Starting a virtual assistant business is a ton of fun, and it can also be a challenge.
Whether you’re just starting out or if you’ve been in business for awhile, one of the best ways to get excited about your business when you’re feeling overwhelmed, scared, or unmotivated is to connect with your WHY.
Staying connected to your Why will keep you focused, centered, and help you move your business forward. Especially on those days when you lack motivation or feel frustrated.
Your WHY is the whole reason why you’re taking this journey. It’s what gets you up in the morning and gets you excited and giddy. It’s what you daydream about and wish for.
MY WHY
I’ll share my Why as an example.
Right before becoming a VA, I was working as an office manager at my family’s business. I enjoyed the data entry part of my job, but I hated answering the phones, dealing with cranky customers, and having to work at a desk. I disliked being there at a certain time each day and couldn’t wait till I could work from home, in my jammies, from my couch, bed or maybe a desk (honestly, I hardly ever work from a desk).
I wanted to set my own hours, choose who I worked with, and offer the services I wanted to. Getting paid for all of it is just icing on the cake!
I’m also an introvert (like a lot of virtual assistants) and prefer to mainly work alone. I’m able to reserve my energy instead of spending it on talking to lots of people and I’m happier because of it.
Another thing I enjoy about being an entrepreneur is running my own business. I really love blogging, learning new skills, and tinkering around with my website. Those types of tasks really light me up.
I love that I get to turn my passions for design and helping people into my dream business. And I do it all next to my cuddly, snuggly doggies.
In a nutshell, my Why is that I get to:
- set my own hours (I can do laundry, run errands, and eat whenever I want)
- choose who I work with
- offer the services I want to
- work alone
- work in my jammies, on the couch, with my puppy dogs
- do work that I’m passionate about and help people at the same time
- be my own boss
- blog, create ebooks, learn new skills, and tinker around with my website
- make money
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WHAT’S YOUR WHY? WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT?
Do you want to be a VA so you can set your own hours and work wherever you want? So you can work from home and spend more time with your family, or so that you can work from anywhere and travel the world?
Maybe you want a job where you don’t have to wear pantyhose (it’s a common reason among VAs, you know).
Whatever the reasons, I want you to write them down and keep them where you can see them. Looking at your BIG Why consistently will keep it front and center in your mind, ready to give you a powerful boost whenever you need it. Put it on your mirror, in your journal, in your purse, wherever you’ll see it often.
Here’s some questions to get you started:
- Do you have kids, a spouse, or animals that you want to stay at home with?
- Do you want to work days and times that you want to?
- Do you want to wear (or not wear) whatever you want?
- Do you want to work from wherever you want? Whether it be the couch, coffee shop, or Tahiti?
- Do you want to be your own boss?
- Do you want to feel satisfaction from helping people and being of service?
- Do you want to do work that lights you up?
- Do you want to set your own rates and make good money?
I’d love to hear your Why! There’s nothing more inspiring or motivating than reading other people’s whys. Do me a favor and share yours in the comments.
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I wanted to work whenever, wherever, and with whomever I wanted. I wanted to work in leggings and tank tops with my kitty in my lap. I also love that I get paid to write!
Those are all great Whys! Thanks for sharing yours!
I wanted to be able to share my skills that I am passionate about like creating reports and analysing data, to do this at home would be a dream come true.
Thanks for sharing :)
That’s great, Jess! Not everyone likes to create reports and analyze data, so that’s an ideal service to provide!
I’m getting geared up to start my own VA business because I want to be able to stay home and raise my little boy! I’m super nervous about starting my own business, but its time I did something for me as well as my little family! I can’t wait to stay home with my son and take care of my home.
Congrats on starting your VA business! I love your why for starting your own business and working from home. Starting anything new can be scary, but you got this! Best of luck to you! :)
My why is because I am 60 and my husband 59. We still have a way to go for retirement. I am an administrative assistant now and I wake up at 5:30 to get ready to go to work, I am at work by 7:30, off at 4:30 home by 5:00. 5 days a week. My husband works 6 days a week in the trucking industry. I want a better life (in the way of home life) for us both and a business that can supplement our retirement in the future.
Hi Kathy! Thanks for sharing your Why! I love that you want a better life for both you and your husband and that you’re looking for a way to supplement your retirement in the future! Best of luck to you on your VA journey!
