Eufemia Melendez is EVA’s resident executive assistant, specializing in both scheduling and administration for her clients. Not only does she juggle busy calendars by scheduling (and rescheduling) considerable amounts of meetings, she also schedules social media, handles data entry, uploads to Mailchimp, updates websites and blogs, as well as taking care of invoicing and research. She also has a heart of service and is willing to offer a helping hand to a fellow VA, solve a problem for a client, or give a much-needed word of encouragement.
Tell us about yourself. Where do you live? What do you like to do for fun? Any hobbies or skills?
My name is Eufemia Melendez and I live in Charlotte, NC. [My whole life my friends and family have called me Lupita, but for once this is the longest I’ve gone by being called “Eufemia” at work.] I love learning new things, especially now with all the technology and ease there is in the world to learn new things online. I have learned to crochet, knit, sew, create a website, create a business, and different softwares all by using Google and Youtube. At one point I even tried learning Italian, but since I didn’t have anyone to talk to, I stalled. If I had to pick a hobby, I would have to choose make-up. I love all the colors and variations you can create with the makeup brushes. It’s a calming experience for me.
Why/how did you become a virtual assistant?
I became a virtual assistant because I signed up for an online course called “The Free Mama Movement.” I desired to work from home and be with my three daughters at the same time. I always loved computers and learning new software and this was a great option in my eyes. My skills and knowledge are only growing since becoming a VA.
What do you love most about your job?
What I love most about working as a virtual assistant is being able to help from anywhere I am. Of course, there are tasks that would be best done on a desktop, but that’s not a limitation. I can work from my phone or iPad if needed without a problem. I love the feeling of being able to help others from the comfort of my home and in return giving them reassurance we have their backs.
What are you passionate about in the workplace?
I love learning, but most of all, I like being teachable. I like being able to get the job done and done well so no one is worrying about delegating tasks. Earning that confidence from our clients is amazing. We all think at some point that a certain task won’t get done well unless we do it ourselves and that’s not always true.
What do you bring to the table at EVA? What type of work do you do as a VA?
I do scheduling, data entry, research, travel bookings (flights & hotels), reservations, project management, email processing, invoicing, social media & blog posting, gift research & purchasing, and expense reports.
What would you tell potential clients about why they should hire a VA?
Time is valuable and you don’t have to do everything by yourself. There are people out there who care and are willing to help out. You may be under water and there is someone out there just waiting to get work handed down and eager to learn your processes to help you out.
What is something you wish people knew about being a VA?
Being a VA is eye-opening. You will speak to people who you never thought you would speak to. Just because your clients are entrepreneurs and have loads of work and people trying to get to them, they are still human beings like the rest of us. Making mistakes is also a part of life, just learn from them and keep going.
What is something surprising or interesting about yourself that people might not know?
One interesting/surprising fact about me is that I am building a house in El Salvador with my husband. Well, the house had already been built, but we decided to add an upper level and make it bigger with a balcony on 3 sides of the house. Our plan for the future is to spend 6 months in El Salvador and 6 months in North Carolina. Being a virtual assistant has given me the freedom to be able to work from around the world, as long as I have internet access and my computer. This has only increased my desire to live in El Salvador because I was not born there, but my heritage is from there and I can continue exploring and learning my roots without missing a day of work. I love what I do and hope to keep doing so in the years to come from wherever life may take me and my family.
Thank you, Eufemia!
At Emerald Virtual Assistance, our team of experienced VAs can help free up your day by taking all kinds of jobs off your plate. Take the time to save your time. Schedule a consultation today!