The inaugural Indie Seminars Authors' and Musicians' Seminar is happening March 28th, 2009 in Sacramento, California. The theme is Create. Control. Dream. The goal is to celebrate artistic creativity while educating artists of all kinds in the practical aspects of business. Join us to learn how you can reach artistic goals while retaining legal control of your art while pursuing your dreams. There's quite a line-up of authors and musicians who'll be speaking and conducting workshops. See the seminar page for all the details and to register online.
My Story
My name is Sue, a.k.a. SunnyRose. I've loved roses since I was a little girl. We had a cream-colored rosebush in our front yard and that first inspired my love of roses. When my husband and I were looking for a place to live in the Sacramento area, we saw the town of Roseville on the map and knew that's where I had to live. We've been in Roseville, California since 2003.
Since childhood I dreamed of being the world's best secretary and bookkeeper, working for an office full of executives managing all their business needs. In early 1995 I became the Administrative Assistant to the owner and sales staff of an office supply store. Here my dream came true. In addition, I worked for the Controller (who years later I married) handling a variety of accounting tasks and managing Accounts Payable.
Late in 1996 I decided to work closer to home and my children. A position was offered to me in accounts payable in the corporate office of an automotive retail business where I would train to replace the retiring accounts payable manager. After about a year, I started performing administrative tasks for the Owner and President, including taking dictation and typing letters and memos. When the accounts receivable clerk left the company I took on her responsibilities, eventually becoming accounts receivable manager and office manager.
As the company grew, the Director of Finance needed someone to take on more responsiblity in the accounting department and in special projects. My role in the company expanded and I was cross–trained in all accounting roles, including payroll. The seven years I worked for this company were very exciting and satisfying. Watching the business grow and knowing I had a part in that was a tremendous boost to my sense of purpose.
In 2003 I left that job in San Diego, California to move to Roseville. I started maintaining my husband's web design business as general manager. I was able to put all my accounting and administrative knowledge to work for my husband's business and be my own boss. He also taught me how to build and maintain websites.
In 2005 I decided to start my own business in addition to helping maintain my husband's business. I started working as a virtual administrative assistant. My first client was a real estate agent who needed help maintaining a database of contacts and sending out mailings and marketing by email. A second real estate agent soon was asking for assistance creating charts for clients. My first client now works in Utah and we still do business together.
My life was put on hold in 2006 while I spent four months in the hospital and the rest of the year recuperating from a life-threatening illness. (Read my story) As it is no longer a viable option for me to work outside the home full–time, working from home as a virtual assistant to be home with my three–year old has worked out very well. My client base is increasing and I continue to work in my husband's web design business.
It brings me a lot of satisfaction to work with small business owners maintaining their bookkeeping, providing administrative support, and watching their businesses grow!