The Real Reasons People Hire Freelancers, My Humble Beginnings & Black Friday at the Virtual Excellence Academy ??

Hello hello! It's Hannah :)

I'm still chilling in Bangkok and living my high-rise, food delivery, pool-time dream for a few more days! Then, I'll be jetting off to Nomad Island Fest, where I'm hosting this year's VA-cation experience in collaboration! In today's newsletter...

• Humble Beginnings: Trust & Risk!
• The 3 Real Reasons People Hire: Essential to Know!
• Enrollment for the VEA is now OPEN (Black Friday Deals!)

Let’s dive in! ??

?? WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING ONLINE.... ????

When I first started my business over 10 years ago, I was in Budapest, renting a €145 room shared with my then-partner.

I didn’t even know I was a ‘Virtual Assistant’ until a client of mine referred to me as one. It opened up a whole new world.

I had started a free Facebook group (this one right here!) and was sharing my journey as I failed fast and failed forward, and I connected with fascinating people worldwide.

I got invited for dinner with community members visiting the city and looked to me for digital nomad how-tos. I didn’t have enough money to put data on my phone to use maps to meet them, so I got lost. ??

But skip forward...

I made it. I made it to that dinner, I made it to put data on my phone, I made rent, and then I made it my mission to make it in business. One step in front of the other.??♀?

I made something of myself when many doubted my perceived folly. That folly was actually immense trust.

I owe my growth to two consistent things:

1. Taking calculated risks
2. Trusting I was meant for this and more than capable.

One without the other wouldn’t have worked. ??

This is to say that if you have been wanting to start or grow your freelance or VA business and trust yourself to make this happen, arming yourself with the tools, knowledge, and community support is a smart move.

If I could go back, I would have sought mentorship earlier so that, like in the photo below, I wouldn't have been working & freezing my butt off in my €145 room because I didn’t want to turn on the heating. ????

I worked hard for ten+ years, took the long route, messed up, got up, and messed up again, and eventually, I was successful beyond my wildest imagination. The Virtual Excellence Academy is built on the knowledge gained at every stage of growth, excitement, despair, investment, and triumph—and it's all here to guide you to greatness in this career now and for years to come.

Enrollment is open until December 6th, and we have 75 of 100 spots available (there is also a special Black Friday sale)!

The 3 Real Reasons People Hire: Essential to Know!

Let’s get real: People can get stuck for years obsessing over their niche, branding colors, or the perfect tagline. While these things matter, they can distract from what truly gets you hired as a service provider.

Here’s the truth: Your future clients aren’t obsessing over your colors or tagline. They’re hiring you because they need help - right now. Beyond offering a polished service stack, understanding the deeper motivations behind why people outsource is your secret weapon to having meaningful, human-centered conversations. When clients feel seen, heard, and supported, they’re far more likely to trust and hire you.

The 3 Core Reasons People Hire:

1. They don’t have time. They’re overwhelmed, working weekends, and craving time to breathe.
2. They don’t want to. They dread editing reels, slogging through admin tasks, or anything that makes them squirm.
3. They don’t know how. It’s not their zone of genius, and they need someone skilled (like you) to step in.

Sure, there are other factors, like wanting to make more money, but most clients fall into one, two, or even all three of these categories. Imagine being that person: no time, no desire, no clue how to do the thing you do effortlessly. Yikes!

Why This Matters

Knowing this allows you to read between the lines during discovery calls. When clients say they need a shiny new sales page, they’re often not motivated by having it; they’re motivated by their frustration with trying to figure it out themselves.

When you are attuned to identifying their true motivations, you can respond with empathy and offer a tailored solution. Instead of just listing your services and pricing, you connect on a human level. Here’s how that might sound:

“Oh, I hear you, Dave. It’s so frustrating to spend your time and energy on something that you really don't enjoy. But you know how energized you feel during your coaching calls? That’s exactly how I feel when I’m organizing customer support systems. I love it and I’d be thrilled to take this off your plate.”

By tapping into why they’re hiring, you become more than just a service provider, you become the solution they’ve been waiting for.

Ok but...

Not sure where to find clients at all?

Are you worried about how to host a successful discovery call?

Not sure how to price your services?

Or even what services you should provide?

Perhaps you need more business intel like this here today to help you take things to a new level.

The Virtual Excellence Academy just entered the chat and is here for all of this and SO much more...

The Virtual Excellence Academy is now open for enrollment! [SPECIAL BLACK FRIDAY DEAL]

This is your chance to take the leap from wondering how to start your remote career to confidently building a thriving online business as a VA or freelancer.

Here’s a peak at what’s waiting for you inside the VEA:

? In-depth, ever-updated training on all the VA and freelance tools of the trade

? Confidence to find, pitch, and wow your dream clients with key business skills

? An engaged, supportive, inclusive community of online professionals just like you

? Access to me, our team, and a group of peers for years to come, your biz fam!

This isn’t just a program—it’s the key to freedom of location, time, and finances.

Ready to see all the details of the program that for over a decade has been highly praised and is leading the industry? ?? Check it out here!

You can NOW join the VEA and grab one of the 75 out of 100 exclusive VEA Black Friday enrollment spots until December 6th or until all spots have been filled!

This is your chance to see out the remainder of 2024 right and join our award-winning, thriving community of virtual assistants, freelancers, and virtual service providers across the board. Our A-Z VEA business building course is designed to help you become in-demand and well-paid in the freelance world.

?? Secure your spot:

Enroll Now!

That's a Wrap! ??

Are you inspired by something you read or learned here today? Hit reply and let me know, or feel free to forward this to a friend. I love and welcome your feedback!

Stay cool!

Hannah

Ps. Don't miss our awesome Black Friday deal!