Evolution is a big word and I don't like to use it lightly. But as I reflect back on the last few years, my journey has been nothing short of an evolution — both personally and professionally. The turning point began when I became unexpectedly unemployed (just weeks before my mat leave was ending) and had NO backup plan in place. I stumbled across a virtual assistant opportunity on Facebook, but there was only one problem... I no idea what a VA even was. (Peep my blog article What’s a Virtual Assistant & Is It A Viable Career Option? if you can relate.)
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A VA WAS
With a newborn in tow, and after reading about other’s new-found flexibility and freedom, my curiosity peaked and I knew I wanted to learn more. Working from home sounded like a dream come true to me, but I was consumed with self-doubt.
I immediately assumed:
I wasn’t the right fit, because I had zero virtual assistant experience (I hadn’t even been on a zoom call before)
VAs made next to nothing (I had, what I thought was, a comfy salary at the time)
I didn’t have any of the skills required
Well, it turned out I couldn’t be more wrong.
I SIGNED MY FIRST CLIENT
I sent off a proposal with my ideal rate, the client accepted and then I leaned on Google and YouTube to get me through the first month of working for them. I leveraged the skills I already had — namely my strong organization skills, resourcefulness and love of learning. If I didn’t know how to do something, I figured it out on my own. Yep, I’m completely self-taught!
I quickly discovered the many benefits of being a freelance VA and knew I wanted to go all-in. So, I started taking on even more clients that required administrative support. (I did this organically by the way, by simply answering questions in Facebook communities, then through word of mouth). I did NOT reach out to any existing contacts on social networks or have an email list. Nor did I send any cold DMs or even advertise that I was a VA looking for work. This just goes to show how in-demand virtual assistant services truly are.
I FOUND MY VA NICHE (THAT'S WHEN THE MAGIC HAPPENED!)
I began to notice that many of the online service providers I was working with were frustrated and/or intimidated by all of the tech pieces required to run their biz. They knew there was a better, more efficient way of doing things... but when it came time to choosing and integrating online tools to suit the unique needs of their business, they didn't know where to start. I'm talking about simple things like setting up a calendar system and scheduling social media posts, to more complex things like setting up a new CRM, building landing pages or creating sales funnels.
Through working as a VA, I learned how to set up, integrate, automate and troubleshoot online tools to streamline connectivity and save my clients time. I realized that nothing gave me more satisfaction than learning about a client's goals (and problems) and then simplifying their systems to make their business run more efficiently. This ultimately led me to shift my services to tech and systems strategy... This was my true passion, this was my VA niche!
Today, I have built a beautiful career that works with my lifestyle, makes me feel fulfilled and supports my family. I’ve worked with many clients across many industries, both locally and internationally, and have been mentoring other VAs for well over a year now. And to think I almost didn’t take the leap, blows my mind! Where would I be today, if I hadn’t? My guess is in a small cubicle with a long commute home 👀
NOW I’M TEACHING OTHERS HOW TO DO THE SAME
My experience, including ALL the trials and errors, have propelled me to develop a comprehensive online course for aspiring virtual assistants. (That, and the fact that my clients have encouraged me to share everything I know.)
Of course, learning on your own is always an option. But why not learn from my mistakes? When I say being a VA can change your life, it’s not a gimmick. You can, quite literally, VA Your Way to Success.
VA Your Way to Success is a step-by-step guide to launching, promoting, growing & scaling a virtual assistant business. In this comprehensive online course, you'll learn how to customize a virtual assistant business to fit YOUR life — it really is VA Your Way.
