About Aim2Assist
The goal of Aim2Assist is to be a facilitator, helping businesses of any size, in large or small markets, become more efficient by getting the resources and support they need to thrive and grow. Founder Mary Marsh relies on her experience as both a manager and business owner to match executives, entrepreneurs, and individuals with virtual assistants to meet just about any need. She understands what her clients expect and can find assistants capable of taking on anything from specific jobs such as managing executive scheduling, appointments, travel planning, event planning, social media management, shipping logistics, and email management to more complex assignments.
You have an interesting background that includes establishing and operating an industrial design and drafting services firm for over 21 years. What are some of your secrets to maintaining such long-term success?
I’ve worked with many different types of engineers over the years. Accuracy, strict attention to detail and especially, always meeting critical (and many times unrealistic) deadlines is essential to being successful long-term.
You also worked as an executive assistant (EA) to several prominent business leaders and corporate board members, Rodman Rockefeller and Edmund de Rothschild. What are some of the insights that you learned about big business operations and the types of support executives need?
Big business operations have many different moving parts – and they all come together to form the whole or entire company. When even just one of those parts is missing or doesn’t work properly, the entire company suffers – and might even fail. It’s essential to have the right people in all areas of the company. Executives need a mind reader; a top- notch executive assistant who has the knowledge and insight to anticipate the executive’s needs and proactively manage those needs before being asked to do so.
What made you decide to start Aim2Assist? How have your overall experiences helped you build this business model?
Many years ago, when I was a single mother raising two children my dream was to start a company where I could offer remote work to other young mothers so they could be with their children. Years later, that dream began to include anyone who needed – or simply wanted – to be able to work from home. We offer a safe environment for all who work with us which is a top priority for Aim2Assist and should be for all businesses that employ or contract with others. I began working in the corporate world during the 1980s and most often worked in less than ideal environments.
As a woman-owned business, what are some of the challenges you have had in getting to where you are, and what advice do you have for women in the workplace who strive to be in leadership positions?
Six plus years ago, when I launched Aim2Assist, the trend for women- owned businesses had already been going strong so I essentially had no challenges other than my age. I was in my mid-fifties and many times, seriously wondered if I was crazy for waiting so long. I quickly learned that start-ups are very difficult to keep going – especially when you’re bootstrapping. Getting your brand out there takes time and a lot of effort. My advice to any women contemplating starting a business is to “just do it”! You can sit and think about it for months, even years, but if you don’t take the risk and jump in, you’ll never know if you could have been successful. And – you’re never too old to try!
What expertise do you look for and what advice would you give your assistants on working with C-Level executives?
Very strict attention to detail, creative thinking and excellent problem-solving skills. Get to know the executive(s) you support – get to know them well. The more you can anticipate their needs, the happier they will be!
This last year has been quite a challenge for business owners. Has your service seen a trend in more people needing your services?
Yes – they need our services more than ever. Our services can provide a high ROI.
How did you learn what is involved in being a virtual assistant, and how do you distinguish Aim2Assist from other similar businesses?
While I was still working as a structural/mechanical designer, I needed extra work. I contracted with another virtual assistant company (now one of our competitors) and really liked their business model – until they changed it. I left that company and started Aim2Assist. There are several things that set us apart from other virtual assistant services, i.e., all of our EAs are USA-based, college-degreed and they’re the best of the best. We only hire 2% of those who apply. Most importantly, we know the best way to keep our clients happy is to consistently treat our EAs with the utmost respect and appreciation. They keep this business going!
Your mission is to free up people’s time, allowing them to focus on the things that matter most to them in order to create a solid business foundation. What are some of the things that your clients tell you they would most like to spend their free time on?
The priority for most of our clients is to spend more time with their families. Next to that, almost all of them need more “focus” time for writing, reflecting, yoga, meditation and other things that help them relax.
What type of assistance do executives request that most people would be surprised to know?
Many of our executive clients ask their EAs to literally plan all aspects of their vacations for their families or just for themselves. One of our EAs planned an entire family reunion for a client!
In your day-to-day communications with your team, what have you learned from your virtual assistants?
My first job as an executive assistant was in 1984; I was the EA to the heir to Dow Chemical. I supported a young man who was one year older than me and at that time, was worth $50 billion. Decker Energy’s board of directors included Rodman Rockefeller and Edmund de Rothschild. I was in my mid-twenties. There were no such things as the internet or smartphones. You either called the airlines directly or, as in my case, called a travel agent to book flights. Everything was done manually. We’ve come a very long way since then. Our computers were IBM PCs with 10 mg hard drives!! Bosses could be demanding and unforgiving. My assistants have taught me how to not be so “old school” anymore. They’ve taught me there are better ways to do things – and how to do them. I’ve earned their respect instead of demanding it. I have an amazing team of EAs and thru their kindness and compassion for others, I have learned to be the same.
You say to always stay hungry for knowledge and you will never stop learning and growing. What inspires you to feed that desire?
The feeling of accomplishment you receive when you’ve learned something challenging – and you’ve aced it! When you can look back at where you were 10 years ago and see how far you’ve come – and how much has changed for the better, knowing that you made it because you never gave up is quite a thrill.
What do you, Mary Marsh, do to relax (assuming you have some free time) and how do you balance that with running a business?
I believe everyone needs down time no matter how busy they are. Anything that’s important or matters to you is worth finding the time for, even if it means carving out some time every day. I try to keep my weekends free from work as much as possible.I need that time to rejuvenate for the week ahead. I love to cook for others, especially trying out new recipes. I love spending time with my sweet little dog, Rufus. He makes me laugh. And, I love a good glass of wine with friends.
Is there anything you would like future clients to know about you or Aim2Assist?
We have the best team of EAs I have ever seen and I’m extremely proud of them. They work together, supporting each other and their clients each and every day. We are very good at what we do; our mission is to give our clients the very best experience we have to offer – a premium service to help them achieve their ultimate work-life-balance. 