Good for you for sticking up to that internet entrepreneur. I don’t see how being an assistant – which means “a person who assists or gives aid and support” makes one subordinate to anyone, including the person the assistant supports. But, then again, there will always be those who just won’t get it, no matter what.

I, too, get tired of trying to educate the public about virtual assistance. Because of all the misinformation out there, it’s a never ending battle. If people who are not virtual assistants (VAs) would stop writing about something (VAs) they know nothing about, it would be a big help .

I recently had an online argument with an internet entrepreneur about what a virtual assistant is, does and should be. The crux of his argument was that the word “assistant” makes a VA a subordinate to those she works for. The crux of my argument was that the word “virtual” skews the meaning of the word “assistant,” and therefore, a VA is not a subordinate unless she says she is. Needless to say, he’s not my ideal client, we’ll never work together and he’ll never “get it”.

Keep up the good work, Carol!

=>Donna Caissie, Virtual Assistant
ExtraOrdinary Assistance
va@extra-assist.com