Tomorrow morning I leave for Houston. I’m getting very excited. It will be nice to re-acquaint myself with some VAs I met last year as well as meet some new ones. I’ve had a little trouble packing. Houston will be in the upper 80’s during the day and all my clothes suitable for that weather are summery-looking. Do people in Houston wear fall colors when they don’t really experience fall?? I’ll let you know.
I got a call today from a potential client looking for a word processing job to be completed for him. I asked him how he got my name and he said from the dvvaa website. He said he kept calling VAs and getting answering machines. I was the first live person he talked to and he wants me to quote him. I wonder if he was calling part-time VAs. It certainly worked out well for me that I was here to answer the phone! I don’t even have time for this project upon my return, so I’m subcontracting it out to Corie .
I’ve discovered a techie thing I love. A phone headset. Yeah, I know, people have been using them for years, but my husband Ed got a nice set comped from work and I’ve discovered something. A bit of personal revelation here…from the time I was a child, I have always been really nervous before making an important phone call. When I was a social worker and had to call clients, other social workers, family members, etc. daily, I got a little better at it, but I still got nervous. I still find myself a little nervous before I dial a phone. I’m not sure why. But you know what? The headset has a psychological benefit that I don’t get nervous. I think because my hands are free, I feel like I’m having a conversation with someone rather than making a “phone call.” Yeah, I know, it’s weird. But, hey, it works!
I got to have coffee with a client yesterday. It’s rare I get to meet a client in person. It’s nice to be able to connect face-to-face. I wish I could do it with more of my clients, but I’d be flying a lot to do that!
I’m off to Houston tomorrow. I will be back in my office Monday morning. I have a long to-do list for that day!