We were lucky to catch up with Martha Ocasio recently and have shared our conversation below.
Martha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard
I think it’s really important to find out your client’s organizational style. As a virtual assistant, I do more than simply help clients stay organized on my end, I try to help them figure out and implement systems that work for them. For example, I work with a client who easily becomes overwhelmed by details, which is something I enjoy doing. Whether I’m working with her in her home to organize a room or managing her inbox, I try to provide a roadmap for her into unfamiliar territory. I think one of the key elements is getting clients to sit down and work through their mindset around organization, especially if it’s daunting or unfamiliar for them. One size doesn’t fit all. You cannot simply tell someone “get organized” and show them how to do it, because everyone thinks differently in terms of organization. You have to help them through their mindset, coach them through the process.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a virtual assistant, event coordinator and social media manager. I enjoy working with small business owners to determine their vision/brand/style and bring their ideas to life. I had been working as an Admin/Executive assistant for over 6 years, managing teams and departments and was thinking of striking out on my own. I asked God for a sign and a friend called me up and asked me for help. That’s when I knew I was onto something. I left my corporate job and have worked with small businesses to help them get organized, whether it’s in their social media, planning events to promote their business or simply managing their calendars and inboxes to make sure they don’t miss important details. I’m passionate about helping others get and stay organized and I love taking care of the small details.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I worked in customer service for many years, in call centers, where you’re constantly being watched over and timed on your calls. I learned the importance of urgency, finding a problem and solving it quickly. While that urgency mindset works well in a call center, as a business owner, it’s not the best mindset. Many times as a small business owner, because the business is yours and clients are yours, you’re taking the time to build relationships. Relationships take time, they aren’t built in one call or one meeting. Also, unlearning that it’s ok to take my time to answer a question, or solve a problem.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2016, at 42 years old, I was three classes shy of a master’s degree in Marketing when I was hospitalized. I developed a headache that wouldn’t go away for days. The pain was so severe I was getting sick and ended up in an urgent care clinic, where I was given medicine for the nausea. I still got sick and was sent to the ER immediately, where the doctors ran a CT scan/MRI on me. I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my brain and would spend the majority of the year in and out of the hospital One of the nerves in one of my eyes was impacted, so I was seeing double. I couldn’t drive or see a screen. I had to drop out of school to get better. After I finished my year on blood thinners, my mindset was changed. I decided life was too short to not pursue my passion of marketing, so I found an opportunity that would allow me to do it. I began working as an administrator and learning how to implement my craft, which is also when I discovered joy in organization and event planning.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriasgirl1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/martha-ocasio
Image Credits
The event photos are credited to Avstat Media.