Dreams Really Do Come True!

As we close out October and enter into November, I am reminded of what a special time of year this is for me. You see, it was 27 years ago that I acted on a longtime vision of servicing clients all over the country while working from my office in Ohio. Personal computers and the internet were not readily available at that time and the word “Virtual” hadn’t been coined yet. How was it going to happen? God only knew!

Yet, on a colorful day in October 1992, with a typewriter, a box of business cards and an ad in the local paper, “Sherry’s Office Service” was born. By the end of the week I had my first client: a local contractor who worked out of his truck. He had no office or staff and desperately needed administrative help. When he saw my ad, he thought he would give it a try. As I mentioned, he didn’t have an office so we decided that he would simply fax or mail his paperwork to my office, phone in appointments that needed scheduled and bids that needed to be typed, mailed and processed. We were essentially working “virtually.”

Pioneering the Virtual Assistant Industry

At the time, I had no idea that I was becoming a part of a very small, exclusive group of ‘Pioneers’ that started the Virtual Assistant’s Industry or that I would go on to become the first to carve a niche in the Financial Advisory Industry.

By 1996, my dream of working for clients all over the country finally came to fruition. With the help of the internet, personal computers and a new tool called a “website,” I was able to get the word out about my company. It didn’t take long for my new website and new name, “Gal Fridays – The Paperwork Professional,” to catch the attention of the media. Within two months of launching the website, I landed my first out-of-state client and the rest is history!

As you can see, my dream from long ago has far surpassed what I would ever have imaged.  Together with my husband James, and a dedicated team, we continue to grow the company (now Total Office, Inc). and look for ways to help Financial Advisors everywhere!

Copyright 2018 Sherry Carnahan

Shown in featured image:  TOI Team 2018
L to R:  Tracey Arp, Melissa Wise, James Carnahan, Sherry Carnahan, Kelly Gosiewski, Taylor Weirtz, Vicky Sawyer