Jenny Boyles graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Miami University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Studies. She then earned her Masters of Arts in Museum Studies from George Washington University. While earning her graduate degree in Washington, D.C., Jenny worked at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History as a development assistant. She focused on both fundraising and exhibition development and continued working there until after graduate school.
After marrying her husband, who served in the Marine Corps, Jenny moved on from the museum world to teach and eventually volunteer in different areas. Through volunteering with the Marine Corps, Jenny held the position of family readiness advisor three times for Marine Corps F-18 squadrons where she advised units ranging from 200-600 families on communication, event organization, and the many details that go into family readiness for both deployed and nondeployed units.
When it came time for Jenny and her husband to retire from the Marine Corps, she examined her skill set and found being a virtual assistant to be a perfect fit. She began her virtual assistant journey in the fall of 2016 and loves her job. In 2017, Jenny Boyles Virtual Assistant Services was formed. Nothing gives her more satisfaction than helping her clients grow and achieve improved productivity. By doing tasks such as social media management, weekly and monthly newsletters, daily business correspondence, project management, and invoicing, Jenny gives her clients the freedom to focus on the more critical elements of their businesses. What sets Jenny apart from other virtual assistants is her attention to detail, passion for businesses and their growth, and her strong communication skills.
What's your military story?
I met my spouse in 1999 on the Metro in D.C. I was in grad school at George Washington University, working in Alexandria, Va., and he was stationed at Quantico for [Expeditionary Warfare School]. We sat together for 10 stops, both on our way to the White House Christmas tree lighting, only to have to get off at different stops. No cell phones back then, so he was Chad the Marine, and I was Jenny the museum intern. A week later, I received a “while you were out” message from a Captain Boyles. I had no idea that when I returned that message [that] on the other end was Chad, the Marine. He had called every museum in Alexandria, looking for Jenny the intern. And that is where my military journey began.
Fast forward nearly 20 years later, and my husband is now a retired colonel. He served 26 years, and I am proud to say I served alongside [him] for nearly 17 of them. We lived all over the world including Yuma, Leavenworth, Iwakuni, Newport, Beaufort, D.C. (several times), and finally California. We loved every adventure. The most challenging parts were definitely the deployments to Iraq and Asia, but our family grew stronger in those times. We now live in Charleston, S.C., where we were married many years ago, and my husband has traded fighter jets for commercial airline planes.
Tell us about your business!
My business is Jenny Boyles Virtual Assistant Services. I give fellow entrepreneurs and small businesses more time in their workweeks by taking administrative, communication, and social media tasks off their plate. Some tasks I handle are blog writing, social media management, newsletters, email management, scheduling, event planning, and invoicing.
I work virtually from my home and serve clients all over the country from California to D.C. to Charleston.
When were you first bitten by the entrepreneurial bug?
When we retired, I knew it was the right time to find work for myself. Having been out of the museum world for nearly 18 years, I knew I would have to reinvent myself using the skills I had [focused] on during my hiatus from paid work. I examined my skill set and came up with the following strengths: communication, organization, loyalty, scheduling, and work ethic. A friend who soon became my mentor owned her own virtual assistant business, so I took her out to lunch. She gave me contacts to launch into the virtual world. I used those contacts, and things started rolling from there.
What inspired you to take the plunge and start your own business?
I began working for Freedom Makers, a virtual assistant company that hires only military spouses to provide them with meaningful and flexible work. From my work with Freedom Makers, I grew confident in my skill level to handle work for clients. I thought perhaps I could find clients on my own and have my own business. I started a rudimentary website with a blog and a business Facebook page. From there, my client load grew through referrals and social media outreach. I had great plans to create a cool name, logo, and website, but the work kept coming and the fluff just had to wait. Over time, I have invested in the business through a domain name, www.jennyboylesva.com, some headshots, and new office equipment.
How has the military community and experience influenced your entrepreneurialjourney?
Being a Marine Corps spouse, I learned so much through the many different people we met at each duty station. At every new place, I would get involved. Be it the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Family Team Building, Key Volunteers, or serving as the commanding officer's spouse, I used my communication and organization skills constantly. With each move, I had to organize our new life. I had to make sure our kids were enrolled in the right school, programs, and sports. I had to organize doctors, insurance, and household business. With my role as command team advisor, I definitely worked hard to ensure everyone in the squadron received communication and organized events.
In addition to what I learned, the military world has provided me with clients. Contacts that we made over our many years have hired me for their post-military businesses. It is a great way to keep our military ties strong.
What's been the hardest part of starting your own business?
The hardest part is the business part! Ha! I can handle the clients and the work they ask of me. But keeping up with expenses and the income I earn is a challenge. I am proud to say that in 2018, I will triple what I made in 2017, so I have hired a CPA to help ensure I dot every “i” and cross every “t.”
What resources and programs have you found helpful in blazing your own trail?
For me, social media has been amazing. I use my blog to stay relevant and my Facebook page to update followers. I have attended Business Network International meetings to network. I am also on many small business forums where I receive social media and blog updates on the latest and greatest. One of the best things, though, is talking to other virtual assistants and small business owners. We can relate on many levels and share ideas about how to network and promote our businesses.
Why do you think entrepreneurship is a good career opportunity for militaryspouses?
Being an entrepreneur means you create your path. Military life is demanding and ever-changing. I regret not doing this earlier. I am able to set my hours and be flexible with balancing my family's needs with my business requirements.
How has starting your business inspired growth in your professional life?
I am much more confident when talking to people. Through experience, I have learned when a client is right for me and I am right for that client. At first, you think you need to take every client, but it is a big day when you can determine who is right for your business.
What's currently on your radar? Tell us about your latest entrepreneurial project.
Currently, I am working on ensuring my business is in order. I have hired a CPA to ensure that I am good with my taxes and other items. Overall, though, I have a great client load, and new opportunities arise when the timing is right. I feel like every day brings the chance of a surprise referral or inquiry. I love that.
What advice would you give to other military spouses who want to start a business?
My advice would be to find other people in that field or in the small business field to bounce things off of. I would tell them to embrace that gap in their resume and show confidence. With every new meeting, I tell clients my story. I tell them what I learned from my military time. I explain that no, I was not receiving a paycheck, but I was learning new skills that have made me who I am today. And most importantly, I would tell them to make sure their work ethic is strong. There are long days, and there are down days. I have had days when I did not earn the client's business, or they wanted to hire me for less. Know your worth and stick to it. The right client is out there, and those are the ones you want.
How can our readers connect with you?
- Website: www.jennyboylesva.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyboylesvaservices/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-boyles