When I first started my business, I remember thinking that I wish I had a crystal ball. Some way to see into the future. Not necessarily how my life will play out, how many grandkids I’ll have or the burning question…. will I or will I not retire on the beach. (Please, let that be a YES!)

Instead of wanting to know a 30,000-foot view of my life and it’s direction, I just wanted to know what was happening in the weeks and month to come. You see, I am a virtual assistant, so it would seem that I would have all of my ducks in a row. I would know what was coming around the corner, but to be honest, I had my head down working for clients and trying to start a business. To say that my plate was full is an understatement. Alas, I was powering through believing that I could do it all and not take time to ask for help, but when it came time for a client meeting or podcast interview, I was scrambling around for details surrounding the call. Little did I know that by ignoring the very advice I gave people, telling them to hire a VA, I was adding another layer of stress to my life.

Independence

Do you know how hard it is to ask for help? Because we were taught to be independent. I think of my daughter when she was around two or so. Those independent words of a toddler that are both a blessing and a curse… “I do it myself!”. If you’re a parent or have spent any time at all around toddlers, you know that there is a sense of pride that comes with independence.

We praise it.
We encourage it.

We want the little ones in our lives to take pride in their accomplishments and as a result, they will move out and not live in our basements. Hallelujah and Amen!

While independence is something that is praised, there is another personality trait that is equally as important.

Asking for help!

Asking for help isn’t always easy, but it is 1000% necessary.

Take a moment and think back to a time when you should have asked for help, but didn’t. How could the circumstances have turned out differently, if you had only set aside your pride to ask for help?

Let me tell you, as a virtual assistant by trade, it wasn’t easy to ask for help. I WAS a virtual assistant. Why did I need someone to help me? “I could do it myself!”. (insert foot stomp!)

However, when you’re missing time with your kids, barely making it to school functions, checking email while you’re there, spending more time irritated at your husband than you are grateful for him, losing sleep, eating tums like candy, THINGS MUST CHANGE.

But, how?

You’ve heard they saying, “Pride goeth before a fall”. Friends, pride will be the death of us. We get so caught up in what we’re capable of and hang our hats on it. It’s a wonderful feeling to do things on our own. I can do everything just the way I like it, but at what cost?

Since hiring my first VA 3 years ago, I’ve built a small, but mighty team. We each work within our strengths to grow Priority VA. Everything runs smooth as glass when I enlist the help of my entire team. What takes me 5 hours, will take 30 minutes for my tech team. Insane, I know!
My time is valuable, so why not ask someone to help me?

The first step is to acknowledge that you can’t do it alone. Waive the white flag. Agree that you need someone in your corner who can help you see into the future of your business.

What can they see, that I can’t?

When I hired my VA 3 years ago, my expectations were high. I mean, I had worked as a virtual assistant for nearly a decade, so I knew how things needed to be done.

Here is what I love about people… We are all unique. Yep! I’m the little snowflake I always thought I was!

As I began working with my VA, I began to feel the freedom of outsourcing tasks to her. Even more exciting, was that she was coming to the table with her own ideas about MY business! (She’s a snowflake, too!) The more we worked together, the more I delegated tasks. Little by little, she became an intricate part of my business. I could lean on her for ideas and ways to implement new procedures that were in my blind spots. We began to expect growth because we were working in tandem.

Over the years, we have found a nice groove. A groove I have found to give me a sense of security because it is predictable. Don’t get me wrong, we are constantly changing things up, adding new projects to the mix. Spontaneity is part of life! But regardless of how many extra projects I decide to tackle, I know she is aware of what is coming around the corner. Giving me the extra reminders to follow up with A, B, C and to prepare for X, Y, knowZ.

In a sense, my VA serves as my crystal ball. knows what is coming in the next weeks and months. She has everything I need ready to go for client calls, consults, and interviews. If I didn’t have this constant in my day to day life, I’d probably lose my mind! I sleep better at night knowing that I won’t have a day full of uncertainty.

How Can A VA Make A Difference In My Business?

You might be thinking, “Well, that’s good for you, Trivinia, but how can a VA help me?”

I believe that anyone, in any stage of business can utilize a VA. The support that a VA can bring to you, whether administrative or technical, will give you the freedom to do what you love.

There is absolutely zero shame in outsourcing the work you don’t love to do. At first, it seems a little strange, but once you begin to operate in the role of CEO, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

Working closely with your VA will not only give you the freedom to create, but you will also watch your business grow because you have the right seats on the bus. Everyone on the team is working in their strengths and you will begin to see growth in your business because of it.

Are you ready to hire a Virtual Assistant? I’d love to chat with you! Take a few minutes to complete this form. Tell me about your business, who you are and what you do. Then let’s schedule a time for us to chat. I’d love to help!