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Why are you doing this? What's in it for you?
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What are some of your experiences with being a personal
assistant?
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What were some of your life experiences that you use as a
personal assistant today?
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That all sounds interesting, for sure, but how does any of it
apply to your helping me?
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What types of services do you provide?
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Is this service just for gay men -- or do you also work with gay
women and straight people?
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You mention bodywork as one service; are you a certified massage
therapist?
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I am AM HIV positive; will that be an issue for you?
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Do you have repeat clients?
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What are your
rates?
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What form of payment do you accept?
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You mentioned
energy work when responding to the massage question. Which
makes me wonder -- what religion are you?
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This all sounds pretty good. How do
I contact you?
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You use the phrase, From significant to other, no job should be
done alone! That's pretty clever; who said that?
Q1.
WHY
ARE YOU DOING THIS KIND OF WORK? WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
A.
When I was offered early
retirement from my day job of twenty years -- unexpectedly, I might
add -- I was faced with the prospect of having to move out of my
apartment in Washington, DC. The bitter, hard truth was that
the small severance check I was to receive didn't even cover my
mortgage payment. Faced with the prospect of having to move --
possibly even out of the area -- I decided to try to figure out
something I could do that would help me survive. A careful
review of my life experiences led me to the idea of being a personal
assistant. Since I love meeting new people and enjoy helping
people out, it seemed like a good match for me. And since I'm
gay and have always loved my gay community -- well, Gay Care seemed
like the best approach.
Q2.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH BEING A
PERSONAL ASSISTANT?
A.
Good
question -- and it brings up an interesting
observation of my own. For years, it bothered
me that my life experiences were "all over the
place." I always felt it was a detriment that
I hadn't stayed in the same field for decades.
Instead, I did a job and then moved on after a few
years. It was almost as if I was making a list
of all the things that didn't resonate 100% with me.
What I didn't quite grasp was that it was making me
a more well-rounded individual; giving me a little
experience here and a little experience there.
And, in retrospect, moving around in this way
offered me a varied life and added to the depth and
breath of my own education.
Q3.
What were some of your life
experiences that you use as a personal assistant
today?
A. Over
half my jobs involved social activity or being a
social guy; so I'm very good working with and
assisting other people. As a teenager, I
worked as an attendant at Jones Beach State Park;
then became a concessionaire on Broadway; eventually
moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts where I
co-managed a guest house for five years; then worked
as a catering sales manager here in Washington, DC.
In between those jobs, I held positions as a law
librarian in a large firm on Park Avenue; a records
manager of a law firm in DC; Assistant to the Chair
of the Department of Educational Leadership at a
large DC university; and did technical writing for
twenty years for a legal publishing company here in
DC. And, as if that wasn't enough, I've also
tended bar, worked as a model, and opened and sorted
mail at Doubleday Books and for the Columbia
Broadcasting System (CBS)!
Q4.
That all sounds interesting, for sure, but how does
any of it apply to your helping me?
A. What
probably doesn't come across in my resume is my zeal
for living and love of Washington, DC. I'm a
guy who absolutely loves life and gets great
satisfaction in helping people out. You'll notice
that nowhere am I claiming to be a "professional
anything." It's true that I'm an accomplished
and skilled technical writer and that I know my way
around a law library; that I'm a quick-learner and
have savvy computer and administrative skills; and
that with a good computer and the right YouTube
video, I can figure out how to fix a broken handle
on my (or your) toilet. Oh, and I'm also great
with animals, love to laugh, and know a thing or two
about the merits of positive thinking.
Q5.
WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES DO YOU
PROVIDE?
A. My main
Gay
Care page provides a complete list of the types
of services I currently offer -- but feel free to
ask about other needs you may have. As I state
on that page, there are times when everybody can use
someone to assist them in their daily business,
personal tasks, or chores. Whether it's someone to
watch your pet while you're away, help you with your
yard work, do general administrative tasks around
the house, or simply be an ear to talk to or a
shoulder to cry on. And, to reiterate, from
significant to other, no job need be done alone!
Q6.
IS THIS SERVICE JUST FOR GAY MEN -- OR DO YOU ALSO
WORK WITH GAY WOMEN AND STRAIGHT PEOPLE?
A. I work
as a personal assistant for all folks -- things like
gender, age, sexual orientation, and religious
affiliation are not a concern. However, as a
gay male, I am keenly aware of and understand the
special and distinct needs of the gay community in
particular.
Q7.
YOU MENTION BODYWORK AS
ONE SERVICE; ARE YOU A CERTIFIED
MASSAGE THERAPIST?
A.
No, I am not a massage therapist. My bodywork
techniques are based on bioenergetics and energy
work -- both areas in which I have been trained.
I want to make it very clear that I DO NOT
and CANNOT provide massage work.
I
can, however, offer relaxation techniques and simple
body work.
Q8.
I AM HIV POSITIVE; WILL THAT BE AN ISSUE FOR YOU?
A.
Not in the least.
Q9.
DO YOU HAVE REPEAT
CLIENTS?
A.
I've had clients I've
worked for a couple of times until the job was
complete; and I've had jobs that were ongoing.
Some jobs, like house or pet sitting can be sporadic
-- whenever clients go out of town for an extended
stay.
Q10.
WHAT ARE YOUR RATES?
A.
Because I'm catering to your own personal needs,
rates may vary. I generally contract on a per hour
basis with estimates falling between $15 - $30 per
hour for general assistance. Contact me with your
specific requirements and needs and I'll be happy to
send you a quote.
awakenedman@me.com
Q11.
WHAT
FORM OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
A.
Currently I am equipped to accept cash, check, or
direct transfer to my PayPal account. I'm a
very small business with limited
income and cash flow. As such, I am unable to accept credit cards.
Q12.
YOU MENTIONED SHAMANIC ENERGY
WORK WHEN RESPONDING TO THE MASSAGE QUESTION.
WHICH MAKES ME WONDER
WHAT RELIGION YOU
ARE?
A.
I was raised in the Christian faith (Lutheran and
Presbyterian), but now check the box that says
"spiritual, not religious."
I enjoy reading about the similarities and
interconnectedness of the Eastern and Western
religions.
Q13.
THIS ALL SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD.
HOW DO I CONTACT YOU?
A. By writing to me at
awakenedman@me.com.
Q14.
YOU USE THE PHRASE,
"FROM SIGNIFICANT TO OTHER, NO JOB SHOULD BE DONE
ALONE!"
THAT'S PRETTY
CLEVER; WHO SAID THAT?
A.
I must confess. It was me who said that.
Please email me at
awakenedman@me.com so we can discuss
your own
personal assistance needs and let me be the gay handy
guy you come to rely upon.
I look forward to being of service
to you.
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