I"m Working on a Business Startup

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The biggest problem has been finding a personal assistant, of sorts, someone I like to call an "interface."
I need one because I get upset without someone in thebuffering role, and spent the best part of my adult life sufferin anxiety disorder because no one was effectively willing to function in that role, resulting in my winding up on welfare, which I am now in the process of getting off.

I've been looking for an interface on Craigslist, and have found a few willing to function in that role, but it's been rough, and they've been dropping like flies. I've had no aspergers organization to help me, to either fund or provide me with an interface and it's been a drag.

The following is a prospective ad I've got in mind running on Craigslist:
I have aspergers, and what I need is some sort of business partner who is willing to function as my personal assistant (the term I prefer to call such a role that of an "interface"). At a minimum, such an interface needs to be willing to spend fifteen to twenty hours a week with me four a starting commitment of four months, allowing me to do stuff that would be otherwise too stressful, or difficult, for me.

I am willing to spend on all functional expenses (as in gas, motel rooms, plane tickets, food, etc.), but the interface's salary, unfortunately, is problematic. At en dollars an hour, I could pay for thirty hours of interfacing, but that wouldn't cover a full month, and I need immersion.

I want an interface because I want to make a difference, and whoever is willing to be my interface will simply have to make the same commitment. I have several business ideas in mind, most prominently a social media one, and while I can make no promises, I think there is money to be made off them if we are diligent, and persist.

ANd there it is. If anyone could aid me in my prospective enterprise, I'd be happy to talk to him, but I'm at least limping forward, now.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Noitartst, I'd like to congratulate you on your startup plans.

Unfortunately, I personally would be unable to assist you at this time. In the long run, I'd like to see an AS business incubator, but that is at least 5 years out by any reasonable projection (see my previous discussions on an AS community). I see where you're coming from, and I do hope you succeed.

I'm honestly impressed you found anyone at all on Craigslist, last I saw it was'nt exactly helpful. Unfortunately, people have this amazing willingness to indicate they will help when they smell money, and they will do as little as possible to actually do anything in exchange for green pieces of paper with former Presidents (or Treasury Secretaries).

Please feel free to PM me on this matter.

let me give you two startup ideas.

1. central (maybe governmental) talking system (like a tagged forum)
2. central system for all of us who want to talk anonymously online

these two can be one.

all the rest for me sound like not good ideas that mimic these

i already talked about part of the ideas here in another msg

1. Maybe you can contact various colleges' Career Offices. I believe that many young people will jump at the opportunity to work in a start-up. Career Offices can recommend fresh graduates or current students (who are willing to work part-time or intern) to you.
2. You need a well-written business proposal. At the very least, you need to have a clear goal in mind and I hope that whatever goal you have in mind is something other than "earning as much money as possible". You need this well-written business proposal to convince Career Offices that you are seriously committed to ensuring that your start-up will thrive.
3. You don't need to disclose that you have AS straightaway. You can always disclose that you have AS after you have established a relationship with your personal assistant.

I hope you succeed as well and I think it's great that you have the motivation.

HI Noitartst,

I hope this doesn't sound harsh, but I don't feel that you are going about this in the right way. You're not going to attract people who are reliable and professional using an ad like the one you posted - you sound naive, vulnerable and uncertain, which is an invitation for people to take advantage of you.

Here is some advice:

I don't know what you mean by the term "interface" and your prospective employee won't either, so don't use it. "Personal assistant" is fine. Don't be apologetic about what you are paying or use words like "unfortunately", that gives the impression that you are not able to compensate your employee appropriately for the kind of workload you are asking them to take on (and if you can't compensate them appropriately, you can't expect to find someone to fill the role). You also need to be clear and firm about what you want. If you don't know how many hours you want them to work or what you will be paying them, you need to figure that out before putting out your ad, in order to find someone who is compatible with you. Don't make flaky-sounding promises about possible future money-making or talk about long-term partnership - that is a red flag and you will scare the right kind of people away. You can consider the long term after finding someone compatible.

I would write something like this (obviously, change the things in parentheses as appropriate, but this is the kind of clear information you need to offer). You want it to be brief, clear, and professional. If you can afford it, I'd strongly suggest paying to put the ad in your local paper, where you will find genuine local people seeking part time work, instead of on craigslist, which is full of people looking for quick money. This also means you won't have to pay travel expenses because the person will be in your local area, freeing your money to pay them for more hours.

"I am a startup business owner seeking a personal assistant to work [approx. 20 hours per week] for initial four month commitment [at a rate of $10/hour]. Further extensions, pay, and number of hours can be negotiated at the end of this period. [I am happy to negotiate hours around other commitments, for example, working evenings or weekends, but the schedule will need to be fixed and the same pattern of hours every week.]

My assistant will primarily be the representative of my business to the public so I am freed to work on its other demands. No particular experience is required, but he or she will need to be able to demonstrate the ability [to deal with the public via email, in person and over the phone] in a friendly and polite manner. Simple administrative tasks may also be required. I am seeking assistance partly because certain social situations are challenging for me due to a disability, so patience and understanding, and willingness to assist with any other problems I encounter, would also be very beneficial."

Additionally, don't just accept the first person who applies. Ask them sensible questions about their prior experience, other commitments, which days and hours they would like to work, and so on. These things will reassure your prospective assistant and weed out the flakes who are only wasting your time - they will move on to hassle someone else.

I suggest buying some books about starting a business, and making use of all the advice and support you can - there are websites and organisations which will help business startups, so check your local area. Get help making your business plan so you are certain it is a solid one. You can succeed, but you need to develop the skills to do so.

I know this was a huge post, but I really wanted to help, and I hope it was helpful to you. Best of luck!

If I lived close by I would do it ... I've worked in admin all my working life. Move to South Australia and you got a deal ! !

But good luck and if persevere I am sure you will find the right person

Maz