Behind the Screen: Meet the Mind of AtFNF

Hi there! My name is Anna, and I’m a Virtual Assistant. I was born the eldest daughter of a single mother, and my life was coloured by the two adorable (if somewhat medically fragile) sisters that I helped raise until I was 13. I spent much of my young life living with my grandparents, and lived much of the typical Canadian girl's life until middle school. I first started my career as a freelancer at just 13 years old, when I was offered an under-the-counter hybrid position (practically unheard of back then, haha!) at a local bridal boutique. It was in the small, fabric-strewn shop that I first discovered my passion and the job I would dedicate the rest of my life to: being a Virtual Assistant.

I wish I could say it was all uphill from there, but alas, that’s never quite how the story goes. Truth be told, I lost myself for many years... I struggled with mental health, addiction, living beyond SA & childhood trauma, and eating disorders. I waded through the chaotic river of recovery in sandals and scrabbled out the other side by the merit of my own grit. I floated from city-to-city in Northern Ontario, picking up the occasional project (and the even sparser mentor figure) for some time. But everything changed after just 3 short years of worldly exploration…

At just 16 years old, I struck out on my own and moved to a (yet another) new city: Belleville, Ontario. I was incredibly fortunate to discover both professional and personal resources aplenty, and I began building my empire one email at a time. I threw myself into studies, learning as much as I could about anything I could from anyone I could! I spent summers learning under industry leaders and business moguls in Toronto, running with the big dogs and appreciating the generosity of a few kind business owners who saw my potential. 

By the time all my temporary contracts ran their course, at just 19 years old: I held my GED in one hand and my Master Business License in the other while standing in the laptop aisle of Staples. I put every cent into my first proper laptop (no more rental or hand-me-down PCs for me!) under— uber-supportive as always— my husband’s excited grin. I started chasing after every online certificate I could find, and I think I poured so much of my mind into my research that it came back blessed by all the books and courses I explored! I had long since discovered my secret talent: I could learn just about anything I put my mind to. Now it was time to put my efforts on full display and officially launch my own Virtual Assistance business!

Now, I’m 25 years old and living in quiet-and-quaint North Bay, Ontario; with my beloved husband, my daughter, and my dog at my side. I’ve worked with professionals and for personal contracts ranging all sorts of industries, demographics, age ranges, and time zones… and every day is an opportunity to experience something new! I operate primarily out of my fully-equipped home office, set with a complete arsenal of equipment (laptop, desktop computer, mobile phone, printer/scanner/copier machine, iPad and noise-cancelling headset)... and all the stationery a sticky note nerd could dream of, haha!

So, that’s the story of Anna: the Friendly Networkhood Freelancer. Now I want to become part of your own journey, as your next secret weapon! Book a consult with me today, or send me an email at atfnf.business@gmail.com.