Skip the Disappointment
Nov 07, 2022
When you’re a Virtual Assistant, it can be a challenge to know when you have enough work and enough clients to reach your financial goals.
Often, when we start with a new client, they will say that they will have X number of hours’ worth of work for us each week. They’re excited, we’re excited, and we think, “This is going to be great. I have regular hours that I can depend on now. I’ve arrived!”
I’m here to tell you that this is rarely the case. In fact, this has only been true for me one or two times out of the hundreds of clients I’ve worked with.
Here’s what happens instead: they get busy, they get distracted, they change their mind, they change their budget, and the hours that you thought were guaranteed are no longer pouring in.
But that’s ok! It’s only a problem when we don’t understand how working with clients happens in the real world.
So, skip the disappointment, the feelings of failure, and focus on what works:
- Never stop looking for clients. Clients retire, they sell their businesses, they get jobs and things change. Most of the time, you will not know that it’s coming, so don’t leave yourself in a vulnerable position. It’s better to have a little too much work than not enough.
- Focus on revenue-generating activities. Having Inbox Zero, or perfectly organized files, is a really good thing. But you want to make sure that you’re not wasting time on tasks that fill your days and don’t generate revenue. Spend your time getting the word out about your business, send emails to reconnect with people you know, write newsletters, and go to networking events.
- Embrace the ride. If you wanted boring regularity, you’d have a job, right? Every day as a VA will be different and sometimes it will feel like it’s changing by the minute. That’s part of the excitement. Stop trying to make your work predictable - relax and lean into it. The sooner you do this, the happier you’ll be.
- Be the boss of you. Don’t let your clients' ups and downs get you down. As a business owner, you need to guard your mindset and stay positive. When clients change their minds or don’t send work your way, move on and reprioritize. Don’t waste brain cycles and emotions on something you can’t change. Instead, continue to look for creative ways to make your business a success.
Having a job and being a business owner are worlds apart. Notice and celebrate the differences, enjoy the flexibility and the VA lifestyle. It’s the best.
If you’re not already a member of our Facebook Group, The Virtual Assistant Connection, and would like to join, here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevaconnection/
