Black women have started to truly advocate for a more balanced work-life relationship. From hiring night nurses to delegating in our workplaces, we have learned the importance of not putting the world on our shoulders. As we continue to maximize platforms like Instagram, Patreon and TikTok to support our entrepreneurial endeavors while also continuing to be the most degreed demographic in the country, Black women are stacking a cute coin. Where we once did everything on our own because we simply could not afford to pass tasks off to others, we now see the beauty in paying for convenience. With that has come a growing industry for personal assistants with varying level of involvement in our everyday lives. Some people think hiring a PA is only for the rich and famous but they can be a major help to small business owners, new moms and working women juggling a lot of things at once. If you find yourself in need of a little extra help, adding a personal assistant to your budget can be a great way to maximize your energy and delegate smaller tasks to free up space in your life for rest, family and pursuing hobbies.
We spoke to personal assistants at varying price points about what they can offer you.
Alicia, personal assistant working primarily with small business owners.
Budget: Starting at $35 p/hr
“What I am able to offer small business owners is a sturdy and dependable second pair of eyes. I assist with keeping their schedules balanced and help them to mitigate as much potential stress as possible. If they’re doing an event, I will make sure to coordinate with all vendors as well as help things move smoothly day of. It’s also pretty common for me to manage correspondence for business owners and field inquiries to the proper channels.”
Chanel, personal assistant working primarily with working mothers.
Budget: Monthly retainer starting at $250.
“One of my primary focuses when working with mothers who are also key players in their fields is streamlining all of their responsibilities. I sync their calendars and certain things I don’t even add to them because I just take care of it so that it’s one less task they have to worry about. I schedule grocery deliveries, set reminders for school activities and conferences, pick up dry cleaning, etc… I even make sure to note date nights with their partners as well as girls night out in accordance with their schedules.”
Brittani, personal assistant with a focus on busy professionals.
Budget: monthly retainer starting at $175.
“I work for professionals in different fields to help do any number of tasks. My tasks can span from paperwork to scheduling personal and professional meetings. If I am working onsite, I may even restock supplies or set up monthly orders for the things that help the business run smoothly. If I am working just for an individual professional, I let them tell me what they most are in need of and we work together to find a happy medium between what I can provide at their budget and what they need.”
Devyn, personal assistant working with millennial CEOs with growing brands.
Budget: monthly retainer starting at $500.
“The key to my position is being proactive. I am always trying my best to anticipate what will be needed and what doesn’t have to be done by the leader. I am often fielding questions that would take too much of their time to answer and making sure that everyone knows what they need to be doing to meet deadlines, have successful drops and to best assist the person in charge. I am also an advocate for their overall health, I will pencil in vacation days right after big events or major milestones as well as keep them abreast of which personal matters need their full attention. My job is to clear the path, not be in the way.”