Sometimes the best businesses don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin with a conversation, an opportunity, and that little feeling that says, Maybe I’m meant to do this.
For Marianne D’Alessandro, owner of TimeFlies – Plan. Create. Execute., that moment came while serving on a non-profit board.
Marianne had built her career as an administrative assistant — work she genuinely loved. Becoming a virtual assistant felt like a natural way to use those skills to do more, earn some extra income, and create something of her own.
Then a conversation with a fellow board member changed everything.
Her colleague was a recruiter who happened to know someone looking for a virtual assistant. She connected the two, Marianne landed her first client, and suddenly the idea became real.
“They became my first client and I knew it was meant to be!”
Today, Marianne describes herself in three words that fit beautifully with both her personality and her business:
Caring. Organized. Happy.
And she’s built TimeFlies around helping other entrepreneurs feel a little more of those things, too.
From Administrative Assistant to Entrepreneur
For Marianne, entrepreneurship wasn’t about walking away from a career she disliked.
Quite the opposite. She loved what she did — and wanted to do more of it.
Her years as an administrative assistant gave her the skills to organize, coordinate and keep things moving. Becoming a virtual assistant allowed her to take that experience and use it in a new way.
Over time, her business continued to evolve.
Today, Marianne has narrowed her focus into two key areas: helping entrepreneurs organize the launch process for their products, services and programs, and offering specialized CEO Intensives to help business owners work through specific areas of their businesses.
At the heart of it all is a simple idea: Idea to Impact.
That Great Idea Sitting on Your Desk? Let’s Do Something With It.
Most entrepreneurs have one. That idea you’ve been thinking about. The program you want to launch.
The new service that’s been living in a notebook for six months. The project you keep telling yourself you’ll get to when things “slow down.”
But things rarely slow down. That’s where Marianne comes in.
Her vision for TimeFlies is to help entrepreneurs take the idea that’s been sitting on their desk — or perhaps simply overwhelming them — and put a plan in place to make it happen.
Because an idea can be exciting. Turning it into something tangible requires organization, systems and action.
As Marianne puts it: “There’s 3 steps in everything we do — Plan. Create. Execute.”
It’s not about adding more to an already overflowing plate. It’s about clearing some of the noise, getting organized and building systems that actually work for you.
Because “Busy” Looks Different for Everyone
Marianne understands something many entrepreneurs experience but don’t always talk about:
Being busy doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. Sometimes you’re busy because there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Sometimes you have the time but need expertise you don’t have.
And sometimes, as a solopreneur, what you really need is another person beside you.
“Sometimes you just want extra time so you can outsource work. Sometimes you want a partner because solopreneurship can be lonely. Sometimes you want a specific expertise to support you.”
Marianne offers her clients a combination of all three. And one of her favourite moments isn’t necessarily completing a big project. It’s when a client picks up the phone and says:
“I need your opinion on this!”
For Marianne, those words mean something.
They mean she’s no longer simply someone completing tasks. She’s trusted. She’s valued. She’s become part of the team.
Helping Entrepreneurs Feel Confident and Organized
Marianne doesn’t just want her clients to accomplish more. She wants them to feel differently while they’re doing it.
Confident. Organized. Capable.
She wants entrepreneurs to look at something that once felt overwhelming and realize: I can actually do this. And then she wants to see them succeed. Her own plans for TimeFlies continue to grow as well, including offering group programs and publishing a workbook based on her launch system. But Marianne has also learned an important lesson about plans: Sometimes life changes the timeline.
When Life Tells You to Slow Down
The past three years brought significant changes for Marianne involving both health and family.
For someone who makes a living helping people plan, create and execute, it could have been tempting to push through and keep going at the same pace.
Instead, Marianne slowed down.
She stayed the course, held onto her faith and kept the bigger vision in sight.
“Everything has a time and sometimes you just need to take time but keep the vision.”
It’s a perspective reflected in the words she returns to when life gets difficult:
“This too shall pass.”
When things feel overwhelming, Marianne reminds herself that circumstances change. Things settle. Problems can be figured out.
And eventually, it will be okay. It’s not about abandoning the plan. Sometimes it’s simply about allowing the plan to breathe.
Leadership Beyond Her Business
Marianne’s desire to contribute and support others has extended well beyond TimeFlies.
One of her proudest personal achievements was her involvement with Food4Kids Hamilton, where she served as President of the Board and coordinated the organization’s Breakfast Gala.
She describes both experiences as huge achievements — and something she loved doing. But there’s another chapter of Marianne’s story that might surprise even those who have known her for years.
Long before TimeFlies, Marianne was an instructor for a public speaking program.
That role eventually took her all the way to China, where she had the opportunity to train a group of instructors.
Her verdict? “It was great fun!” It’s a wonderful reminder that the skills and experiences we collect throughout our lives often become part of the entrepreneur we eventually grow into.
Do It Your Way
Spend enough time in business and you’ll receive plenty of advice.
Post this.
Try that.
Use this system.
Follow this strategy.
Marianne believes there’s value in listening and learning — but that doesn’t mean every piece of advice belongs in your business.
Her advice to other women entrepreneurs is simple:
“Listen to all the advice you receive but don’t be intimidated or feel you need to use it all. Reach out to those who will help you and just learn. Decide what works for you and do it your way.”
It’s a philosophy that mirrors how she works with her own clients.
The goal isn’t to force someone else’s system into your business.
It’s to find the systems and processes that allow you to feel more in control, aligned and intentional.
Finding Happiness in Helping Others Succeed
Ask Marianne what motivates her and there’s no complicated answer. She loves what she does. She loves knowing she’s helping her clients. She loves hearing other people’s success stories.
And, as she happily points out: “Let’s face it, financial stability is very motivating!! :)”
It’s refreshingly relatable — because building a business can be about purpose, contribution and doing work we love while also creating the life and financial stability we want.
Marianne believes she’s been blessed throughout her life.
And she’s confident there are more blessings still to come.
From Idea to Impact
There are plenty of entrepreneurs with great ideas. The challenge is getting those ideas out of our heads, off our desks and into the world. That’s the space where Marianne shines.
She helps clear the noise. She helps tidy things up. She helps put the right systems in place.
And then? Plan. Create. Execute.
Because when you have the right plan and the right support, that idea you’ve been sitting on might just become your next big impact.
We’re delighted to feature Marianne D’Alessandro of TimeFlies – Plan. Create. Execute. as part of our MAWB Directory Member Blog Series.
Connect with Marianne
Want to find out where your systems or processes could use a little tweaking?
Marianne offers a RESET Call — an opportunity to talk through what’s happening in your business and identify changes that could help you become more productive and organized.
You can also book a free consultation call with Marianne through her MAWB Directory profile.
Instagram: @timeflies_adminservices
Facebook: Marianne D’Alessandro
Marianne D’Alessandro – Member Directory Listing
TimeFlies – Plan. Create. Execute.
From Idea to Impact.
