My current #1 VA, Vickie Smith has a storied career that is simply unmatched by any Virtual Assistant in the industry.  In addition to 20 years experience in the mortgage business she has the unique perspective of being the personal assistant to Tony Robbins for three years.  Here is how that experience translates into results for her clients.

MI: Vickie you have one of the most interesting backgrounds of any VA I have ever interviewed. Please share with us a bit about that and how it has prepared you for your current VA career…

VS: It’s definitely been an interesting journey. I was a mortgage loan officer for 20 years. I was always a proponent of the “challenged buyer”. There is so much reward in helping someone achieve their dreams. I then switched to training and coaching agents, introducing them to virtual tours and neighborhood websites .During that time, I also traveled with Tony Robbins, as his personal assistant. Now that was a motivating and amazing experience! I will always cherish the friendships and experiences from those years. I returned to work with agents, bringing them dynamic drip marketing with SharperAgent. The combined experience has deepened my level of flexibility, resourcefulness, awareness and grateful abundance. I am a firm believer in “CANI” , Constant And Never-ending Improvement ! It’s been an amazing adventure in multi-tasking!

MI: When you started out working as a VA, what was your specialty? What is it now and why did you choose it?

VS: Because I have so much experience, my first thoughts were to be all things to everybody. I was getting a lot done but headed toward a quick burn out. I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I thought I would. Then, I heard a session with this “Mr. .Internet” guy, about designing your fabulous career. (chuckle) It was a light bulb moment. I now specialize in drip marketing . I love that I can be creative, selective and organized. I get to choose who I work with. I am constantly adding new resources to my abilities. It is so rewarding to help an agent take their business to a higher level.

MI: You have had exposure to thousands of real estate sales people in the last few years, why do you like working with them so much?

VS: I find that most of the people in this industry are “people people”. It’s never boring . The majority of the agents really do have their client’s best interest in mind. They also understand the benefits of teamwork.

MI: You work with a number of high-profile people in the industry. How does this help you help your other clients?

VS: Because my clients are scattered across the country, there is a multitude of variety. They also work with various target markets. I believe that success leaves clues. The higher profile agents are very generous in sharing their ideas and strategies with others. Many of them have already been there and done that, and have the scars and successes to prove it. I can assist other agents to avoid the normal pitfalls and challenges.

MI: How do you manage flying all over the country (helping me at my sessions :o) and doing extensive VA work —don’t you ever get overloaded?

VS: That’s my fun specialty, assisting you with the sessions, and managing the telecoaching classes. I love watching the agents react when they realize they can actually “earn more, work less and enjoy life”. (I heard that somewhere!) When agents attend a session, they learn so much that it’s very exciting, and they need guidance on taking action. In the telecoaching classes, we coach them thru the process of integrating what they learned. Being part of the telecoaching is a wonderful process. I feel like that the combination of information and interaction empowers them to design their fabulous career.

This is my fabulous career! To manage it effectively, I’m selective about who I work with. I have systems in place to manage my work. I use www.gotomypc.com and www.SharperAgent.com to work while traveling. I also do some of my prep work during the flying time.

MI: What is the ideal profile of a real estate professional in terms of working well with a VA?

VS: A real estate professional that is: open to “outside the box” thinking, willing to get past “control”, and has a sense of clarity on the direction that want to go in. Remember what you hired them for. I’m always going the extra mile, so I end up doing more than what I contract for. The “ideal” agent respects a VA and what they can do together as a team.

MI: Is there any type of agent personality profile that just won’t do well with VA’s no matter what?

VS: Probably a “high maintenance “ agent. If they believe that they are the only one that can do it right, they need to continue to do it themselves. Unfortunately, they’ll continue to get the same results.

MI: What can the sales professional do to maximize the benefits of working with VAs?

VS: Have an open mind and really communicate openly. Acknowledge that if you are asking for additional VA work, beyond what you contracted for, that it will cost extra.

MI: Last Question: If you were to give just one piece of advice to REALTORS thinking of hiring a VA, what would it be?

VS: Be certain of what your outcome is and communicate it clearly. Be sure to share any budget restrictions,local rules, etc so a plan can be put in place that works for the team.

MI: Vickie, thank you for sharing your unique background and perspective on Virtual Assistants. And also, I want to personally thank you for being such great support in my own business —you have done a wonderful job in helping me and my students achieve our fabulous career!

VS: I’m the one that is thankful! I’m so grateful to have my career of choice. I team up with some amazing people. We have mutual respect for each others talents. I have time to enjoy my wonderful family and friends. Gotta love it!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Vickie has been on my VA team since last January and I can honestly say I have never worked with someone so consistently dedicated and positive.  She is now my #1 VA, is on every one of my telecoaching calls and travels with me to assist at nearly all of my events.

To learn more about Vickie and her services just send her an e-mail at vsmith@russer.com or call her at 757-547-3140. Always remember to do a thorough due-diligence before hiring any kind of assistant. This interview is part of an ongoing series of VA profiles designed to help you find the perfect VA or VA team to keep you get organized, profitable, and in control of your business.