Primary Services
I want my clients to gain a sense of calm control over their work and personal lives, so they can spend more time doing the things they enjoy. My team and I assist with a range of tasks, from “one-offs” to short- and long-term projects. Examples of our most common services include:
HOME & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
• Managing household staff
• Overseeing home renovation projects
• Hiring vendors and managing vendor contracts
EVENT PLANNING
• Planning fundraisers, charity events, and holiday parties
• Managing guest lists and sending electronic invitations
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SERVICES
• Booking all travel arrangements and preparing detailed itineraries
• Managing personal and professional calendars
• Acting as Gatekeeper by screening phone calls and in-person visits
ERRANDS
• There is no errand to big or too small for us to handle! Typical requests include things like: dry cleaning pickup and delivery, grocery shopping, gift purchasing/wrapping, and shipping (domestic and international).
Q & A with Megan Lynch, Principal of Bay Area Personal Assistant LLC
Q: How did you become a Personal Assistant?
A: In 2002, I was an Executive Assistant at a large office in Boston. I recall a distinct moment at a department meeting when my boss whispered, “Remind me to send the invitations for my husband’s retirement party tomorrow.” It hit me that day: with such a busy career, how could one possibly keep up with their personal lives? I have since spent many years as a full-time Personal Assistant, and absolutely love it.
Q: Why the part-time business model for Bay Area Personal Assistant?
A: I realize that, despite everything going on in my clients’ lives, they often do not want or need a Personal Assistant full-time. It can be difficult to find a qualified and reliable PA available for part-time work, so I decided to create a business model based on what my clients want.
Q: How does your business work? A: I serve as the primary Personal Assistant to each client and hire my Junior PA’s to help with some of the more standard projects (e.g. errands, re-stocking household supplies, filing). My primary goal is to help you create a home and personal management system that is organized and prepared for any events or projects you have coming up.
Q: How do you determine the amount of time you work with each client? A: I offer a free one-hour consultation with every prospective client, and it’s at this meeting where I learn about their upcoming projects and To Do lists. I follow up with a quote that includes an estimate of my time commitment to the client and a fee for services. There is no long-term commitment necessary, though I typically work with clients for many years.
Q: Who is your ideal client? A: Most of my clients are executives who are accustomed to having an Executive Assistant manage the details of their work life. My clients are Type A by nature, and typically have multiple projects going on at once. They don’t have the time to do it all themselves. That’s where I come in.
Q: What do you like most about your job? A: I love the connections I form with people and the honest communication I have with my clients. I have an “open feedback” policy, meaning I encourage my clients to share with me what is working well and what I could do better. I want us both to enjoy our working relationship.
Q: Are there any tasks that feel “too small” for you? A: Not really! One of my goals as a Personal Assistant is to help my clients build protocols and systems for the home that eventually run themselves (e.g. online ordering, setting up auto-pay for house bills, creating a calendar system for home maintenance, etc.). After we build these systems, I consult with my clients to determine if my job is done to their satisfaction.
Q: You’re also a Certified Personal Trainer. Do you ever incorporate this part of your practice into your personal assistant work? A: Yes! Some of my clients hire me when they want to jump-start their exercise routine. Others have a certain goal they want to achieve (e.g. compete in their first half-marathon). I enjoy working with people who express interest in improving this area of their life. I find it goes hand-in-hand with achieving a manageable work-life balance. The more fit we are, the better we feel. The better we feel, the more pleasant we are to be around. There is also a famous quote (revised slightly here): “When I feel good, I do good. When I do good, I feel good.” It’s hard not to feel good when you are taking good care of your body and health & fitness. You can learn more about my Personal Training background here.
Q: Who are you outside of work?
A: I enjoy being outdoors as much as possible. When I am in the city, I enjoy running, hiking or biking the trails of the Presidio and Marin Headlands. Outside of the city, my favorite destination is Yosemite National Park and the Sierra mountains. If I could, I would spend every other weekend in those mountains. Volunteering is also important to me, and I dedicate my efforts to the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California and the Crisis Text Line. The Epilepsy Foundation is particularly significant to me. I was born with Epilepsy, which created a great challenge to my family and medical team. It took 12 years to discover that a tumor in my brain was causing the seizures. Two days before my 13th birthday, I had surgery to remove a part of my brain where the tumor was located. I haven’t had a seizure since! I am so incredibly grateful that I am able to live an independent and active life. I am very lucky - to say the least!