One small step for bloggers, one giant leap for new blog-ie

Today, I have pulled up my big girl pants and delved into the world of blogging!

I don’t know why I found this “one step beyond” but I have shied away from blogging for longer than I should. I kept thinking that lots of people do it as “their thing” and would do it better than me -and yes they probably do and will but hey, let’s give it a go and see where it takes us!

In my first ever blog, I thought I would tell you my story, so you get to know the “me” behind my business and some of my thought processes.

I’m starting on a topical subject as recently, I have been in a few meetings and seen on the TV where “class” has been discussed, I must admit, I didn’t think it really featured these days but it was interesting to hear the views which were in no way negative but was about “working class” people being able to access opportunities to have better jobs, be promoted and how much of a perspective and a difference their experiences can offer which was all very positive.

So as a good VA does, I researched what “class” meant in today’s society and was surprised how it was defined, apparently, I am now “middle class” because of my profession. I have always thought of myself as working class. My parents were working class and I work hard to provide for my family, so I decided that a classification is just that, a label to group things together and it in no way effects how I think of myself or others. It’s our values and actions which define us!

My working class background has instilled in me a good set of values, work hard, be honest, have integrity, be efficient and give value for money. Something I implement now into my business.

Since leaving school, I have worked for a training provider, an estate agent, the RSPCA (in their control room but I did go out with an inspector for the day and adopted a dog we rescued!), worked for two local authorities in the children’s’ services department and worked for a charity providing care for the elderly. Each role has given me different skills and perspectives and allowed me to hone my skills which are now utilised in my VA business. I started at the bottom as a YTS office junior (showing my age now – in the modern world these are called apprenticeships!) making my way up to be PA to a chief executive, line managing a team of administrators, having some office management responsibilities as well as working to the Boards and their sub-committees. So, all in all, a wide and varied skillset.

So why did I enter into the world of Virtual Assistants?

Like lots of VA’s, my VA journey came from not only necessity to provide for my family, but also an idea that I wanted to be in control of my own destiny. I had left my employment before the pandemic hit and I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do but then the world went upside down, so I spent the spring and early summer home educating my son (I’m not sure I was a good substitute teacher but hey we got through it and he learnt stuff along the way, as did I!). This break also gave me a chance to reflect on what I wanted to do, I love doing admin, helping people and alleviating their stress so being a VA (once I found out about it) was ideal.

And so, my journey began.

I spoke to a friend of a friend who was a VA, spent July 2020 researching how to set up, what tools and skills I would need, learnt how to build a website, and subscribed to some VA help groups for advice and tips and off I went.

I “launched” on 03 August 2020, scared and excited but unsure if anyone would be interested in the services I was offering. I put a post out on LinkedIn to say I had launched and luck or fate intervened (or both!) and I had my first discovery call. We had worked together previously, and I was going to fill a gap until their “proper employed” administrator started – that was a year ago and I am pleased to say I am still working with them (as is their administrator).

So why did they continue to work with me as a VA and employ an administrator?

Because they realised very quickly that we had different skills and could be utilised in different ways – bringing out the best in both of us. This has been cost effective to them, has made them a great employer for their administrator and has helped them to move their business forward quicker than they thought they could. With the right support - anything is possible!

And that was just the beginning of my VA journey a year ago!

If you are reading this thinking “she sounds like the VA I need”, send me an email to arrange a discovery call – shelley@swvirtualbusinessassistant.com.