Walk My Talk

For years as a virtual assistant, I’ve been telling business owners to hire support and hand off tasks that someone can do better, faster, or for less. This frees up time and energy for work only the client can do. I’ve seen them do just that with amazing results.??

For almost 18 years, I was the one to take over those tasks and support other businesses while holding my own success hostage with a fear of failure. By all accounts, I am successful.?I made it long past the 5-year threshold where most businesses fail to achieve. I’ve worked with ideal clients, weathered the ups and downs of industry shifts, and worked through my issues of imposter syndrome and am I worth what I charge.?My chest swells with pride sometimes that I’ve beaten the odds.?

Up until 2 years ago, however, I played small when it came to my own business. For most of my career, whenever I thought of a successful full-time practice, I envisioned myself as a solo player?billing 60-80 hours a month. In the fall 2021, I hit that hourly goal and it nearly killed me.

My vision for my business shifted fundamentally. I knew what I didn’t want – to do it all for myself and my clients – but had no idea what I did want. I love working with my clients. I love brainstorming, collaborating, and coaching them from their vision to reality. I was just overwhelmed with doing all the tasks that came with it.

Sound familiar?

I know!

In my head, I was starting to sound like one of my clients. A friend suggested I take on some help, maybe my own virtual assistant. Why did a suggestion that I’d made countless times over the years feel so foreign? At the time, it freaked me out, but I left the idea marinating in the back of my mind.

As Patricia Crane explains in her book, Ordering from the Cosmic Kitchen, I had put my order into the Cosmic Kitchen and the Cosmic Chef was getting it ready for me. All these years later, I’m able to look back now and see the stepping stones as they started to appear.?

Practicing What I Preach

One thing I’ve learned about the Cosmic Kitchen is it works on its own timeline. Once I decided to walk my talk and think realistically about hiring help, I casually mentioned it in one of my accountability groups. The next day I got an email from a friend asking if I would consider working with her child. Within a week of hiring them, I had started to shift both my work and client work onto their to-do list.?

Everything I handed off felt small yet big at the same time.?They might have been small tasks, like creating social media graphics, researching hashtags, e-course platforms and payment portals, but they were things I didn’t want to do. There was ease in handing them off and relief when my VA completed them with only minor adjustments. We were building trust right off the bat.

The Universe likes to fill a void and handing things off to my VA created a big one for me. The creative gates opened and ideas poured out of me. Overwhelming but in a good way.?

Walking my talk has been magical. I knew hiring a helper would ease my chaos and open space for more creativity because I’ve seen it happen to all my clients over the years. For the first time, I understood what it feels like to be a client. To feel the fear and freedom of handing things off.?

The feeling of anxiety and safety and excitement to try new things. To take a risk and build something big because I have a team member to support me and hold me accountable.?

I am beyond excited to share that with this freedom, I've created a program that supports solopreneurs and coaches who are thinking of hiring support but want help figuring out what they need.

Introducing the Find a VA Program

If you know you’re ready for help, but know nothing else, this program is for you.

The Find A VA Program is how I support business owners who are at the beginning of their virtual assistant journey.

During our customized session(s), we assess what help YOU need. Conversations can include:

• what type of support you’re looking for
• what qualities are ideal for you in an assistant
• what systems to put in place for when you find the right fit
• and if necessary, crafting a job description to find someone

Plus, when the time is right, you’ll receive a warm connection to (3-5) referrals to qualified VAs in our directory (if I’m not the right fit for you!)

Price starts at $600 for (4) 60-minute coaching sessions and includes a recording of each call and detailed follow-ups with any action steps.

Schedule a 15-minute Discovery Call here to begin.

If you are ready to hire someone but don't know where to find qualified virtual assistants, I can help with that too! I've been building a referral network of virtual assistants to share. Check out my Hire A Virtual Assistant page with options!

Have you had the experience to walk your talk? Share with me in the comments.

Warmly,

Rachael