This helps my business?

Often people ask me, "what kind of things do you do for your clients?" I'm inclined to rattle off the software that I'm proficient at, the number of years I've been a VA, and various professional achievements. In my practice, it happens to be that much of what I handle are tasks that they don't teach in business school or college. Much of what I do is handle "personal" business that keeps my clients from being able to devote their undistracted attention to the business.

Here's a brief list of "personal" tasks that I've taken off my clients' shoulders just this month:

• Interpreting a second grader's reading levels from three data bases
• Putting holds on library books appropriate to the second grader's level
• Enrolling my client in continuing education courses
• Ordering prescriptions from the client's pharmacy
• E-mailing the client's doctor
• Updating medical records for the client's children
• Rescheduling client appointment with her financial advisor
• Inserting children's school year events into the client's calendar
• Enrolling client's children in swim and gymnastics classes
• Canceling client's eFax account
• Finding refrigerator parts for client
• Check business voice mail
• Confirming trip itineraries
• Updating pet information with the client's vet
• Finding a reliable photo-to-digital service

No, these are not usually listed with business support. However, by taking these from my client's plate, you must agree I've enable lots of time to be devoted to the business and after hours to the family. And I love being able to assist in these ways.