I get it for FREE?!

So here I am several chapters and a couple of weeks further into my “Lifestyle Design” project.  This week I’m in Chapter 8 of  The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated, and it’s all about outsourcing and using concierge services.  Totally a new concept for me.  The book chronicles A. J.  Jacobs‘ experience when he tested it (hilarious – read it here) and then I read an even funnier account on Tim Ferriss’ blog called How to Make Visa Obey Your Every Desire: The Credit Card Concierge Experiment

That second account reminded me that I saw something about a free concierge service that was part of the benefits of my own  Visa card and so I thought I’d give it a try.

First of all, I called the 1-800 number to just verify that it was indeed free.  The answer?

Yes we are paid for our services by Scotia Rewards,

We are a service provided to Scotia Customers which is gratis to you the client.

(note: you of course pay for anything you ask them to purchase – like tickets, flowers, or whatever, but the cost of their actual service is free).  So then I asked them if they can handle a research project I’m doing on using Twitter for my business.  I had collected several articles, e-books, videos and such, and needed someone to go through these and create a concise list of steps and marketing strategies that I could use.  This would take me weeks with my current amount of free time.  Their answer was, “yes, we can do that for you”.  I was delighted.  I wasn’t ready to engage them yet, I wanted to first clearly formulate what I wanted.

When I had my instructions together, I called again.  I was connected with a delightful woman named Julia who spoke with a soft  British accent.  She apparently used to be a legal secretary and my requirements were right up her alley.  We had several opportunities to have a good laugh together, and I felt my project was going to be in great hands.   I gave her my list of requirements on Thursday evening at dinner time, and asked her to check in the following day with whatever she had accomplished by Friday at 3:30 pm, my time, just to verify that she was on the right track.

Friday at 2:08 I received an e-mail from Julia and she had completely finished the assignment.  I nearly fell off my chair.  There in my inbox was a concise, clear, well-ordered list of everything I needed ready to be put into action.  Just as I was getting over my shock and amazement, she called me to make sure everything was as I had requested.  Again, we had a fabulous chat, several good chuckles, and I was able to toss another quick assignment to her before letting her go.

The sad part is Julia is just subbing right now on that phone line, so I may not be able to reach her specifically again, but she assured me the other folks in the office are of the highest calibre, so ….

I have since requested the formatting of a spread sheet, a list of Calgary businesses that fit a certain criteria, and listings for all the businesses in Calgary that deal with social media – and I’m just getting warmed up!

I think I’ve found my new favourite thing.  I can’t imagine anything more fun than having someone on the other end of the phone to answer my every question, research all my myriad topics, fulfill odd requests, and make me feel important and loved.

I am a happy woman!

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Who is Darlene Hull? Click here: www.darlenehull.com to find out!

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