Why did you choose “Atypical VA” as your business name?

I chose the name Atypical VA after about two months of brainstorming. Brainstorming with others is a fantastic way of getting new ideas and working toward something you might not have been able to accomplish by yourself.

Who I asked for help with my business name:<br>

• My husband
• My friends
• My family
• My kids
• My dogs
• People I knew online
• The door to door salesman that wanted me to purchase satellite TV
• The nice girls that came to my door trying to save my immortal soul
• The customer service person from my cellular phone company
• My husband’s coworkers

The best part? After months of on again off again brainstorming I just looked up at him from the middle of dinner one day and there it was. So simple, so perfect for me. I really don’t think I would have been able to come up with something so simple if so many people hadn’t suggested such outlandish names.

I’m not the type of person who’s personality is easy to "pin down." Everyone knows me for exactly who I am, because that’s what I like to show people. I love knowing that if someone likes me, they really like me exactly the way I am…because they’ve never met any other variation of my personality. Honesty has gotten me so much more out of life than I would have gotten by manipulation that it’s almost a form of manipulation in its own right. That circular thinking? It’s just so … me! While at the same time I’m able to be logical as a straight line.

It’s how I’m able to think out of the box. Actually, I’ve always thought out of the box, it’s just recently thanks to business books I’ve learned that’s a <b>good</b> thing!

I went to my county courthouse and I registered my name. Then I faxed that information to a newspaper and they published a Legal Ad for three weeks to make sure no one would step forward and say I couldn’t have the name. They sent me a certificate in the mail and *poof* instant business owner. Well, for a one woman non-corporation business. The process is more complicated if you’re going to incorporate, but I don’t want employees and a large practice. That’s not where my dream lies.

A final note:My business name is in no way intended to be a slam or insult to any other Virtual Assistants out there. When I looked around it seemed that so many people had real estate experience, and I don’t have a drop. My skills are more about what I’m capable of doing than what my resume says I’ve already done. I just don’t have the same background as a lot of the VAs I’ve come in contact with. That’s what makes me an Atypical VA.