If you’re daydreaming of escaping your corporate cubicle, I see you! Sure, your 9-5 comes with comfy benefits and maybe even a pension. But if your job no longer fulfills you, stresses you out and keeps you away from your family… is it really worth it? Studies show that the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime. And if that’s not enough to motivate you to pick a career path that supports your dream lifestyle, I don’t know what will.
With job security on the decline in recent years, many people are choosing to take the freelance route. Unlike traditional employees that are tied to a single place of employment and structure, us freelancers enjoy benefits that would make anyone smile, including:
Choosing who (and how many clients!) we work for
Setting our own hours (to a certain extent, of course!)
Negotiating our pay & turnaround time
Controlling HOW the work is done (which could include hiring someone to help)
Taking full ownership for our tools, equipment and paycheques
And as you might have guessed, a Virtual Assistant (VA) IS a freelancer!
HERE ARE 8 PROS OF BEING A FREELANCE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT:
MINIMAL START-UP COSTS
Freelancing start-up costs are minimal, and you really don’t need much to get started! As long as you have a computer or laptop with a built-in camera and microphone, reliable high-speed internet and a handful of online tools, you can start taking on client work! Start with free programs and upgrade as you grow and scale.
FLEXIBILITY & TIME FREEDOM
As a VA, you choose your own services, are in charge of the number of clients you take on, set your own hours and manage your own schedule. You also have the ability to work from anywhere — home, your favourite coffee shop, the airport or an Airbnb in another country.
And you can say goodbye to the days of long commutes and submitting time-off requests for field trips, weddings and extended long weekends! As long as you’re meeting deliverables and not providing real-time support, your client won’t care what hours you work.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
As a result of managing your own schedule, you can design your freelance business to fit your lifestyle — not the other way around. With some thoughtful planning upfront and clarity on the lifestyle you desire (along with establishing boundaries), you can achieve a work-life balance that works for you.
Disclaimer: I’ve talked about my love-hate relationship with the term ‘work-life balance’ before. While I’m a firm believer that a meaningful career doesn’t have to be achieved at the expense of quality family time… I think some seasons are inevitably work-heavy, while others are life-heavy.
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
As a virtual assistant, you are in control of how much money you make. You can freelance as a part-time side hustle OR go all-in and commit to it as your full-time career. Because many of us work on a retainer-basis, you’re setting up a consistent and recurring income for yourself. I never imagined that my freelance business could support my family… but, here we are.
EXPOSURE TO NEW PEOPLE & BUSINESSES I’ve personally worked with authors, copywriters, VA agency owners, business consultants, health coaches, photographers, realtors and more — both locally and internationally. Each time, I’ve had an insider view into the unique needs of each business and the challenges they face — a wealth of knowledge in itself. My work as a VA has even launched me into my second career as a Systems Strategist.
ONGOING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Whether it’s taking a course, working with a coach, or experimenting with a new online tool, successful freelancers are always uplevelling their skills. As a successful Tech VA, I have had to stay on top of my clients’ tech updates, changes and new features — there is ALWAYS something new to learn.
A REWARDING & SUSTAINABLE CAREER
If you enjoy continually developing your skills, supporting others and meeting new people … becoming a virtual assistant is a viable career option for you. It’s all about playing into your strengths and doing what you love you to do. There’s something so fulfilling about achieving success in a business that’s yours, and doing work that feels aligned to your zone of genius…
INDUSTRY GROWTH
The industry is growing at a rapid rate. Businesses are opting for VAs over in-person support because it’s most cost effective — they essentially share the cost of an assistant with others. There’s no wear-and-tear on their equipment, no need for office space, and no need to pay benefits or contributions.
There you have it! If the thought of staying (or returning!) to your 9-5 stresses you out, launching a VA business may be the right fit for you.
Ready to dive in? 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.
