? Boundaries, niching and Sirens of Titan
Joanne Munro
The UK's go-to Virtual Assistant trainer. Grab your highlighters; we ride at dawn!
Good morning!
This is your first Coffee Break of 2025 and also the first of my new-look format.
My audience is split into two distinct categories, so I've decided to divide the newsletter accordingly, with one section for new/aspiring Virtual Assistants and one for existing VAs.
There's also a handy bonus tip for everyone.
I regularly review all aspects of my business, and I think this will help keep things nice and focused.
Okay, grab a drink and get comfy; it's time for a coffee break!
?? For Aspiring And New VAs:
Think about the kind of business you want to run.
Like a bird finally free of its cage, most new Virtual Assistants are so high on the freedom that comes with being their own boss that they fail to decide what kind of business they want to run.
But if you haven't decided what your boundaries are, you’ll struggle when clients inevitably overstep them.
Whether it’s expecting the moon on a stick yesterday for a fiver, assuming you're available 24/7, or paying you late, I guarantee that clients will overstep your boundaries at some point.
Start with the essentials:
When you've spent years taking orders as an employee, it's hard not to fall into the trap of deferring to your clients.
But you’re the one in charge now and if you don’t set the rules, your clients will.
?? For Established VAs:
Use what you already have.
Getting more work from existing clients is far easier than finding new ones. Here are a few ways to do this:
a) Check the Quick Win posts?on my website and offer those services to your clients.
b) Ask ChatGPT, “What tasks could a Virtual Assistant do for a [Yoga Teacher]?” Then, suggest any services you’re not already providing.
c) Suggest seasonal tasks such as quarterly reviews, an annual planning session, or a new year inbox detox.
You should have held an annual review and planning session with your clients in December or have one scheduled for this month anyway.
It's easier to spot opportunities if you have a clear understanding of your client’s business.
Knowing their goals, who their clients are, the platforms they use, and why they do what they do will help you to see where you can add more value to their business.
?? Bonus Tip For Everyone:
My Thoughts for 2025.
All Virtual Assistants need a grasp of AI and to understand the many ways it can help them do their jobs better, or they risk being left behind.
I also think there is something to be said for knowing one or two platforms or tools inside out.
The VAs I know who promote themselves as Click-up ninjas, Airtable wizards, Active Campaign fairies, Canva genies, Excel wranglers, etc, guarantee more well-paying work than generalists.
This shouldn't be your only offering, but if you have a specialism (a niche!), it's not only easier to market your services and write focused social media content, but you also become the go-to person among your connections for that service.
??? UPCOMING EVENT: VA Discovery Session
Thinking about becoming a Virtual Assistant but aren't sure what it really involves or if it’s the right fit for you?
If you're sick of long commutes and toxic workplaces and want 2025 to be the year you finally have a job AND a life, join me to find out what it’s actually like to run your own business.
We’ll cover what a Virtual Assistant does (and doesn’t do), the skills and tools you need to get started, and common myths and challenges of the VA world.
If you're looking for a flexible career, book a relaxed chat and Q&A session with me to decide if Virtual Assistance is the answer.
?? My Favourite Thing This Week:
I recently discovered the author Kurt Vonnegut, and I absolutely love the way he writes.
I raced through The Sirens of Titan and have just started Cat's Cradle. I rarely find a new writer I like, so I am stupidly excited to explore the rest of his work.
If you're a Kurt Vonnegut fan, what's your favourite book so I can read it next?
Okay, that's it from me. Have a great week, and stay classy, sassy and a little bit bad assy.
Jo. x
PS: BIG thanks to everyone who messaged me to say how much they enjoyed my 45 Ways to be Happier in 2025 email. Missed it? You can?find a copy of it here.
~ Join well over 24K global members in my VA Handbookers Facebook group
Minute taker - Professional and succinct minute taking. Governance professional / Clerk to Governors
2 个月Agreed. A “specialism” aids marketing and you become known as the “go to person” for that specialism. VAs do need to know how AI works and what it can do though. . It is taking minutes now. Good that I also speak another language and can undertake lead generation for my clients. These skills will ensure my VA business continues to thrive.