If you had asked me back in September 2021 if I thought my
business would be thriving three years down the line, my response would likely
have been a sceptical, "Nah, probably not." It's not that I lacked
confidence in my abilities or doubted the path I had chosen. Instead, it was the
daunting statistic that looms over every new business venture: half
of all new businesses fail within their first three years.
Yet, despite this statistic, here I am, three years later,
not just surviving, but going strong. Don’t get me wrong - this journey hasn't
been without its challenges, but I can confidently say that this third year has
been my most successful one yet.
They say that three is the magic number, and I couldn't
agree more. Join me as I recount the highs, lows, and invaluable lessons of the
past three years…
I remember the first time I heard the term ‘Virtual
Assistant’.
Back in 2019, I had met with a friend of mine for coffee,
and I spent most the conversation offloading my frustration with my current
work life balance – long hours and a long commute had made me disgruntled.
That’s when my friend introduced me to the idea of becoming
a Virtual Assistant. It was a term I hadn’t heard of before and so I listened
intently. While it sounded interesting, the thought of leaving a full-time job
to go solo terrified me, and so initially I parked the idea. Eventually though,
curiosity got the better of me and I started to look into what it is that a
Virtual Assistant actually does.
There’s a wide range of tasks that a Virtual Assistant can help with – from traditional secretarial support
such as inbox and diary management, to business planning and more creative
tasks such as content and course creation.
The flexibility of the role was something that appealed to me
and was something that I thought the advertising industry would greatly benefit
from. It seemed to me that there was a significant gap waiting to be filled – there
simply wasn't anyone else providing a service that allowed for such fluidity,
giving businesses the flexibility to scale up or down and as and when they need
support.
At a time where the concept of remote work was still met with cynicism, the
prospect of a Virtual Assistant seemed almost revolutionary to me. Who knew
that an assistant working remotely could be such an integral part to a
business?
Despite the allure of this new and exciting possible career path, I decided
that it was just a pipedream. So, I went back to the grind of my full-time job
and didn’t really think about it again. Little did I know that fate had other
plans in store…
You don’t need me to remind you what happened in 2020, but let’s
just say the events of that year had a huge impact on working habits and upended
traditional notions of work-life balance.
It was a tough time for me, as it was for many. I wasn’t
furloughed like many of my colleagues – I was part of the remaining skeleton
team. To say we worked our butts off is an understatement! Although I loved the
camaraderie of it all, the boundaries between work and personal time blurred,
leaving me feeling drained and disoriented.
By
the summer of 2021, the strain had become unbearable. It was then that the
memory of that long-forgotten conversation resurfaced. It was one of those
light-bulb moments!
The decision to leave the security of a full-time job and
embark on the journey of self-employment is not one to be taken lightly. It
requires careful planning and a sturdy financial foundation. As I made the
leap, I ensured that I had a financial safety net in place, ready to catch me
should things take an unexpected turn. Fortunately, my transition was met with
immediate success as I secured some fantastic clients more or less straight
away.
Although it was an exciting new chapter for me, I
encountered my fair share of challenges. The first year of self-employment
tested not only my professional abilities but also my resilience and
adaptability. For the first year, I wasn’t sure if the self-employed lifestyle
suited me – the lack of job security and no regular income worried me.
Transitioning from an employee mentality to thinking like a business owner was
particularly challenging. It was harder than ever to switch off my mind after I
had switched off my laptop.
But despite the uncertainty, I learnt so much about myself
as well running a small business in that first year. Initially drawn to the
idea of offering a broad spectrum of services, I soon realised the importance
of specialism and focus. It was a year of trial and error, where each project
served as a learning opportunity, expanding my skill set and deepening my
expertise.
As someone with a passion for learning, the opportunity to
continually expand my skills and learn a tonne of new platforms and software was
a driving force that kept me moving forward during those early days.
The second year of my journey was all about finding my
groove – it was a period of fine-tuning, where I delved deeper into
understanding my clients' needs and refining my approach to provide them with the
best possible support. Despite the fluidity of the freelance lifestyle, year
two was all about finding my weekly rhythm – balancing client commitments while
carving out time to nurture and grow my own business.
With each passing week, my confidence steadily grew, but
every now and then imposters syndrome would rear its ugly head. During quieter weeks,
self-doubt would creep in, so I had to learn to be strong and push those
negative thoughts away. It was a constant exercise in fortitude, learning to
silence the inner critic and trust in my abilities.
Central to my growth in the second year was building my
professional network – not only with my clients but also within the Virtual Assistant community. In the VA world, it’s all about collaboration over
competition. It’s one of the things I love most about the industry! I attended
my first VA Conference in beautiful Bournemouth during my second year. It was a
wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow VAs and learn from the industry's
finest in the most friendly and supportive environment.
I came away feeling inspired, excited, and armed with
invaluable knowledge. And it connected me with some incredible VAs — some who
have been true lifesavers when a client has thrown a challenge at me beyond my
expertise. It highlights power of networking and the collaborative spirit that
defines the VA industry – a valuable lesson that I would carry over into the
third year of my journey.
In the third year of my journey as a Virtual Assistant, the emphasis
has been on maintaining momentum and avoiding complacency. I’ve been actively learning
new skills (particularly in light of the rapid advancements in AI) and staying
ahead of industry developments to ensure that I have all the knowledge I need
to meet the evolving needs of my clients.
As I celebrate my third year as a Virtual Assistant, I can
confidently say that I have really settled into my role - I’ve cultivated a
deep understanding of my clients' businesses and their unique requirements. The
volume of work has been both steady and abundant, which I hope is a reflection
of the trust and confidence my clients have placed in me. Beyond just
ticking-off tasks, I take pride in the meaningful contributions I make to their
businesses.
Looking at the year ahead, it’s exciting to think of all the
possibilities. Maybe this is the year for expansion? I’d love to officially
expand my team with a couple of trusted associate VAs. I've long championed the
importance of delegation in maximising productivity, and now, as the demands on
my own time intensify, it's probably time I start to practice what I preach! By
delegating some of my own tasks, I can redirect my focus towards delivering
exceptional service to my existing clients while also offering my services to
potential new clients.
It goes without saying that I’m immensely grateful for unwavering
support I've received over the past three years.
Whether you’re a client, old or new, or just someone that
‘likes’ or comments on the occasional post… your support means so very much to
me!
Working alongside such wonderful clients and fellow VAs over
the past few years has been a privilege and a joy. I've had the pleasure of
collaborating with some incredibly creative and talented people who inspire me
daily.
As I raise a toast to this milestone, I am excited for the
journey ahead. Here's to many more years of productive collaborations, shared
successes, and lots of laughs along the way.
Now, where's that bottle of fizz?!
