along the way have you had a mentor or sponsor to support, guide, encourage and open doors for you?

Rachel: I've been truly lucky in that I've had the support of family and friends through this journey of entrepreneurship. I can easily say I would not be where I am today without them!

I also work with a professional business coach, which has proven to be one of the most invaluable investments I've made in my business. She holds me accountable, pushes me outside my comfort zone, and encourages my big dreams. But, I also believe you can learn something from *everyone* you meet, so I work very hard to surround myself with people who can teach me something -- whether that be clients, strategic partners, or even my own employees!

But, it's very much a two-way street...I always work to give more than I receive. Nobody can be successful in a silo, so one of the surest ways to succeed at running a small business is to surround yourself with people smarter than you and establish and maintain good relationships with everyone.

Ruth: If you could share a nugget of insight or bit of advice for someone considering a virtual career such as yours what would that be?

Rachel: I'm often contacted by people looking to provide virtual administrative services, and 9 times out of 10, it is their first foray into working for themselves. The one piece of advice I always give is to treat it like a BUSINESS.

It's irrelevant if an aspiring VA is looking for just one or two clients or if someone wants to build a company with employees and thousands of customers. Making the transition from employee to business owner is difficult, but vitally important. Presumably, you already are an expert at the specific services you'll be providing, so spend time learning how to run and grow a company. Learn accounting, sales, marketing, industry best practices, leadership, and everything else that's scary for first-time business owners!

Also, get used to living with uncertainty. It's simply part of the business-owner package; no matter what you do, it will ALWAYS be part of your business life. But, you can either fight it or make friends with it. Make friends with it ... you might be surprised at how innovation is spurred when you're constantly facing something new and unexpected!

Ruth: Great suggestions, Rachel. Do you have any suggestions for someone searching for a virtual professional such as yourself?

Rachel: When prospective clients talk to us about our services, I often spend a lot of time educating them about *how* to work with a virtual assistant firm like ours, and *how* to truly utilize an expert administrative consultant.

It's easy to talk about the types of tasks we tackle for our clients -- e-mail campaigns, social media maintenance, graphic design, copy writing, Website maintenance, and all the other marketing and executive-level tasks that needs to happen on a regular basis to keep business humming! But, education is as much a part of our discussion as anything else.

We teach clients how to delegate (and how to realize the benefits of delegation); we teach them how to grow their business by incorporating systems, processes and calendars; we teach them how to use some of the Web-based communication and project-management tools to be more productive (and how they're not so scary!); and we teach how to truly form a working partnership with an administrative consultant or virtual assistant.

We 100% understand that our clients are making an investment in their business when they work with Rescue Desk, and we take that investment very seriously. We take great pride in being chosen to help our clients. However, nothing makes us happier than when, a few months into a working relationship, our clients tease us that, "Now I'm busier than ever!" ... all because what we're doing is WORKING and they're GROWING!

Ruth: Gentle education in embracing and working with virtual professionals does seem to be part of the territory in this line of work. When everything clicks and the client has that “ah-ha!” moment it’s so rewarding. Any last thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?

Rachel: Running and growing Rescue Desk is, hands down, the most professionally rewarding thing I've ever done. It's exciting to see the industry maturing, innovating, and playing a key role in the business landscape.

In addition, I can't express strongly enough how proud we are here at Rescue Desk to truly play a role in our client's success. It's literally written into our company Vision Statement that we "...positively impact every person who crosses our firm’s path..." and to be living that vision every day is an honor.

Ruth: I’m happy to say I’ve been one of those people that has crossed your firm’s path in a shared project and can attest to the positive impact in the experience. Thanks so being my guest, Rachel. It’s always a pleasure to talk with you.

As natural extension of the education Rescue Desk gives our clients about delegation (and how it's a skill that can be learned!), Rachel is inviting you to receive a free resource guide, "25 Days to Delegation." It's available from the home page of her website.



About The Naked VA Blog
-------------------------------------
The Naked VA (www.thenakedva.com) is authored by Ruth Martin of Maplewood Virtual Assistance. The blog and site are focused toward virtual professionals of varying niche specialties with topics and resources for working online.