I originally thought about becoming a VA about 2 years ago when I decided to leave my corporate job. I worked for Marriott International in sales and was fortunate enough to work from home. While researching becoming a VA, an opportunity presented itself to go to work for a start up company out of CA. I really loved the job and was promoted in January to a Customer Success Manager. This was unfamiliar territory for me, but I learned so many new skills along with new technology. It was a great experience, but that ended at the end of September. Now, at 53, I have decided that I really want to be my own boss, spend time with my husband and be able to work from anywhere. My father passed away in June and my mother lives 600 miles away. Being able to travel home to help her is very important to me. My kids are grown, but I love being able to go see them as well. Being able to offer my skills and the things I enjoy doing while earning a good living, is a win win! My skill set is all over the place, so I am in the process of really looking at what I am good at and what I enjoy doing. That’s one of the best parts of this adventure…now I can decide what I do and when I do it.
Thanks for sharing your Why Lori! Having the freedom to care for and be with your loved ones is such a powerful Why. I’m happy that you’ve started your biz and that you have the opportunity to do work you enjoy. Best of luck to you!
I’ve thought about working for myself for the last couple of years now, but could never think what to do, and after being let go from my last position in an office, I decided enough is enough. I no longer want to work in these draining environments. I have had enough of office politics, clicks and back stabbing. I still have to find something to keep me going by way of paying the monthly bills , but now I’m solely focused on finding my niche to start my VA business.
That’s wonderful that you’re starting your VA business! Building it on the side while you have a job is a great way to grow your client base and get experience. Then when you’re ready you can make the leap and focus on your business full-time. Best of luck! :)
My WHY… I was made redundant just after having my baby in 2017. I now think it was the best thing that ever happened to me, in terms of career events. Stupid, right? But it has totally reinforced that I don’t want to bust my butt trying to make someone else look good, or be away from my son and my home. My fiance is starting his business and it makes me want to show my son that his mum can do the same. I’m also an introvert but I’m scared silly with the idea of starting haha. I want to give my family a good life. And I know I can do this, and don’t need a run-of-the-mill career, in a field I’m not passionate about, to give them what they deserve.
I respect your reasons for wanting to start your own business and working from home. You’ve got this, girl! :)
here’s my WHY, I’m 52 and I never want to leave my family on Christmas day, to work in a hotel so wealthy people can relax and enjoy their Christmas.
I want control over when and who I work for. I want to make a difference, helping other entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
I am working in an industry that does not value its employees. hours are long and unsocial, pay is low (no tips for reception and admin staff), and hard work is not appreciated. I have had enough and I am not doing it any more. when I work late it will be for MY benefit, it will be growing MY business and it will be because I choose to.
Yes, Fiona, Yes! I can feel your passion! You can do this! :)
I’m single and about to be 55, so my whys are the following: a) To assist me in becoming financially independent and worry-free, b)to be able to contribute to my IRAs, c)To work the days and times I want, d) To work from wherever I want, e) To be able to travel, f) to have my cat near me when I work at home, g) To help others and eventually mentor others, h)To be my own boss, i) to use my strengths in offering services I enjoy doing for companies, j) continue to learn new skills.
Those are all really great Whys, Tonia! I’m so excited for you! :)
I want to be able to have flexibility with working from home. I want time with my kids, time to sleep and earn extra income.
I love your Whys, Carrie, especially the “time to sleep”! Being able to wake up when my body wants to instead of when an alarm tells me to is life-changing! ;)
Ahh! I read through your why and thought I wrote it myself. Guess I am making the right choice in FINALLY starting this venture :)
That’s awesome, Tiffany! I hope it’s going well for you!
I’m a 47 year old introvert who would rather stay home and work rather than put on dress casual clothes and go to my accounting job every day from 8-5 p.m. I have a dog at home who is locked in his kennel all day and would love for him to be able to roam free around the house (he likes to chew stuff). I want to work when I want and where I want. I want to make good money, better than I do now.
Oh, Sue! I love your why especially the part about letting your dog run free! My dogs are crate trained too and I hate to leave them in there. I invite you to check out the Introvert VA Club and to start building your VA biz today! Best of luck to you!