Have you ever heard the saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know”? Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s totally true! No matter how prepared you think you are when you start your Virtual Assistant business (or any online-based business!), there is just no way to bypass the mistakes and the learning experiences to reach the status of a seasoned veteran. The road to success is often paved with painful learning experiences. But today, you’re in luck! I’m sharing a handful of things that I really, really wish I would have understood when I began this journey. Here are my top six Virtual Assistant mistakes to avoid:
You don’t need to know everything.
Really, it’s ok. I distinctly remember scrolling through a VA Facebook group and feeling so discouraged by the services others were offering. It wasn’t just that I couldn’t do some of them – I didn’t even know what they were! There is a very real temptation to offer all the things and to know how to use every software. However, very successful VAs usually offer a very small number of services and they become experts at those things and build a reputation around those specialties. Resist the urge to create a service menu that is huge and generalized. Here’s another secret – you’ll never know everything. The sooner you accept that you will always be learning and growing and changing, the more your business will soar.
I can say “No”.
Remember this: You are your own boss. The employee mindset can be very difficult to overcome. You don’t have to take low paying jobs or perform services that don’t line up with your goals or vision for your business. “We’re not a good fit” is a phrase that you should get comfortable using.
In the same breath, that doesn’t mean that you should refuse to work with people who don’t fit your exact ideal client avatar (especially in the beginning phases of building your business!). Saying “no” doesn’t just apply to new business – it’s ok to say “no” to existing clients as well. You are a freelance contractor who has contracted with another business owner to perform specific tasks. If a painter comes into your home to paint your home, he is NOT your employee, you are simply paying him to perform a service. If you demanded that he use a certain type of paint that he wasn’t comfortable using, he’d probably say “sorry, not sorry” and walk out the door. You can set limits and boundaries within your client relationships. Which brings me to the third thing I wish I had known:
Boundaries are important.
It’s up to you to set expectations, limits, and boundaries. This can be a struggle – especially if you’re a people pleaser like me! It’s up to you to set your hours and other limits that will be enforced with clients (and subcontractors!). It’s ok to decide you will only check your email 3x a day or that you will not be available on the weekends. As long as you clearly establish the expectations with your clients, you can and should establish boundaries before you begin any kind of professional relationship. If you break your own rules, people will come to expect you to be available 24/7.
It’s also important to clearly draw lines between personal and professional relationships. It’s easy to fall into the trap of becoming too buddy-buddy with clients and subcontractors – and this can create a potentially sticky situation if you need to address issues about payment, boundaries or the scope of the work. Nip conversations that veer into gossip and negativity in the bud, and avoid controversial topics. There is a way to be both friendly and personal while maintaining a professional and respectful relationship.
Don’t put all your eggs in one (client) basket.
Let’s imagine that you found your dream client. You have an amazing discovery call, you send them a proposal and then you wait. You are sure this is “the one” that is going to turn into a lucrative business arrangement. And then they never respond. The minute you send that proposal, the decision is out of your hands and you need to mentally move on to your next prospect. The same is true for existing clients. Once you decide on your income goals, you need to be actively and intentionally working towards that goal every single day. This means you don’t ever wait for responses because if you “get that client” you won’t need to look for another one. What’s the worst that could happen? Too much work and you need to scale your business more quickly?
Don’t take things personally.
This is a tough one! Sometimes you can have a perfect discovery call or even a potential client who verbally commits – and then ghosts you. It’s not because they don’t like you, or you did something wrong. Sometimes things happen. Life happens. Unexpected bills happen. Would it be nice for them to let you know that they don’t actually need your service anymore? Sure. But this isn’t a perfect world and in order to keep your head in the game and your business moving forward, you can’t take it personally. Avoid being snippy or irritated towards prospects and clients. Developing thick skin is critical in this business!
Show up authentically.
You don’t need to show up as a super polished and professional version of yourself. Just be you. No additions or subtractions. You can still be professional and project confidence while projecting an authentic version of yourself. This doesn’t mean showing up on live videos wearing pjs and yesterday’s makeup, but it does mean allowing your personality to shine through everything that you do.
The Bottom Line: Learning and growing is a lifelong journey
It’s easy to say things like “learn from your mistakes” and “you learn something every day!”. But I want you to stop and think about what that really means. Are you actively applying the lessons and principles that you have learned from mistakes and past failures? Are you being honest with yourself about the elements of your business that need improvement? Are you feeding your brain with positive, enriching messaging? Successful entrepreneurship requires constant reevaluation. Sometimes undoing or abandoning something that we’ve spent time and energy on can be painful. Don’t double down on a mistake just because you spent a long time making it.
