Karelyn Lambert

Be nice in the face of adversity. Try to be as empathetic as possible in each and every situation your encounter – both in personal and business interactions.

 

Karelyn EVE Lambert is a Executive Virtual E-ssistant via her website KarelynEVE.com. Her goal is to help savvy small business owners and entrepreneurs spend less time on administrative tasks, so they can focus on what’s really important.

For sixteen years, Karelyn cultivated her experience in Executive Administrative positions at companies including Whitney National Bank, AT&T, the City of New Orleans, Friedman Marketing and Quick Test Heakin Research. A forward thinker and fast learner, Karelyn decide to step out on her own and become a freelance Executive Virtual E-ssistant in 2010.

Since that time she has worked with clients in various fields including public relations, communications, education, information technology and marketing. She holds an Associate of Business Administration degree which she obtained with a 4.0 GPA average.

Karelyn lives in the greater New Orleans area with her husband, three kids, dog, and cat. In her spare time, she loves reading, writing, and cooking.

Where did the idea for Karelyn EVE Executive Virtual E-ssistant come from?

I began working as a freelance virtual assistant in 2010. Prior to that I worked as an independent contractor for the City of New Orleans and AT&T. I realized that I could do the same type of work from home and be able to focus on my family while building my business.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I start the day by getting my three kids off to school. After I return from dropping them off, I check email for priorities. I generally make a weekly plan every Sunday evening, and then fit in new assignments as they come in based on urgency. I use Google Calendar, Asana, Trello, and Google Docs to keep track of deadlines and assignments for my multiple clients.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I find the best way to bring ideas to life for my clients is to talk to them one on one. I make it a point to speak to each client weekly via a phone or Skype call in addition to email. I think that live interaction helps projects run smoother than just email alone.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am really excited about all things having to do with tech, social media, and online learning. It amazes me how far we have come in just a few short years. When I graduated high school in 2003, I could never have fathomed that I would be able to make a substantial living from the comfort of my own home completely online.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

As a mother of three and a wife, I am use to juggling schedules, priorities, and cash flow. I am able to help my clients with tasks that seem overwhelming such as scheduling and filing paperwork because I have personal experience doing these things on a day-today basis.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Embrace your inner nerd unapologetically. You don’t need to take the traditional career route to be successful.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Always smile when talking to someone on the phone. Be nice in the face of adversity. Try to be as empathetic as possible in each and every situation your encounter – both in personal and business interactions.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Make lists and re-prioritize tasks at the end of each day.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I treat every person I speak with as a real life human being. I ask them about their day and listen to them even if it has nothing to do with business. I think building relationships is more important than the bottom line.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

My laptop got damaged and I did not have a warranty or insurance plan for it. I immediately wiped an older computer and worked on it even though it was an older model until I was able to afford a better machine. (Lesson learned! I splurged on the warranty this time around!)

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I had an idea for a non-profit a couple years back that would help women obtain proper supportive undergarments (e.g. bras). This is because a lot of young professional women I met only owned one at the time because they can be expensive.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently spent $100 on my Microsoft Office 365 subscription. Previously I had a free subscription through a client, but he decided to pursue a 9-5 instead of continuing with his SMB. It was empowering to invest in myself and my business.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Dropbox is a huge lifesaver. It allows me the flexibility to access anything I need at the drop of a pin no matter what device I am on. I couldn’t be a virtual assistance without it.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

“Anthem” by Ayn Rand. Although it is a fiction book, the message of individualism is one that any entrepreneur can get behind.

What is your favorite quote?

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher

Key learnings:

• Remain human online. It is easy to hide behind technology and avoid personal connections, but when you connect with people on a personal level you have the potential to create clients for life.

• Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. You don’t need to take the traditional career route to be successful.

• Invest in yourself. Purchase the tools you need to be successful.

Connect:

Karelyn Lambert on LinkedIn –
Karelyn Lambert on Twitter –