I am a self described career volunteer.

I am passionate about my community as well as a number of causes including environmental protection, human rights, and inclusivity initiatives. This passion led me through an interesting career with several non-profit organizations. Anyone who knows anything about working for a non-profit knows that the pay generally sucks and you are often hired on a grant meaning you start a position knowing that there is an expiry date.

Every single paid position I landed came about through my volunteer work. I would involve myself in an organization and eventually get hired, even if it was only for a couple of months. This never bothered me much though, I am fortunate to have a partner with a “normal” job so at least the bills were paid and I got to fill my bucket and give back to great causes.

Working for a non-profit requires a person to be a Jack/Jill of all trades. Budgets were tight and people often wore many hats. Partners and friends often served as an extension of staff, volunteering time for a variety of work. I once roped in my partner to help build some raised garden beds at the local Boys and Girls Club (paid for by a grant I wrote).

I found myself in the assistant role for four very different executive directors working in very different industries. This experience ranged from fundraising, paperwork, event planning, organizing, policy writing, grant writing, media managing, note taking, AGM planning, even coffee runs just to name a few. Needless to say, I built up quite the toolkit of self taught skills even though my formal education is in Biology.

My life situation changed, I had children and I quickly discovered that trying to manage work and kids would be my biggest challenge yet. I was lucky that I already had flexibility to take time off if they were sick or if the daycare closed for a snow day. Managing children, volunteer commitments, and work was a struggle.... I struggled with trying to maintain my paid commitments while also trying to fill my bucket with volunteer work.

It was the fall of 2019, just before my youngest turned 2, and I had hit a wall. I was burnt out trying to juggle family and the demands of my latest job. It was too a point where I didn’t enjoy the work and my skills were not being put to proper use. With the encouragement of my ADHD coach and a side client, I decided that I had marketable skills and could make a go at being a virtual assistant.

I didn’t know, at the time, that there was a term for the type of life I was living. I knew that I could now be choosy with my clients, taking on only those that gave back to the community in some way, and that I could work a schedule around my family and volunteer commitments. I knew that I could start my work day at 5:00am when I am most alert and could take the dog for a walk in the middle of the day. I knew that I was my own boss and that my work was valued