4 ms·

Get 1 actual assistant (virtual assistant) and don't worry about any of the edge cases that Siri hasn't figured out yet. VA's can proofread docs for you, sit on

Get 1 actual assistant (virtual assistant) and don't worry about any of the edge cases that Siri hasn't figured out yet. VA's can proofread docs for you, sit on hold with Lufthansa until they get an agent on the line then conference you in, order your groceries for delivery, make and update medical appointments and in some cases, send thank you letters to friends and family, do research on xyz topic of your liking, and roughly prepare your expenses, receipts and tax paperwork before handing it off to a CPA. There's also the added benefit of interacting with (and financially supporting) an actual human who is much more capable than Siri. And then there's cachet of having your 'assistant' run interference with all the usual time wasters in your day.

brazzledazzle 11y ago
Wouldn't this be cost prohibitive?
ajmurmann 11y ago
I assume you have an actual assistant. May I ask what the monthly bill comes out as and how you found them?
- jakejake 11y ago
  I could be wrong, but think the OP is talking about virtual assistant services like task rabbit since they listed many of their advertised tasks. As far as a "real" assistant goes, it can be easy to find one if you live in a city with craigslist. You can find someone to hire hourly once in a while, or bring them on full/part time with a salary if you have the means. The payment range is minimum wage up to whatever you want to pay. Whether you want something official where you run payroll, provide health insurance and everything, or just pay someone under the table - there's pretty much going to be a long list of people who will want you to hire them. I've taken out ads before and gotten over 200 responses (Chicago area). When you become directly responsible for other people's financial livelihood it can really change how you think about employment and life in general.
  - ajmurmann 11y ago
    I think Tim Ferris mentioned services that provide virtual assistants for tasks similar to what the OP described. I remember looking into it right after I read the 4 hour work week and back then the services listed in the book were completely overrun. I never looked into it again and also never met anyone who actually used it.
tedmiston 11y ago
In the case of airlines, are you comfortable sharing your passport, SSN, or other familiar confidential information with the PA? Especially with someone that be an international country and being paid a nominal wage in a part time capacity.

brazzledazzle 11y ago

Wouldn't this be cost prohibitive?

ajmurmann 11y ago

I assume you have an actual assistant. May I ask what the monthly bill comes out as and how you found them?

jakejake 11y ago
I could be wrong, but think the OP is talking about virtual assistant services like task rabbit since they listed many of their advertised tasks. As far as a "real" assistant goes, it can be easy to find one if you live in a city with craigslist. You can find someone to hire hourly once in a while, or bring them on full/part time with a salary if you have the means. The payment range is minimum wage up to whatever you want to pay. Whether you want something official where you run payroll, provide health insurance and everything, or just pay someone under the table - there's pretty much going to be a long list of people who will want you to hire them. I've taken out ads before and gotten over 200 responses (Chicago area). When you become directly responsible for other people's financial livelihood it can really change how you think about employment and life in general.
- ajmurmann 11y ago
  I think Tim Ferris mentioned services that provide virtual assistants for tasks similar to what the OP described. I remember looking into it right after I read the 4 hour work week and back then the services listed in the book were completely overrun. I never looked into it again and also never met anyone who actually used it.

tedmiston 11y ago

In the case of airlines, are you comfortable sharing your passport, SSN, or other familiar confidential information with the PA? Especially with someone that be an international country and being paid a nominal wage in a part time capacity.