Hi! My name is Esther Fleming and I am the owner of In Focus Virtual Assistance, LLC.
Before starting my VA practice in 2005, I had served almost 6 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, worked briefly with a government contracting firm, and finally as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State. I’ve managed the administrative operations of groups as small as 3-person teams to as large as a 300-person unit.
After the birth of my second son (4 months after September 11th), my entrepreneurial spirit was awakened when I discovered the Virtual Assistance industry. For years I’d been “support personnel,” expertly managing all the behind-the-scenes details and Virtual Assistance spoke to everything I was already doing except without the commute or the office politics, among other things. With Virtual Assistance, I saw a way to translate the various skills that I had honed over the years into a framework that allowed for a more flexible working environment.
After successfully completing Assist U’s comprehensive, 20-week Virtual Training Program, I launched In Focus Virtual Assistance, LLC. Why “In Focus”? The name spoke to both where I was in my life and what I wanted to do for my clients. My personal and professional goals were more “In Focus” and I wanted to support small business owners in getting their personal and professional priorities “In Focus” as well.
On a personal level, I like simplicity. Some of my simple pleasures include riding bikes around the neighborhood with my sons, designing a dream home with my husband, and chatting on the phone with friends spread across the country. That isn’t to say I don’t have a bit of an adventurous spirit (ask me about jumping out of perfectly good airplane in an effort to earn my “Jump Wings” or camping out beside the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon).
My desire is to become a trusted partner for your success. People often say, “Esther, you’re so quiet.” I’m a listener. My goal is to understand my client’s business and the direction she is trying to take it. As our relationship grows, I listen and observe so that I can take care of the little things as well as have a view of my client’s “big picture” so that together, we can accomplish great things!
Approach to Working With Clients
At In Focus VA, my goal is to help clients succeed. My aim is to step into your business and become a trusted member of your team. But only after I’ve had a chance to listen and understand. I want to hear what your immediate needs are and what your long-term goals are for your business. I want to understand how you work best and what I can do to best support you.
I strive to stand for the client’s best interests. I do that from the outset by ensuring that working with In Focus VA is the right fit for your business. After an initial consultation, we’ll have a more in-depth discussion to explore whether In Focus VA is the right fit for your business.
When we begin working together, we will review your to do list and try to tackle your most pressing items. Then we will review your current workflow and see where improvements can be made, what systems can be implemented to begin to tackle all those issues that led you to virtual assistance in the first place. The goal will be to begin to streamline your business operations.
As we continue to work together, we will check in frequently, via phone or email. This helps me to learn more about your business and how I can step in to help you manage your administrative workload. Frequent, open communication is key to a successful VA/client relationship.
Education & Training
- AssistU Graduate
- M.A. Political Science, Howard University – Washington, D.C.
- B.S. Political Science, U.S. Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs, CO
- PracticePaySolutions.com Certified Strategist
